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Rust: The Novel by Corbin Bernsen
This absorbing fiction adaptation of Corbin Bernsen’s film RUST, which featured him in the starring role and director, is currently available for purchase and streaming online at Netflix and other online sites. In the midst of a crisis of faith, a man finds hope where he least expects it—his hometown. James Moore is a former pastor who returns home to discover his childhood friend is implicated in the arson of a farmhouse and the murder of an entire family. Convinced of his friend's innocence, James sets out to find the truth. In the process he reclaims a relationship with his father, restores hope to a floundering congregation, and rediscovers his own lost faith. Rust is an uplifting tale about faith, family and the powerful ties that bind a community.
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First published October 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 21, 2019
Worth every minute!
This book deserves five stars! James is suffering from a disconnect from God, leaves his pastoral ministry and heads home to Kipling. He finds himself in the midst of righting a terrible wrong, but must lean on the God who he can't feel anymore. His best friend Travis is accused of a horrific crime and James is certain he is innocent. Tensions at home with his father and the family he left to pursue his calling make his quest difficult. The deeply introspective point of view speaks to every seeker. Throw in engaging characters and a bit of mystery and you have a great story. A quick, satisfying read.
This book deserves five stars! James is suffering from a disconnect from God, leaves his pastoral ministry and heads home to Kipling. He finds himself in the midst of righting a terrible wrong, but must lean on the God who he can't feel anymore. His best friend Travis is accused of a horrific crime and James is certain he is innocent. Tensions at home with his father and the family he left to pursue his calling make his quest difficult. The deeply introspective point of view speaks to every seeker. Throw in engaging characters and a bit of mystery and you have a great story. A quick, satisfying read.
May 29, 2019
Everyone’s hero, Jimmy Moore, comes home to lick his wounds when God stops laying golden eggs for him. Leaving home after his mother’s death while he was finishing high school, Jim built an emotional wall which he blames on his father and sister. Jim left town, went to college and took a call as a pastor in another community. Years later, Jim, who remains a personal mystery to the reader, skulks home and sets to restoring his familial relationships.
When he’s willing to open his eyes, Jim realizes he disappointed a lot of folks, some righteously, and most unwittingly. We’re never sure about the pure reasons this young man held such a positive influence on his small hometown, and it takes some time for Jimmy to reach past the surface tension such fame held. As he reintegrates with old friends and new ones, he begins to understand the town is holding its collective breath over a secret so soul-wrenching it has affected the very fabric of hope for this current generation. Yes, things have changed in the twenty-plus years Jimmy was a football star. This group of young people doesn’t have the same drive and ambition and it hurts the soul of Jimmy’s best friend, Travis, who has taken up the role of town champion despite his mental quirks. Uncomfortable with Travis’s antics, when he is found at the aftermath of a dreadful tragedy, the town rusts in peace when he admits to the crime.
Jim Moore, reluctant hero, isn’t willing to sit on his laurels and sets about gathering proof that will not only save his friend but restore the faith he’d come to take for granted.
A lovely and haunting tale about a man coming to terms with his soul after running for decades. He finds that he was the one running from God, and when he finally stops to remove the plank from his eye, he can face the uncomfortable issues and claim peace.
When he’s willing to open his eyes, Jim realizes he disappointed a lot of folks, some righteously, and most unwittingly. We’re never sure about the pure reasons this young man held such a positive influence on his small hometown, and it takes some time for Jimmy to reach past the surface tension such fame held. As he reintegrates with old friends and new ones, he begins to understand the town is holding its collective breath over a secret so soul-wrenching it has affected the very fabric of hope for this current generation. Yes, things have changed in the twenty-plus years Jimmy was a football star. This group of young people doesn’t have the same drive and ambition and it hurts the soul of Jimmy’s best friend, Travis, who has taken up the role of town champion despite his mental quirks. Uncomfortable with Travis’s antics, when he is found at the aftermath of a dreadful tragedy, the town rusts in peace when he admits to the crime.
Jim Moore, reluctant hero, isn’t willing to sit on his laurels and sets about gathering proof that will not only save his friend but restore the faith he’d come to take for granted.
A lovely and haunting tale about a man coming to terms with his soul after running for decades. He finds that he was the one running from God, and when he finally stops to remove the plank from his eye, he can face the uncomfortable issues and claim peace.
September 15, 2016
Actor, Director and Screenwriter, Corbin Bernsen, writes a heartfelt Christian novel set in a small town that's hiding a secret. James "Jimmy" Moore retreats from his pulpit with the loss of faith nipping at his heart. He returns home in search of something stable only to find that stability is no longer there. His childhood friends and family have moved on in their lives while he ran away to grasp his dream of being a pastor. Soon revealed that his abrupt exit from the town was due to his mother's passing and his father's difficulty dealing with it. Anyway, upon his return to town, he realizes that his oldest friend is soon to be sentenced for arson and murder of a family in town. James doesn't believe that his friend has the capacity to hate or murder and thus, goes on a fact-finding mission to clear his name.
The story has great points in relation to faith in God but I felt it lag in many areas because it is focused so internally on James instead of what James encounters with the townspeople. Every other character in the book seemed very one-dimensional and only as placeholders until we could get back to James' plight with his lack of faith. The book seemed very one dimensional in this regard and even the murder/arson case did not give me any real excitement or mystery which I think is solely due to the authors choice in internalizing James, instead of telling the story in a way that readers feel saddened by the families loss or feel connected to Travis in order to care about what happens to him.
The novel is short and quick to read but it took me much longer to finish than usual because the story was not very fast-paced or mysterious. Recommended for readers who are more focused on a preacher that losses his faith rather than murder mystery or thriller lovers.
*Book received from publishers at BookCon2016 for review.
Raging Book Reviews
The story has great points in relation to faith in God but I felt it lag in many areas because it is focused so internally on James instead of what James encounters with the townspeople. Every other character in the book seemed very one-dimensional and only as placeholders until we could get back to James' plight with his lack of faith. The book seemed very one dimensional in this regard and even the murder/arson case did not give me any real excitement or mystery which I think is solely due to the authors choice in internalizing James, instead of telling the story in a way that readers feel saddened by the families loss or feel connected to Travis in order to care about what happens to him.
The novel is short and quick to read but it took me much longer to finish than usual because the story was not very fast-paced or mysterious. Recommended for readers who are more focused on a preacher that losses his faith rather than murder mystery or thriller lovers.
*Book received from publishers at BookCon2016 for review.
Raging Book Reviews
February 27, 2016
James Moore is suffering a crisis of faith and has left his ministry to return home where his damaged relationship with his family adds to his distress. Soon after his return to Kipling, he discovers that a friend from his growing-up years has confessed to setting a deadly fire. Unable to believe this, he sets out to find the truth and to prove his friend’s innocence.
Astute readers may figure out the mystery surrounding the fire before the final reveal, but the strong writing, the suspense, and the struggle of one man’s faith make this story a message of hope and redemption that will keep the pages turning.
Recommended.
Astute readers may figure out the mystery surrounding the fire before the final reveal, but the strong writing, the suspense, and the struggle of one man’s faith make this story a message of hope and redemption that will keep the pages turning.
Recommended.
October 21, 2015
This story grabbed me from the very beginning: a broken relationship, a mystery, and a town in distress. What a scene! I loved the faith story and that it was the hub of the whole plot. Bersen surprised me with his exquisite prose and obviously deep faith. There was, however, one plot point that didn’t ring true to me, and that did detract a bit.
Rust is a beautiful tale of loss, hope, and redemption, and I highly recommend it. It earns four stars.
Rust is a beautiful tale of loss, hope, and redemption, and I highly recommend it. It earns four stars.
November 1, 2015
This is one of those rare cases where I would have to say that the movie is better than the book. While I enjoyed the faith aspect of the story and how it was the center of the plot, I found the novel too "wordy" for my tastes. There was an over-abundance of description throughout, which caused me to get bogged down in reading. I believe the relationships should have been a bigger focus, as they are in the film. In my opinion, watching the DVD would be a better option than reading the book.
January 23, 2016
Suspense, mystery, struggles of faith, grief and redemption: they are all found in this book. Corbin Bernsen has quite a mastery of words and characters. This is a great book and the movie is a must-see. Travel the journey with a disillusioned pastor, his family and hometown while they reel from tragedy from one of their own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews