Customer Reviews

Room of Marvels

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3 star:		(1)
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The two most famous works that have given the world a peak into an enlightened mind's vision of heaven, Dante's Divine Comedy and C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, are now joined by a third - James Bryan Smith's Room of Marvels. More inspiring than Dante and more touching and personal than Lewis, Smith's writing draws readers into his heaven and makes them never want to leave. Room of Marvels is a perfect combination of scripture-based theology and a powerful, semi-autobiographical story to which every reader can relate. This book is enjoyable, enlightening, and an invaluable comfort and guide for anyone who is currently struggling through or has ever struggled through the grieving process. An inspired and life-changing book that everyone must experience.

I read Room of Marvels in one night and knew right away that it was going to be a great passalong book. It's short, sweet, deep, inexpensive, creative, memorable. A couple of my friends read it as well, and we had a good time talking about its theme: what Heaven might be like and how we should live on Earth with an eternal perspective. Definitely a conversation starter. It's a special little book that I don't think I will forget.

James Bryan Smith has done a wonderful job of putting our fears of death to rest and reminding us that as followers of Christ we are to simply love. This book touched my soul and indeed renewed my hope. This is a book that you want to keep handy so that on those days when things seem hopeless you can be reminded that a better place awaits us all.

I've read Dante and I've read Lewis; Smith is better. This is one of the most inspired works you will ever read. If you or someone you know is groping with the doubts and anger which so often accompany grief, then this novel will comfort like no other.

Buy it. Read it. Give it to all your friends. And remember that your random and seemingly insignificant acts of kindness may resonate throughout all eternity. For in the end, the only true treasures you will ever know are the people you love.

Room of Marvels tells the story of Tim Hudson, a fictional Christian author who has had a traumatic couple of years. His mother, best friend, and daughter have all died. In order to cope with his grief, he goes to a monastery with the intent to spend a week in silence. He does have meetings once a day, however, with a spiritual advisor. One night during his stay he has a dream in which he travels to heaven. He is greeted by his childhood barber, C.S. Lewis, and the three loved ones he has lost. After extended conversations with all these characters, he awakes, finding himself able to deal with the grief that he carried.

This book isn't poetic, but it tells a good story, albeit a familiar one(see The Five People You Meet in Heaven, etc.). The dialogue between Tim and C.S. Lewis gets a little stilted, but part of that is because Smith used pieces of Lewis's nonfiction works to put words in Clive Staples mouth. It doesn't flow well, but he gets his point across. But the conversations between his mother, daughter, and friend touch the heart. They are poignantly written, and with good reason: this book is based on a true story. Smith lost his mother, daughter, and best friend Rich Mullins all within a space of a couple of years. He didn't have the dream that his character Tim did, but it is obvious that this book is his way of dealing with their deaths. It is amazing that he was able to turn that into this beautiful work of fiction.

I would recommend this to anyone, but especially those who are going through the death of a loved one or questioning the love of God in a world of suffering.

"Room of Marvels" covers familiar territory in the vein of 'what happens to those we love?' That question is answered, but the suspense is more along the lines of 'what happens to faith in the face of overwhelming loss?' Diseased with self-loathing and repressed anger the hero's faith is wasting to a shadow. Revelation is the cure, of course, and it comes in traditional literary fashion. Despair is not what goads the catharsis, however. But it does open the lips, and we become the confessors.

Mitch Albom has made an industry out of the basic fears of death, loss and pursuit of a meaningful life. In the case of this author (James Bryan Smith) it's a far more personal and compelling case, since it is founded on his real-life losses - His own mother, daughter and best friend (the ever-venerated Christan musician, Rich Mullins.)

It's also firmly rooted in orthodox Christian theology, but this little book is decidedly un-theological in tone. It's really John Bunyan and Pilgrim's Progress more than Dante's Paradiso. It starts in a very accessible, modern, and plausible (if mildly exotic) setting, then transports us for the body of book to a mash-up of a place where important literary heroes, friends and family come brilliantly to life. These people become the archetypes for every Christian virtue.

Dialog is full of humor and never stiff, even if it seems like the self-revelations come without too much effort. In the end, we get more than a satisfying tale - we're left with the gift of HOPE.

Tim is a Christian author. He has lost several important people in his life and is bound up with anger at God for taking them from him. In an attempt to have a breakthrough, or even just a break from the misery he is living in, he goes for a retreat at a monastery. The retreat is in silence except for a one hour counseling session once a day with a monk. One of the things that happen to him while at this retreat is that he falls asleep and has a dream about heaven. The things revealed to him in this dream completely change his perspective on death, dying and heaven.

This book is really quite amazing. Within such few pages is revealed a unique outlook on heaven. I shed tears and laughed while reading it, but mostly found a sense of peace regarding love ones that have gone to heaven before me that I had never found before. If you have loved C. S. Lewis, you will love this book. I highly recommend it!

This book is amazing!! Smith is an incredible writer with a huge gift! I was sucked in by the first page and literally could NOT put it down until I was done! Reading this book really helped me realize how much God loves me...enough that He has ALREADY created a space for me in heaven. While reading this book I laughed and I cried. It's a must read.

I personally spent much time with the author of this book and his family over a two year period. This book...The dreams chronicle much of the life that I was priveleged and honored to share with the family. I could not help but smile, laugh , and weep throughout this book. By far one of the best books I have ever read. I read it cover to cover in a day and I am not an avid reader. I can not sing the praises of this book enough.

This is a great book. Very good for those who have experienced death firsthand, or for those close to someone who has.