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Patience of a Saint

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A brush with death convinces Red Kane, a Chicago newspaper columnist, to investigate the connection between Harv Gunther, a powerful politician, and the recent murder of a teenage girl

490 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

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About the author

Andrew M. Greeley

379 books322 followers
Andrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...

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5 stars
70 (26%)
4 stars
95 (36%)
3 stars
77 (29%)
2 stars
17 (6%)
1 star
4 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Rebecca A..
106 reviews8 followers
December 23, 2020
I love Andrew M. Greeley as an author because I know, firstly, that I'm always going to be taken away to Chicago, specifically, into one or more inter-related Irish-American families and their lives.

Secondly, I will always learn something about God. That's because Greeley (1928-2013) was also sociologist, journalist, researcher, and Catholic priest. Most of his 70+ novels were massive bestsellers, and opened my eyes to facets of the intersections between God and humanity I'd never otherwise had learned.

Patience of a Saint is about a cynical columnist in Chicago. Red Kane isn't a particularly good man, but God hits him upside the head, so to speak, with a cosmic baseball bat. No, this doesn't solve all of his problems. In fact, as a result of Red's epiphanies, his life falls apart. Nothing is as it was before. Even his family's life is put in danger as Red Kane bumbles and fumbles his way in his new, unlooked-for relationship with the Lord.
Profile Image for Ann.
874 reviews
September 9, 2022
It's been quite a few years since I read one of Father Greeley's books, so it was fun when I found this in a thrift store. An interesting flash-back to the 1980's (when this was written) when newspapers were a main source of news. No mobile phones. Newspaper star reporter Red drinks too much, smokes too much and is unfaithful to his wife, Eileen. When God decides it's time for a change, Red becomes the good guy, gives up his bad habits and falls in love again with his wife.
Profile Image for Karmen.
873 reviews44 followers
September 9, 2013
A wonderful story about a man who get a fighting warning from God. He proceeds to change his life: becoming attentive to his wife, a real & understanding father to his children and an all-around nice guy.

Being reformed makes his family uncomfortable. Eventually he does return to his old ways while God has a few surprised waiting for him.

It shows that's it's easy to wish someone change their ways but not as easy to cope when it actually happens.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Tangora.
56 reviews
March 15, 2008
Okay, so it was mainly my fault I didn't like it; I was given it under the impression that it was going to be a mystery, so I spent the whole book waiting for the mystery to happen. And it isn't. And there is nothing (Spoiler!) grosser than reading a sex scene written by a priest.
5 reviews
September 2, 2007
This book saved my marriage at one time -- too bad my ex didn't read it as well. ;) A great read about the possiblity of change and the inertia of what is known.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews