Across the China Sky (Paperback)

by C. Hope Flinchbaugh (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Two story lines intertwine in Flinchbaugh's disappointing, heavy-handed second novel, a sequel of sorts to 2002's Daughter of China. The main characters are a small band of Chinese Christians. Young, beautiful Mei Lin finds meaningful work teaching at an orphanage. When she discovers a newborn thrown away in a garbage can, Mei Lin, who cannot have children, grows to love the little baby like her own. Meanwhile, her fiancé and her father, a prominent pastor, begin sending her confusing, short letters—they have been lured into the clutches of a cult that aims to persuade Christians that Christ has returned to China as a woman. As a factual afterword makes clear, the novel is based on true events. Nonetheless, Flinchbaugh does not offer a very balanced portrait of Chinese society; the Communist Party is a monolithic evil, and there are no hints that China has become more open to Western culture, society or commerce. Flinchbaugh relies heavily on dialogue, but the individual characters' voices are insufficiently distinguished from one another, and some omniscient narration would have helped set the scene. As it stands, the reader has to work hard for too little payoff. (Sept.)
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Review
"...Flinchbaugh's poignant portrayal of persecuted Christians opened my eyes to a new area of the world." -- Heather Ivester, christianwomenonline.net

"Every Christian church leader in the United States today needs to read it..." -- Diana Pederson, bellaonline.com

"Flinchbaugh's firsthand experience with Chinese Christians makes her a credible witness to these things...." -- Violet Nesdoly, blogcritics.org

"Set within a love story in modern day China... gripping story and one which grabs and keeps your attention." -- Christian Marketplace (U.K.)

"Well written and suspenseful, this is a novel I will reread." -- Marie DisBrow, roadtoromance.ca

"...like traveling to China and experiencing...the underground church. It is a powerful story well told." -- Christian Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House (September 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764202391
• ISBN-13: 978-0764202391
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #243,602 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cutting Edge Novel Doesn't Fool Around, October 16, 2006

By	thesippa - See all my reviews

If you want to read a cozy book, this one isn't for you. The second book in a series, Across the China Sky divulges information that just now is hitting the front pages of American newspapers (Washington Post, for example, just ran a front-page story on the neglected Chinese orphans.) This book is gripping from the first chapter. The author's account makes you wonder if she lived it through it herself. Anybody would benefit from reading this - from the account of the childrens' plights to the wicked cultic schemes - it is truly a book that won't leave you the same person you were when you started out. As American businesses move toward China, we must also be aware of the other facets that make up this complex country. Human rights violations should not be ignored for the sake of lining a few billionaires' pockets, and with the Olympics coming up in 2008, this is the perfect time to be aware of what's going on in China and do something about it. Kudos to C. Hope Flinchbaugh for taking a stand and telling these stories. It's a book I couldn't get enough of and sad to see end. The acounts of the mental and physical torture are brutal, so be forewarned, this is not a comfortable story. But it will be time well-spent.

Publisher's Weekly completely missed the point of the book in their "review". And as far as their confusion over narrative, I can only wonder if that reviewer had had one too many. And disappointing, this book is not.

Like sipping a fine wine, you can't jump into this book expecting it to come out the way you would like it. Hold on for the ride and judge for yourself.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Review: Across The China Sky by C. Hope Flinchbaugh, April 25, 2007

By	Jill Hart "cwahmjill" (CWAHM.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mei Lin has finally been released from prison, but life isn't the same after all she's been through. When she is invited to help in an orphanage for the summer, she can't pass up the chance that God has given her even if it means returning to Shangai so soon after her captivity. During Mei Lin's time away, it's her fiancé who ends up in more danger than he thought possible.

The sequel to Daughter of China, Across The China Sky stands on it's own with a gripping tale of religious persecution in China. C. Hope Flinchbaugh is a powerful storyteller and tackles this sensitive subject with grace and compassion. She doesn't stop with persecution, though. She also handles infertility, cults and orphans. The multiple story lines work together to bring the reader to his knees for any who might suffer through any of these situations.

At times heart-warming and at others heart-wrenching, readers will get a first-hand look at the lives of Christians in China. Flinchbaugh has done her homework. The characters are richly developed and the story deeply touching.

Readers who have an interest in other cultures will find Across The China Sky refreshing. As Americans, it's hard to keep our freedom in perspective. Every once in a while a powerful story like this one begs to be read as a reminder of the liberties we enjoy while others around the world suffer.

As I was reading, I truly felt like I was in China, suffering alongside Flinchbaugh's characters. Every once in a while I would need to pause to wipe the tears from my eyes. The powerful story is backed up at the end of the novel by a real-life update from an interview the author did while visiting China.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant Story, April 19, 2007

By	BookBargainsandPreviews.com "www.bookbargains... (New York) - See all my reviews

Based on true events, the author gives you insight into the Chinese Cult, 'Eastern Lightening'. It's a disturbing story, but one we need to be aware of. At the end of this book, the author provides an excellent outline for dealing with this cult. Sometimes in America, we feel all safe and cozy. This book was an eye opener of how Christians in China are being persecuted today.