The Prayer Chest: A Novel About Receiving All of Life's Riches [Hardcover]

August Gold (Author), Joel Fotinos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2007

Since the beginning of time every man and woman has prayed—millions of prayers daily. Why then are only a handful of them answered? What roles do luck, chance, or fate have in our lives? How can we discover and live our destiny?

Joseph Hutchinson is a man who knows the reality of tragedy all too well; his life has been filled with misfortune and adversity. A widowed father of two, living on a farm that is about to be taken from him, Joseph embarks on an unexpected journey that will bring him face to face with his greatest fears, and ultimately with his greatest discovery—a mysterious wooden box hidden in his attic more than one hundred years earlier. This box, the Prayer Chest, contains the Three Secrets of Prayer that will change his life and the lives of everyone around him.

What starts out as a journey to save his children and himself turns into a quest through which he—and every reader who has ever struggled—discovers the power to make every prayer come true.

Rich in romance, mystery, and spiritual insight, THE PRAYER CHEST is a wise and warm tale that will revolutionize everything we’ve ever thought about prayer—and the meaning of our lives here on earth. A parable for people of all faiths—or none—it is to be read, enjoyed, and above all, lived.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cofounders of Sacred Center New York, Gold and Fotinos offer a spiritual parable that will appeal to fans of It's a Wonderful Life. The hero is Joseph Hutchinson, a hardworking farmer in late–19th-century Long Island. Though not a believer like his beloved wife, Miriam, Joseph has a special relationship with his attic. He not only prays in his attic, he prays to his attic, beseeching the room, for example, to help him safely deliver his first child. When, despite Joseph's prayers, Miriam dies of pneumonia, Joseph turns away from prayer and the attic, until one day he discovers a mysterious chest filled with scraps of paper and a notebook. This is, of course, the titular prayer chest, which contains three secrets to prayer: prayer is answered through you; prayers are answered when you listen; and prayer is answered when you welcome everything. (Hints of a fourth secret point to a sequel.) The prose can be prosaic, and Joseph's children are at times too precociously, adorably sage (Poppa, did you find the missing piece of your heart behind that wall? asks six-year-old Mary, as Joseph is dislodging the panels of wood that reveal the prayer chest). Still, this easy, inspirational read will warm the hearts of seekers everywhere. (Oct. 30)
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Review

"I absolutely love The Prayer Chest. Not only is it a good story, it also offers enormously helpful and practical guidance for living a joy-filled and meaningful life."
—Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom, The Wisdom of Menopause, and Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

“The Prayer Chest is a wonderful and enlightening book. It tells an inspiring story whose deep secret is that we all need a simple place, a quiet place, a place of miracles, a hiding place where we can write the truth of our hearts and leave it for those we love. We each need our own Prayer Chest, and in times of joy, in times of fear, it will be there to guide us and to help us receive the truth. What a gift is this wonderful book!”
—Judy Collins, singer, songwriter, and writer

"The Prayer Chest resonates on so many levels. The story sings, the lessons abound and the loving truth we all seek pours out of every page. I fell in love with every character and was pleasantly surprised at every turn. If I doubt prayer ever again, I'll re-read it to get my conviction back. This is one for the ages. Bravo!”
—Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Now What and Living Your Best Life

“The Prayer Chest is a treasure chest of bounty: It’s a healing story that will have you on the edge of your seat, while at the same time delivering information that can make your life rich, gentle, and joyous. It’s like ‘A Wonderful Life’ meets ‘The Secret.’ I closed this book eager to avail myself of a new and earnest, secret power. This book answers prayers you didn’t even know you had.”
—Tama J. Kieves, author of This Time I Dance: Creating the Work You Love

“A spiritual parable that will appeal to fans of It’s a Wonderful Life . . . this easy, inspirational read will warm the hearts of seekers everywhere.” —Publishers Weekly

“I have used prayer chests for many years, with great results. I applaud your book on the subject. It is much needed for informational and inspirational purposes in these times.”
—Catherine Ponder, author of The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Doubleday Religion; 1 edition (October 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385520239
• ISBN-13: 978-0385520232
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly Charming, February 21, 2008

By 

Janet Horton (Hoboken, NJ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Prayer Chest: A Novel About Receiving All of Life's Riches (Hardcover)

What an inspiring little gem! Captivating story and characters, with a tear-jerking romance and children in danger, back in great-grandma's time. Solid Americana. Fun and riveting to read, yet wholesome and spiritually fulfilling. Not written for children, but would definitely appeal to teenagers as well as adults. Ideal for a neighborhood book club-- inspirational message will draw families of all concerned together, and strengthen marriages. If you're feeling down and need to remember how lucky you are and that love begins from within, read this one, then write your own review. Personally, I'm waiting for the movie.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful read!, November 7, 2007

By 

Gary A. Smith "AliveAnew" (Spokane, Washington) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Prayer Chest: A Novel About Receiving All of Life's Riches (Hardcover)

This is a warm, touching and very human story taking place in the late 19th century. It is to be enjoyed by any reader - from those seeking just the casual joy of a wholesome story to others who appreciate philosophical undertones that will pleasingly resonate with traditional Christians, new thought practitioners and truly anyone who recognizes that there is so much more to this world than our flesh and bones existence. This book will find its way onto my gift list for many friends this year!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CAPTIVATING!, January 13, 2008

By 

L. Arndt - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Prayer Chest: A Novel About Receiving All of Life's Riches (Hardcover)

This wonderful little book is a virtual treasure trove of inspiration, guidance and wisdom. Hats off to Fotinos and Gold for a truly heartwarming tale of loss, fear, faith and love. BRAVO!!