Customer Reviews

Sinners & Social Workers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you are accept the possibility that "heaven" and "hell" may exist in different forms, depending on who you are and how you lived your life, then you will really enjoy this book. There are some very dark, some violent parts, but there are some hilarious parts, too. The way the author describes all the different saints and angels, and the devil, is really amazing. She makes them so believable, it's hard not to think that if they really do exist, this is exactly the way they are!

Wow, this is really thought-provoking. Everyone worries (at some point) about what is going to happen after death -- even if they have been very religious/observant, there is a point that we just wonder what really will happen. This book makes so much sense, it is hard to refute the ideas. And it is remarkable how Bernard can write such painful stories and also inject humor at just the right time. A great story.

This is a story not bound by any religious belief or disbelief. The tale crosses time and space to reveal the universal theme of simply getting what's coming to you! What happens to the spirit of those we've loved and lost? What happens to the spirits and souls of those who have committed the ultimate unspeakable acts of violence and ugliness? Is there any connection between the things we say and do while we're alive, and what happens to us after we die? If you've ever wondered these things yourself and are interested in a light and non-preaching/non-religious fictional answer, than this book is for you! What a fresh spin by a talented storyteller on a topic as old as time!

As with the morality plays of yore this novel challenges us to confront forces of good and evil, of light and darkness, of calm and chaos. With startling insight, captivating wit and enduring compassion the author populates her tale with a range of characters - all so recognizable in our own lives - from those born on the wrong side of the tracks to the silver-spoon-in-the-mouth anointed. We meet both the self-righteously pious and the devoutly ecumenical ... and not to be missed is the lightly-concealed commentary on arguably the most egregious political machinations of our time.

The questions Ms. Bernard poses to her readers require lifelong contemplation: Where would each of us find ourselves standing in line? Who would seek us out? What choice would be put to us? Is redemption available even to those who have sinned the most? Whether God-fearing or otherwise, the reader will find this novel resonates with both his highest ideals and his worst nightmares.

I bought this book based on other reviews, and of course, because of the story, and I was not disappointed. For a while, in the middle of the book, I thought that the book was starting to take a religious angle. While I have no issues with religious books per se, they are not the books I enjoy reading. However, after reading on, I realized that this book was more than just a religious tale.
The author chooses to give us a snap shot of the life, and death of eight very different individuals, all dealing with the trivialities of life. While some of these indivividuals are good and caring people, others are pure evil. Ultimately, all have an appointment with death. In the second part of the book, the author tells us what happens to these eight individuals. This is where I thought, at first, that the book was taking a religious spin. However, as I read on, I realized that the author had decided to use a premise that included a God and a Devil, but moving forward, explored the concept of good and evil, and how we might be given a choice to rectify some of the wrongs we have done during our earthly life. I found this concept highly encouraging and comforting, even if it remains a story in a book, I felt good knowing that after death, we might still be given some choices to be good, as opposed to simply get judged.
In the third part, the author really illustrates this concept of choice, and the consequences that might come with these choices. What I found interesting in this last part that the individuals were given choices, but had to take the time to consider the motives behing their choice. The other used this last part very cleverly to bring an end to the tales of these eight individuals.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book. It was truly thought provoking, and has been in my mind for a few days after I finished it, which to me is the sign of a good book. Enjoy!

4 out of 4 people in my book club agreed that this book was very poorly written. The plot was thin, obvious, and repetitive. Honestly, when the writer resorts to using three questions marks to end a sentence to convey meaning, you know they are compensating for a lack of skill with words.

This is not a conventional novel, but really a modern version of the classic "morality plays" of medieval times. In that context, it is simply and beautifully written. Without giving away anything, I think I can say that all of the characters in the first 8 chapters (Part I) meet their demise. One character is saintly, the next is evil; that is made very clear, and requires no detective work on the reader's part. In Part II, the characters meet up again on a "path" that is some kind of limbo/purgatory. There we learn, in quite effective flashback style, the stories of their individual lives, and what led up to their deaths in Part I. In Part III, their ultimate fate is revealed. Actually, it is not accurate to call it "ultimate" I think, because each individual is given "choices" consistent with their lifestyles. These fates are to be "followed" by more choices later on. (We do not get to see what the "later" choices are, because it is clear from their initial choices the direction in which they are going.) The story conveys a lovely sense of ongoing redemption, that nothing is final or permanent in death, just as in life.
Not everyone who has written a review here liked the book or thought it was clever or funny. I did, but that speaks to one's individual sense of humor and persuasion. There were parts in which I almost laughed out loud, other parts that were deeply touching. I can see where the book can be threatening to those who feel secure with the fundamental tenets of their religious belief. This book definitely shakes the tree, politically as well as religiously. The author describes one "W"-type character, with a fate that will probably irritate anyone who is a staunch supporter of the Bush administration. Personally, I found it to be one of the most humorous and poetically "just" of all the stories.
Beyond that, it is genuinely enjoyable to see the sincere reverence shown toward the different religious and ethnically diverse characters with which the story is populated. I would warn anyone who is religious in a fundamental way, or a hard-shell advocate of the infallibility of the Bible (or a staunch Republican), that they may not like what they read. It requires a wide open mind. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and look forward to reading it again.

Where do I start? The startlingly bad writing, the appallingly, abysmal story line? The underdeveloped stereotypical characters? This book is so bad it made my eyes bleed. Maybe hell is reading this book and should have been a part of the devil's torture on those characters that went "down there". THis book reminds me of something a high school student would come up with in their creative writing class. The book just uses unoriginal oversimplified descriptions of heaven and hell, angels and the devil ("you can call me Lou") PA-lease! I think Norah Bernard went to a continuing ed class or community adult ed class in creative writing and got way too much false encouragement that she actually has any talent as a writer. Honey, pick a new hobby like gardening and join the rotary club. It's just disgustingly awful. The sin is I paid for it. Please forgive me.