"What ardent, dazzling souls emerge from these American missionaries in China . . . A beautiful, searing book that leaves an indelible prese... read full description
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Jan 01, 2011
Laura
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City of Tranquil Light is a quiet book - there's a lot going on, but the touch is barely there, most of the time. The tale of two Mennonite missionaries on the Great China Plain, the day-to-day sorrows and triumphs of these ordinary people are compelling. There are a few "loud" moments (the beheadings, for example) but that only makes them stand out more. The decision to tell the story through Will's remembering and Katherine's journal adds to the slightly removed tone.
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Jan 01, 2012
Margaret
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It can be hard to find novels that show Christianity in a positive light these days. I don't count the "Christian fiction" genre, as I've rarely found anything worth reading there. But mainstream fiction usually portrays Christians in a negative way, if it portrays them at all. And Christian missionaries? Don't get me started.
City of Tranquil Light is a beautiful novel that tells the story of a missionary couple in China in a very respectful, loving way. These missionari More...
City of Tranquil Light is a beautiful novel that tells the story of a missionary couple in China in a very respectful, loving way. These missionari More...
Mar 23, 2011
Beth
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This book attracted my notice because of my Chinese connection with the past. Not only did I spend my early childhood in Taiwan where my parents taught English, but my grandmother was born and raised in China by her missionary parents. My mother and father also taught English there at a later time, but I didn’t accompany them on that trip. Their home has always been open to hosting students from China, many of whom have become our friends over the years. My grandmother spoke Mandarin all her
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Dec 25, 2010
Victoria
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This was an unearthly, beautiful novel.
City of Tranquil Light is a novel based on the lives of the author’s relatives. The fictional story of Will and Katherine Kiehn is so moving that I devoured the first 111 pages in a single sitting. After that, I continued to read, but many times with the greatest agony.
Not because the writing turned to a lesser quality, but because they chose to name their daughter Lily, which also happens to be the name of my daughter. And the More...
City of Tranquil Light is a novel based on the lives of the author’s relatives. The fictional story of Will and Katherine Kiehn is so moving that I devoured the first 111 pages in a single sitting. After that, I continued to read, but many times with the greatest agony.
Not because the writing turned to a lesser quality, but because they chose to name their daughter Lily, which also happens to be the name of my daughter. And the More...
Dec 15, 2010
Cindy
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A Novel
Bo Caldwell
2010
Henry Holt and Company LLC
Fiction
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
I must preface my review by stating this fact. I love missionary stories, I love missionaries. As a child of a pastor and now a pastor's wife, my favorite memories and services often center around missionary services. That being said I was very excited to read and review this book. While it is a work of fiction, it is inspired by the liv More...
Bo Caldwell
2010
Henry Holt and Company LLC
Fiction
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
I must preface my review by stating this fact. I love missionary stories, I love missionaries. As a child of a pastor and now a pastor's wife, my favorite memories and services often center around missionary services. That being said I was very excited to read and review this book. While it is a work of fiction, it is inspired by the liv More...
Dec 14, 2010
Nancy
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I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. The author's voice is compelling and articulate. The story is told by two narrators; Will and Katherine. Their voices and outlooks are distinct and different from one another. Although they are married and serve together in China, their experiences and perceptions are very different.
The years the couple are in China are pivotal in the country's economic and political outcome. A dynasty ends, a civil war is fought, there is dro More...
The years the couple are in China are pivotal in the country's economic and political outcome. A dynasty ends, a civil war is fought, there is dro More...
Dec 12, 2010
Brenda
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"City Of Tranquil Light" is the story of missionaries Will and Katherine Keihn. While it is a story of their missionary work in China, it is also a love story between two people who were married for 37 years.While life was never easy, dealing with sickness, a war torn country, and the death of their daughter, they never gave up, and never lost their faith in God.
Will is 81, and living in a retirement home for missionaries in California, as he unfolds the journey of his life More...
Will is 81, and living in a retirement home for missionaries in California, as he unfolds the journey of his life More...
Dec 05, 2010
Linda
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Will Kiehn was a young Mennonite man struggling with his faith, eventually relinquishing his life and will to God after hearing Edward Geisler, missionary to China, speak at his church. Receiving his father's blessing, he followed the call of God to China in 1906.
Also recruited was Katherine Friesen, Edward's sister-in-law, who had schooling in nursing, along with two more recruits who felt the call of God to work in China.
This is a novel based on the true life of the author More...
Also recruited was Katherine Friesen, Edward's sister-in-law, who had schooling in nursing, along with two more recruits who felt the call of God to work in China.
This is a novel based on the true life of the author More...
Nov 28, 2010
Sunflower
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"City of Tranquil Light" is a fascinating look at a distant China that existed before the China that so many of us are familiar with nowadays; Set in the early 1900's to the 1950's, "City of Tranquil Light" involves the experiences of two Mennonite missionaries who in their efforts to reach the people of China, find their own faith in our Father, touched as well.
Intermixed with diary passages, cultural tidbits of a China pre-industrialization and tidbits of Mennonit More...
Intermixed with diary passages, cultural tidbits of a China pre-industrialization and tidbits of Mennonit More...
Nov 18, 2010
Myckyee
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Though I'm not a very religious person I don't shy away from books that have a religious theme as long as the author discloses it openly from the start. What I don't like is when the topic broadsides you; the author slipping in the religion like one of those proselytizers that catch you unawares by starting a conversation and you slowly realize that they're making more and more references to a higher being. Ah, I think, I'm being witnessed to and I just thought I was having a pleasant chat with
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Nov 08, 2010
Cafelilybookreviews
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I was very moved by this work of fiction based on the author’s maternal grandparents and their lives as missionaries to China.
City of Tranquil Light tells the story of Will and Katherine Kiehn who meet, fall in love and marry on the mission field. They begin their life together while serving in China and this book details their love story along with their hardships and heartache.
After reading this book, I had a deepened respect and appreciatio More...
Oct 29, 2010
Edna
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As the story begins Will Kiehn (his real name) Kung P'ei Te (his Chinese name) is in an retirement home in California for retired missionaries. As he sits and looks out his window he remembers all the years he and his deceased wife served in China and witnessed to these people. Then he picks up his wedding picture and begins to remember.
In 1909 Will and his wife, Katherine arrived in Kuang P'ing Ch'eng (City of Tranquil Light), in the North China Plain to establish a new Mennonite More...
In 1909 Will and his wife, Katherine arrived in Kuang P'ing Ch'eng (City of Tranquil Light), in the North China Plain to establish a new Mennonite More...
Sep 02, 2011
Jodi
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I enjoyed this book on a lot of levels. First, with all the reading I have done on China and with having traveled there, I find anything about this country fascinating. Also, I enjoyed seeing a husband and wife so in love with each other despite all the hardships they faced as missionaries. Finally, I found their deep faith amazing and reassuring to read about - to minister to people under such conditions is truly a testament to their beliefs.
The hardships faced by the people in More...
The hardships faced by the people in More...
Dec 03, 2010
Sherry
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I won this book in a goodreads FirstReads giveaway.
A quiet novel of simple, humble people doing God's work in a dangerous time and place. Told in distant past tense, I fell short of getting inside the characters' heads, but admired their work and perseverance. They were good, strong, faith-filled missionaries. They loved God, loved one another and loved the people they served. This book shines a light on the small sacrifices and hard work that make small, everyday people great, h More...
A quiet novel of simple, humble people doing God's work in a dangerous time and place. Told in distant past tense, I fell short of getting inside the characters' heads, but admired their work and perseverance. They were good, strong, faith-filled missionaries. They loved God, loved one another and loved the people they served. This book shines a light on the small sacrifices and hard work that make small, everyday people great, h More...
Apr 09, 2011
Simmonsmry
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City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell takes us into the lives of a missionary couple living and working in China in the early 1900s. Will and Katherine Kiehn meet en route to the mission field and as their mission grows and develops, so does their relationship as they marry and forge a life together. The first person narrative account of Will gives us a glimpse into the missionary mindset. It is alternated with Katherine’s diary entries, which gives us insight into her character that may have be
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Jan 06, 2012
Pamela
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Exotic locations, adventure, earthquake, kidnapping, murders, bandits, government upheaval, romance, and a powerful message that cuts to the heart; if that sounds interesting than you’ll love this book, I know I did. Edward Geisler, a Mennonite Missionary to inland China, shows up at Will’s family farm in Oklahoma in 1906. He’s there to speak to their church about the need for missionaries in China and after talking with Will he invites him to go there with him. He tells Will that “The suffering
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Mar 29, 2011
Judy99
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My bookclub read Bo Caldwell's first book, The Distant Land of My Father, when it was chosen for the "Silicon Valley Reads" book a few years ago, and almost everyone really liked it. She's a local author so when I saw she was speaking about her new book, City of Tranquil Light, my daughter and I went to hear her. This new book is based on her grandparents' lives--they were Mennonite missionaries in China in the early 1900's--and it's a beautiful love story. She said she feared it migh
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Feb 19, 2011
Tara
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It is a moving and beautifully written novel of American missionaries in China in the early 1900's. It takes an enormous amount of dedication and faith to know that you are serving something you believe in, at the cost of family, security and health. The couple were a living example of surrendered service. It was a book that explored the topic of faith. I had trouble with it sometimes, since my idea of God is different than the Christian concept of God. When a tragedy happened in their lives, th
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Dec 23, 2010
Judy
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I really enjoyed this story of a young couple from the midwest who became missionaries to China. I was half-way through the book when I realized it was Christian literature. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but not my usual genre. The book spans the couple's life together including almost thirty years in a very undeveloped and poor China at the turn of the last century. Never having enough to eat, the citizens often blamed the foreigners for their troubles. Governments ruled by th
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Feb 19, 2012
Gigi
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City of Tranquil Light is the story of a missionary couple to China and spans from 1906 to 1966. The story alternates the voices of Will and Katherine. Hearing two viewpoints adds depth and dimension to the tale. Their faith and the country and people they love are strong characters in the book as well. The love the two share reaches out from the pages and enlarges the reader's heart to love more, better, bigger.
"When you leave a place you love, you leave a piece of your heart. B More...
"When you leave a place you love, you leave a piece of your heart. B More...
Feb 14, 2012
Madelle
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Over the years I have read many missionary biographies. This one, based on the lives of the author's grandparents who served for 26 years with the Mennonite Church in China beginning in the early 1900s, is one of my favorites. More than any other, the author details the joys of serving the Lord, but also the heartaches, the challenges, and the sorrow of times in their lives. Prerevolutionary China went through many changes which were part of their daily existence. Will and Katherine take turn
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Dec 06, 2010
TinasBookReviews
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I’ve always wondered what it takes for a person to truly be called to leave their home, family and country behind to help spread the word of ones faith. Going into another culture, traditions and settings seem overwhelming to even think about. I found Will and Katherine’s story touching, romantic and brave.
Besides the beautiful love story that unfolds for the reader, Caldwell also shined a bright light on the Mennonite religion (which I knew little about) and the aspects of missionar More...
Besides the beautiful love story that unfolds for the reader, Caldwell also shined a bright light on the Mennonite religion (which I knew little about) and the aspects of missionar More...
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Oct 03, 2010
Evelina A.
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International aid workers still put their lives at risk today so this tale of a young Mennonite couple inspired by Bo Caldwell's grandparents, who meet and marry in North China Plain while doing missionary work, is a timely reminder of the unique self-sacrifice of these extraordinary individuals. Will Kiehn is a minister and Katherine, his wife, is a trained nurse/medical practitioner. Together they build deep and abiding friendships in China that dwarf the ministry they establish over twenty-se
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Dec 04, 2010
Carol
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The message of this book is love. There is some emphasis on the spiritual but what came through stronger to me was the love of all human beings. The title of this book is the translation of the name of the town that Will Kiehn and Katherine were sent to fulfill their mission. Will Kiehn grew up in a Mennonite family that did farming in Oklahoma. He had no idea that he would be living in Northern China preaching sermons, helping with the medical care of the congregation or becoming fluent in Mand
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Sep 29, 2010
Jennifer
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I loved Caldwell's first book, so I was excited to get an ARC in the mail. This book, like the first is about family and China. In this case she uses her grandparent's experiences as missionaries as a premise and writes a story from there.
The book is Narrative from Will and Diary excerpts from Katherine. It tells about love, loss, hardship, and victories living in China in early 20th century.
I wasn't sure I was going to like it because I'm not sure about missionaries. I believe c More...
The book is Narrative from Will and Diary excerpts from Katherine. It tells about love, loss, hardship, and victories living in China in early 20th century.
I wasn't sure I was going to like it because I'm not sure about missionaries. I believe c More...
Feb 02, 2012
Hillary
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In this book I found a new and nitty gritty look at missionary life. Will and his wife Katherine make sharing the gospel in rural China their life's work. What inspired me most about this book was that the Chinese people who became believers in Jesus Christ during their time in China did not become believers because of their preaching the gospel message. They became believers because Will and Katherine stayed in China with them. Will and Katherine, outsiders, lived like their Chinese neighbors,
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Dec 12, 2011
Sandra
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The wonderful thing about this book is that the Christian and Non-Christian alike can and will enjoy this book. It is not real preachy. This is the story of Will & Katherine who answered a call made by God. They live their faith. Through this book we see the go through some of the same trials and emotions we go through. No matter what comes their way, no matter how right it would seem for them to just throw in the towel, they continue to rely on God. If I could choose only one word to des
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Oct 22, 2010
Jael
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"My father had told me when I was young that courage was not strength in the absence of fear but strength in the presence of fear, and I asked God for the courage to withstand whatever lay ahead." -- Pg. 122 of City of Tranquil Light.
I don't always begin with a quote, but that was one of the most powerful points in City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell. Whatever your beliefs are, that quote can apply to so many aspects in life. City of Tranquil Light is the story of a young More...
I don't always begin with a quote, but that was one of the most powerful points in City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell. Whatever your beliefs are, that quote can apply to so many aspects in life. City of Tranquil Light is the story of a young More...
Dec 16, 2010
Barbara
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Just an absolutely beautiful book in so many ways. The story is inspired by the author's maternal grandparents, who were Mennonite missionaries in China.
In City of Tranquil Light, Will and Katherine each leave their homes in the United States in order to serve as missionaries in China. They meet for the first time on their way over to China, both in their early 20s, and once there they shortly fall in love with each other and get married. Will and Katherine also fall very much in lov More...
In City of Tranquil Light, Will and Katherine each leave their homes in the United States in order to serve as missionaries in China. They meet for the first time on their way over to China, both in their early 20s, and once there they shortly fall in love with each other and get married. Will and Katherine also fall very much in lov More...
Feb 21, 2012
Trudy
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A young couple struggling as missionaries in China in the early 1900's reveal real life glimpses into life in China at that time. Katherine and Will, I believe, become more familiar and at ease among the Chinese than their fellow Americans. Their years in China and America are similar in number. Both feel the call to help others, both medically, physically and spirituality. The relationships are well developed with several interesting turns and twists. The story is told from both Katherine
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