Customer Reviews

Twice Freed (Freestyle)

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I first read this book when I was about twelve--then the book was fascinating. I re-read it about a month ago (I am currently nineteen), and it was incredible. Obviously coming from a Christian perspective, the book was very uplifting, but just as another book, it is truly wonderful. It captures the essence of the early wave of Christianity in Rome, including the accurate portrayl of the persecution, but doesn't spend time dwelling on it. The only thing slightly inaccurate was the portrayl of Onesimus as a gladiator. The psychological and emotional stages were effective, but it seems as though the author had seen "Spartecus" and borrowed the fight scene and gave it a different ending. Moreover, the condition of the gladiators was greatly downplayed. But despite this slight shortcoming, the book kept my attention. Also the dialogue in several situations is somewhat juvenile, but the speakers usually were quite young, so the situation remains suitable. I highly recommend this book.

This is a novel for young adult readers that provides a thoroughly fictional account behind the letter of the Apostle Paul to the man named Philemon (for those who don't know, Paul's letter is included in the canon of New Testament scripture as the Book of Philemon, right in there with Paul's more public letters to the churches at Rome, Galatia, etc.). St. John took the few facts to be gleaned from the letter (primarily, the facts that a disciple of Paul's named Onesimus was a runaway slave belonging to another Pauline disciple named Philemon - and that Paul brokered Onesimus' return to the house of Philemon) and constructed a rich background that gives the reader a colorful (and questionably accurate) picture of early Church life in Greece and Rome. Like a first-century Forrest Gump, Onesimus appears in all of the important venues of the day. For his time and place, it doesn't get much more interesting than watching a pagan orgy in Ephasus, living through the earthquake at Laodicia, enjoying the praise of Nero in the gladiator ring, and, most significantly, receiving the personal counsel of Paul himself. Whew! Well St. John's Onesimus does it all. I read this aloud to my kids, and they enjoyed it and were drawn into the drama. St. John does a nice job of 'bringing the characters to life' and pulling the reader into the story emotionally. And, by the way, Onesimus is a very unlikeable and ruthless scoundrel most of the way through this novel - St. John's intent exactly. Oddly, St. John injects more than a bit sensuality in this work, and in reading this to the kids I found myself editing on the fly from time to time (too much admiration of one another's lithe bodies and muscle tone for my reading). Overall, a nice work and wasn't as corny as it could have been (for Christian fiction written in the mid 20th century). Just remember - Paul's letter was real, but this is made-up!

I bought this for my girls to read for a literature group for our home school. Both they and I really enjoyed it!

Paul's journeys in the Bible go to different regions and different times, giving us a glimpse of what was happening. He refers to slaves but there are no "real life" information about that in his writing. This book begins with a fictionalized (but possibly historically accurate) portrayal of slavery in that time period and then the book introduces us to Paul and the new believers. Their lives cross paths and are forever changed. The slave also journeys to some of the other big cities at that time and tells us what is happening in Rome, Athens, etc.

Twice Freed by Patricia St. John deals with the subjects of consequences, and accepting responsibility for your actions. My fourth grader and I both enjoyed the adventures of Onesimus, a young boy in the Roman Empire.

TWICE FREED, by Patricia St John has made a real impact on our family. We read it aloud and found it both CAPTIVATING and INSTRUCTIVE. The author basically tells a story about Onesimus and his slave-master Philemon--two lesser known characters from the New Testament. The story line, depth of character development, and ease of reading will appeal to CHILDREN; The remarkable true-to-the-first-century AD grasp of early Christianity, history, social structure, geography and Bible characters will fascinate more MATURE READERS who have an interest the Bible.

Patricia St. John manages to follow Onesimus from Colosse to Ephesus, Laodicia, etc. and eventually to Athens and Rome. Along the way Onesimus keeps running into those who have been saved and caught up in this strange upstart religion: Christianity. Short of telling the whole plot, Philemon (the master) becomes a Christian as well as many in his household. Onesimus (the slave) resents/ hates his master and through the book is running not only from his master, but from the Christ whose people keep popping up in his life and demonstrating their Savior's love.

WE WERE ENCOURAGED by reading this book to be more like those Christian people who keep popping up in the lives of those running from the One we so love. We've read several of this author's books and have come to appreciate her ability portray real characters with an eye to what is going on at the level of the conscience.

I had a friend of mine who has a PhD in NEW TESTAMENT STUDIES and has visited these archeological sites numerous times read the book and tell me what he thought of the book in terms of historical details. He felt that they are very accurate in most cases.

I'M RECOMMENDING the book to Christians both young and old, but probably the intended audience is 10-25 range. PARENTS, especially--read it aloud to the family; talk about it. I pray that you'll be blessed by this book as we have been.

Patricia St. John writes an amazing story based on the book of Philemon and the story of Onesimus and Paul. Her historical details and descriptive language make the story come alive. The Biblical truth woven through the book is inspiring and challenging. This is one that I have read over and over.

Christian Focus books claims that it publishes "biblically-accurate books" and while this fictional retelling of Paul's letter to Philemon may be true to the New Testament account, it is not true to the historical reality of its time. It isn't that St. John doesn't grasp the horror of slavery, in fact she plays it down a bit but this is more for children and teenagers than adults. But the period, 1st century not long after the death of Jesus, is too early for so many Christians, especially among the middle and upper classes of Rome, to be running around everywhere. The character of Onesiumus though is well done and shows complexity and conflict where it should -- other characters too are fairly done. Its a good book to preach with, just not a good both to teach history from.