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13th out of 16 books
—
2 voters
Their Faces Were Shining
by
Tim Wilson
When Hope Paterson plunges into a construction hole at her local mall and saves a child from drowning, she believes this is a sign from God. Maybe her marriage, her relationship with her daughter – even her diet – will be revitalized. Days later, a car crashes outside Hope’s office. The young passenger is dead but the driver has mysteriously disappeared, leaving just her c...more
Paperback
Published
November 2010
by Victoria University Press
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In the Gospel of Matthew, the author of the gospel has Jesus talking about 'the end of the age', with a combination of end-time images. This is in Chapters 24 and 25, and verses 40 and 41 of the former say: "Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be take and one will be left." This text, presumably talking about judgement in the "Last Days," is commonly called 'The Rapture,' and it is this text which Wilson uses f...more
A most unusual story. "It describes relearning love in late middle age, while the world ends. Hope Paterson, an official Christian, has a becalmed marriage and is in conflict with her daughter. The Rapture occurs, removing true believers to Heaven. But Hope is not taken. Chaos descends; her personal life disintegrates, yet she discovers what is actually meaningful in life. " So says the book blurb anyway.
A really interesting and compelling story but with a rather confused ending.
A really interesting and compelling story but with a rather confused ending.
I nearly gave up two chapters into this book, but the friend who lent it to me pressed me to finish, and I quite like the author's TV persona (he's currently the USA correspondent for a New Zealand TV station), so I did finish it. But I never warmed to it, I think largely because I couldn't warm to a single character in the book. Actually, I still don't understand the protagonist's motives for most of her key decisions, and can't make sense of the ending.
I thought this was an interesting premise for a book, and the story and writing held my attention. However, I really disliked pretty much all the characters, and some events that happened just made for grim reading. Many questions brought up for believers. As for me...I'm still going to live my godless life.
Wow! I didn't want this book to end. (It's a dystopian novel too, and I usually want to get them over with ASAP.) Tim Wilson's novel is clever and funny and original. Brilliant idea, likeable heroine,well-constructed plot, and satisfying ending.
This book is dead funny. Set after the rapture in the American midwest. Hope Paterson is a suburban churchgoing housewife who gets left behind after D day. The writing is a little clunky but the black humour is to die for. A quick entertaining read.
It took me a little time to get into. I thought the author was too transparent in his dislike for the protagonist but it swung around midway through and I ended up rather enjoying it. Great debut novel.
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Tim Wilson is TVNZ's US Correspondent. He has written for numerous New Zealand publications as well as the Guardian and Newsweek.com. His short fiction has appeared in Sport, Metro, the Listener and Open City (New York).
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