Customer Reviews

The Storytellers' Collection Book 2: Tales from Home

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After being rather disappointed by the short stories in the first Storytellers' Collection, I was pleasantly surprised by the improved quality of volume two. Consisting of 37 short stories, it is a collaboration of the members of ChilLibris, successful Christian novelists like Karen Kingsbury, Randy Alcorn, Angela Elwell Hunt, Terri Blackstock, and others. As with the first volume, the royalties go to a worthwhile organization, in this case Prison Fellowship Ministries, founded by Chuck Colson in 1976. But while the first volume of stories focused on travelling, these tales are more about hearts and homes. The change in focus seems to be a successful one - the stories themselves are rather interesting and effective, and not hampered by as many theological problems as those in the first volume.

Two of the especially memorable stories were "Fragments of Truth" by Carol Cox, which is an excellent mystery story, and "Jessica's Gift" by Karen Kingsbury, which shows the effect of the gospel on a broken marriage through the eyes of a young girl with cerebral palsy. But many of the other stories in the collection are also worth reading:
Shari MacDonald's "Homecoming" shows the struggle of a new bride who leaves her husband after six months when she discovers that marriage isn't all a honeymoon.
Karen Ball's "The Orchard" is a must-read to remind fathers of the importance of spending time with family in light of the eternal things that really matter.
Jefferson Scott's "A Matter of Perspective" shows how you can look at an ordinary day in two completely different ways depending on your perspective.
Carole Gift Page's "Home to Southfiled, Mourning" features a husband and wife who discover the isolation between them after a funeral.
Lori Copeland's "Communication" is a humorous tale about a wife who fries her husband's trophy fish.
Colleen Coble's "Heart Treasure" highlights the truth of Matthew 6, as a mother gives up her baby for adoption and must choose between giving her child Christian parents, or gaining wealth for herself.
Neta Jackon's "Fences" is an extended metaphor about taking down fences and building bridges between people.
Athol Dickson's "The Coward" uses the story of a boy whose love for his grandfather overcomes his fear of heights to illustrate the Scriptural idea that "Perfect love drives out fear" (1Jn 4:18).
Terri Blackstock's "The Blue Convertible" puts a face on a criminal and through the eyes of a young girl helps the reader to identify with a prisoner.
Patricia Hickman's "Diary of a Farmer's Wife" is an allegory that shows how the bride of Christ often acts like a woman who lives her life selfishly and throws away the most precious treasure of all.
Randy Alcorn's "Brothers" in true Alcorn style demonstrates the importance of living for eternity and heaven, in a situation between two detached brothers whose father dies.
Judith McCoy-Miller's "In The Matter of Grace" portrays a widow who learns to deal with grief and see her blessings.

These stories are probably the highlights of the collection. They may be fiction, but the spiritual values and truths that they underline are very real. Skip volume one (aside from two gems which it does have) and go straight to this volume - there's lots of stories here that will inspire and entertain you with a short bite-sized and spiritually nourishing read! -GODLY GADFLY

Some of the top authors of Christian fiction are represented in this collection, and readers will find a treasure trove of stories between the covers. Not only will readers be entertained, but when they buy the book, they will be participating in giving to a good cause. All author royalties will be donated to Prison Fellowship Ministries.

Enjoy!

Robin Lee Hatcher, author of RIBBON OF YEARS (robinlee@robinleehatcher.com)