As Is
Wendy Stenzel Oleston
Life is hard for Mara Shaw. One bad relationship after another has left her a single mother with no faith in anything. She is unable to trust in anyone . . . including herself. She decides to start afresh, and never allow herself to be hurt again.
Graydon Davidson walks into her life and begins to show her the truth. While the truth is hard to accept, it is also the key to her freedom. Is this gorgeous and compassionate stranger the answer to all her dreams? Or will specters from her past which emerge to haunt her take over? Mara is faced with a choice that will change her life forever.
Graydon Davidson walks into her life and begins to show her the truth. While the truth is hard to accept, it is also the key to her freedom. Is this gorgeous and compassionate stranger the answer to all her dreams? Or will specters from her past which emerge to haunt her take over? Mara is faced with a choice that will change her life forever.
First of all, I would like to put it out there that I am not Christian.
However the author thought I might be interested in it, so hey: why not give it a go?
Wheeeeeeeeeww.
Let's talk about the beginning. Right off the bat the story starts in media res (middle of the "action", per say). We've got our main character, Mara Shaw, going to her new therapist due to her attempted suicide. Now, you expect it to start off with a serious tone and have the whole story carry this heavy and serious tone with this great meaning towards the end and etc.
Well let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen: it starts off with a light-hearted tone.
In fact, I was laughing.
Don't get me wrong, there is seriousness to this story, but Oleston was able to create this sense of reality and humor that glides along with the blanket of deep meaning. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was kind of like a Rom-Com in the beginning, what with the way Mara and Graydon meet and talk. It was soooo cute! It added a sense of realism to the book, especially since it's Christian Fiction. Which leads me to the topic of religion.
I feel like there's this stigma to the genre of Christian Fiction, like the books in that genre have to be written in a certain way: no exceptions. I also feel like Oleston's books are sometimes looked down upon because it's not necessarily written like a majority of Christian Fiction books (Granted, I have not read many CF books, so please correct me if I am wrong). It's like... "Omg, is this really in a Christian Fiction book? It is a sin!" etc. (please keep in mind that this is just an example). Especially since there's a glass of wine right there smack in the middle of the cover. But either way, I was kind of expecting to get bombarded with religion.
However the author thought I might be interested in it, so hey: why not give it a go?
Wheeeeeeeeeww.
Let's talk about the beginning. Right off the bat the story starts in media res (middle of the "action", per say). We've got our main character, Mara Shaw, going to her new therapist due to her attempted suicide. Now, you expect it to start off with a serious tone and have the whole story carry this heavy and serious tone with this great meaning towards the end and etc.
Well let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen: it starts off with a light-hearted tone.
In fact, I was laughing.
Don't get me wrong, there is seriousness to this story, but Oleston was able to create this sense of reality and humor that glides along with the blanket of deep meaning. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought it was kind of like a Rom-Com in the beginning, what with the way Mara and Graydon meet and talk. It was soooo cute! It added a sense of realism to the book, especially since it's Christian Fiction. Which leads me to the topic of religion.
I feel like there's this stigma to the genre of Christian Fiction, like the books in that genre have to be written in a certain way: no exceptions. I also feel like Oleston's books are sometimes looked down upon because it's not necessarily written like a majority of Christian Fiction books (Granted, I have not read many CF books, so please correct me if I am wrong). It's like... "Omg, is this really in a Christian Fiction book? It is a sin!" etc. (please keep in mind that this is just an example). Especially since there's a glass of wine right there smack in the middle of the cover. But either way, I was kind of expecting to get bombarded with religion.
I have a news flash, folks: I was not bombarded with religion.
*GASP*
Now let me tell you: this books does, in fact, belong under the Christian Fiction category. The religion part of the story is weaved in throughout the entire story. The author was able to add that aspect and make it fit with the rest of the story, like a jigsaw puzzle. Wendy S. Oleston creates this sense of truth and shows Christianity how it is. We don't live the same way we did thousands of years ago. Our lifestyle is different, and the way religion is incorporated into our lives is different (to a certain extent). I loved how Oleston was able to make it so that the Christianity in the story was the same as Christianity now. It was realistic, and it made me continue reading because I found it intriguing and I could see it happening to someone in the now. The author plays with the sins and problems that are more common nowadays, brings it to life, and then applies Christianity to it. It was so cool to read it and see it come alive.
It was such a beautiful story. It was raw at times, and then sweet. I loved reading about Mara and the things she had to face. I loved reading about Graydon and his goals in life. I loved reading about the side characters that came and went in Mara's life. Like if you took religion out of it, it would still be an awesome book.
While it is cute and mellow, the story is serious. It made my heart break, it upset me, it made me question different things about life, and it made me cry.
It made me cry a lot, actually. Especially towards the end... (I won't say anything more about that. You'll have to find out yourself *wink* *wink*)
Especially when I found out that this story came to life from personal experiences.
This book is somewhat based off of the author's personal experience and the things she went through. After knowing this, I cried even more because the meaning behind the story became deeper and more... meaningful. IT was heart-breaking to see how everything matched up. But I gained a newer sense of respect for Wendy and am proud of her for the many things she has overcome thus far.
I believe that even if you aren't Christian, you can still learn something from this story, and that this book is definitely a worthwhile read.
You can learn more about Wendy Stenzel Oleston on her blog: http://wenryett.blogspot.com/
My Rating:
1/5 I didn't like it
2/5 It was okay
3/5 I liked it
4/5 I really liked it
5/5 It was amazing
~Deniz
*GASP*
Now let me tell you: this books does, in fact, belong under the Christian Fiction category. The religion part of the story is weaved in throughout the entire story. The author was able to add that aspect and make it fit with the rest of the story, like a jigsaw puzzle. Wendy S. Oleston creates this sense of truth and shows Christianity how it is. We don't live the same way we did thousands of years ago. Our lifestyle is different, and the way religion is incorporated into our lives is different (to a certain extent). I loved how Oleston was able to make it so that the Christianity in the story was the same as Christianity now. It was realistic, and it made me continue reading because I found it intriguing and I could see it happening to someone in the now. The author plays with the sins and problems that are more common nowadays, brings it to life, and then applies Christianity to it. It was so cool to read it and see it come alive.
It was such a beautiful story. It was raw at times, and then sweet. I loved reading about Mara and the things she had to face. I loved reading about Graydon and his goals in life. I loved reading about the side characters that came and went in Mara's life. Like if you took religion out of it, it would still be an awesome book.
While it is cute and mellow, the story is serious. It made my heart break, it upset me, it made me question different things about life, and it made me cry.
It made me cry a lot, actually. Especially towards the end... (I won't say anything more about that. You'll have to find out yourself *wink* *wink*)
Especially when I found out that this story came to life from personal experiences.
This book is somewhat based off of the author's personal experience and the things she went through. After knowing this, I cried even more because the meaning behind the story became deeper and more... meaningful. IT was heart-breaking to see how everything matched up. But I gained a newer sense of respect for Wendy and am proud of her for the many things she has overcome thus far.
I believe that even if you aren't Christian, you can still learn something from this story, and that this book is definitely a worthwhile read.
You can learn more about Wendy Stenzel Oleston on her blog: http://wenryett.blogspot.com/
My Rating:
1/5 I didn't like it
2/5 It was okay
3/5 I liked it
4/5 I really liked it
5/5 It was amazing
~Deniz
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