The Weeping Chamber (Paperback)

by Sigmund Brouwer (Author) "My dearest love, Please do not abandon me..." (more)
Key Phrases: weeping chamber, temple today, Mount of Olives, Pontius Pilate, Holy City (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Simeon's life is falling apart, and he fears he may never see his wife and daughter again. As he arrives in Jerusalem for Passover, he is looking for a miracle. In this repackaged edition, best-selling author Sigmund Brouwer retells the passion of Christ through the eyes of one man as he experiences an astonishing encounter with Christ in his last hours of life.

About the Author
SIDMOND BROUWER grew up in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, and developed an early interest in sports like hockey, racquetball, and biking. His poor performance in high school English classes led him to receive a degree in commerce from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and not to pursue writing. When a professor in his undergraduate English course encouraged him to write, and he eventually received a degree in journalism from Carleton College in Ottawa. After publishing several articles for U.S. and Canadian magazines, he turned to writing books for kids reluctant to read.

Sigmund is married to Christian recording artist Cindy Morgan; the couple has two daughters. Spends time between family homes in Red Deer and Nashville.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers (January 8, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0842387153
• ISBN-13: 978-0842387156
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #134,560 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, April 16, 2001

By	Mark Baker (Santa Clarita, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Weeping Chamber (Paperback)

This novel is one man's spiritual journey during Christ's final week on earth. As our main character struggles with his personal problems and guilt, he also interacts with Jesus. Will he see the true freedom that Jesus offers before time runs out for both of them?

I was blown away when I read this book. Sigmund Brouwer weaves a fictitious story around the real events of the Bible seamlessly. And his account of the Bible story is eye opening. While fictitious, it made me look at the people involved in a different light. I have a new understanding of what Jesus did for all of us because of it.

I also read Sigmund Brouwer's THE CARPENTER'S CLOTH at the same time. There are some overlapping passages between the two books, but both are well worth a read and include material not in the other.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read for Fans of Biblical Fiction, May 16, 2004

By	FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

As far too many writers have proven, it can be a significant challenge to offer a fresh and satisfying perspective on the familiar events in the life of Christ, particularly the final week of Jesus' life on earth and the drama of the crucifixion and resurrection. But if there's one thing Sigmund Brouwer has proven, he's willing to take on a challenge, and his gifts as a writer are clearly equal to the challenges he faces.

Brouwer offers a view of the events of Holy Week through the eyes of a merchant named Simeon, who has sacrificed the love and respect of his family in his unrelenting efforts to accumulate wealth. As a visitor to Jerusalem, he has heard of this prophet named Jesus and witnessed His arrival in the city, to the praise and adulation of the people who shouted hosannas at the sight of Him. Throughout what will prove to be a tumultuous week, Simeon wrestles with his personal pain and the memories of the losses he has suffered, his numbing depression, and the suicidal thoughts that seem to offer the only hope for escape from his shame and sorrow.

But that was before his encounter with the living Christ. Simeon is, of course, Simeon of Cyrene, the bystander pressed into service by Roman soldiers to carry the cross when Jesus' battered body continually fell under its weight. As you might suspect, his life is transformed in the process. But Brouwer wisely allows that transformation to take place over time, steering clear of a predictable I've-carried-His-cross-and-now-I've-seen-the-light moment.

Brouwer's skill as a storyteller is evident in all his books, and THE WEEPING CHAMBER is no exception. He creates a compelling backstory for Simeon's life and offers up the relevant details of that life a little at a time, keeping the reader in a continual state of curiosity about this man who has lost the will to live. He allows the story to unfold naturally through a seamless, gripping narrative and the daily letters Simeon writes to the wife whose love he has carelessly discarded.

Even the familiarity of Palestine at the time of Christ gets a fresh makeover in Brouwer's hands, with the scenes that take place in Simeon's seaside home in his native Cyrene providing a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of Passover-week Jerusalem. Add to that the ability to write that most elusive of fictional elements --- believable dialogue --- and it's not hard to see why Brouwer has such a loyal fan base.

THE WEEPING CHAMBER breathes new life into the story of Simeon and the journey from Palm Sunday to the empty tomb, just as a brief encounter with Jesus breathes new life into a man whose spirit is slowly dying. For fans of biblical fiction, especially those who have been disappointed by other historical novels set at the time of Christ, Brouwer's latest is a must-read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Biblical drama unfolds with realism and reverence . . ., April 27, 2000

By	John Stem (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Weeping Chamber (Paperback)

This is an excellent book to introduce someone to the historical and spiritual significance of the Easter holiday. The time the author and his wife, singer/songwriter Cindy Morgan, spent in Jerusalem enabled him to provide a cultural perspective of which many reading the biblical account of Christ's last week would be otherwise unaware. This storytelling gently brushed away my biased view of biblical days, and allowed me to see what life was really like for Christ's followers and detractors. I highly recommend this book and Cindy Morgan's album "The Loving Kind" for those interested in learning more about the life and times of Christ. The chapters are short--usually no more than four or five pages, sometimes two or three. The subplot of the narrator is moving with its realistic view of marriage and family. Do not be surprised if you can not put it down! It may take some hunting now that it is out of print, but this book could greatly enhance its readers' spiritual lives.