The Masterpiece: A Novel

It’s kind of daunting to consider what to say in this review, knowing that many readers have been disappointed in Ms. Rivers’ latest offering from both a craft and a theological perspective. Because the honest truth is, I couldn’t put it down. It’s our book club pick this month, and book club was last Friday. I picked it up on Tuesday to give myself plenty of time to read it and put it down at 1am Wednesday morning, having been unable to put it aside except to carry out the absolute necessities.I feel I should say that I picked this up without any prior experience of this author’s novels. Shocking, I know! It hasn’t been a conscious decision on my behalf, and I certainly want to read her much-lauded titles like <em>Redeeming Love</em> and the <em>Mark of the Lion</em> series; I just don’t seem to have gotten around to it yet. So whereas readers have mentioned the characters and writing not being up to par with her previous stories, I had no comparison to make.Personally, I found Roman and Grace to be fascinating characters whose life experiences were so far removed from mine that I didn’t feel qualified to question whether they were ‘believable’. There’s a part of me that rather wishes they hadn’t been, because their stories aren’t pretty, but that was part of what made them so compelling—and had me in tears on occasion. And if some of their traits occasionally came across as a little stereotypical (bad boy/good girl comparisons), their characters were actually far more complex than these occasional outward manifestations suggested. And to be honest, stereotypes exist for a reason, and in this case, these characteristics seemed true to the characters.Having read several reviews of this book when it initially released, I was already aware of some of the theological objections readers have made to parts of the story. And fair warning, I can’t talk about this without it being a bit of a spoiler, so if you absolutely hate knowing anything about the story before you read, you’ll want to skip to the last paragraph. However, I will keep my references to the plot as general as possible.** SPOILER ALERT **One of the characters in the novel has a near-death experience (which, contrary to its name, often involves the character being clinically dead for a short period of time, not just “near death”). During that near-death experience, this character is accosted by demons and dragged toward hell, but is then saved (in a purely physical sense) by calling on the name of Jesus. My initial reaction was the same as many—doubt as to whether this was a theologically accurate, or even a theologically responsible, plot device. And talk about deus ex machina! However, I kept reading. One, because I was far too invested to stop by then, and two, because it became apparent that, while the character had been physically saved, there was still quite a journey to go before the character was spiritually saved. And it must be said, the character’s journey after this pivotal moment completely overturned any idea that this was a dramatic but ultimately shallow plot device.Once I had finished the novel, I read the author’s notes and was interested to discover that research had showed her that there are many reports of near-death experiences that are not full of light and joy (which are the experiences more often reported), but are instead horrific and terrifying, just as this character’s had been. I did a bit of my own research, and while I hardly know what to make of it all, it cannot be denied that there are people out there who have turned their lives around (including leaving an active homosexual lifestyle) as the result of an experience such as the one depicted in this book.Whatever the explanation may be behind these kinds of experiences, they are obviously very real to the people who have had them. Many theories have been put forth, from simple scientific explanations to dreams or visions right through to a metaphysical experience that we can’t even begin to understand. So putting aside for the moment the question of what causes the phenomenon we call a “near-death experience”, I am left with the following observations:1. The near-death experience in this novel is inline with the Bible’s teaching that we have a soul that is separate to our physical body.2. The near-death experience in this novel confirms the Bible’s teaching that hell exists and that there is a penalty for sin.3. Through this near-death experience, the character learns two foundational Biblical truths: only calling on the name of Christ can save one from eternal punishment, and the character had done nothing to warrant such mercy and grace.4. Though the character was physically saved from death, spiritual salvation required a deliberate decision by the character to “get right with God” and become a Christ follower—something which took the character time to work through and also formed part of the story.** END SPOILER ALERT **I know this has been a lengthy review, but I wanted to acknowledge that I have grappled with the same issues as many other readers, but ultimately given this book a higher rating because (a) I really and truly could not put it down; (b) it challenged me intellectually and spiritually; and (c) it is a powerful story of unmerited grace and the healing and wholeness that can only be found in Christ.

This was such an amazing book! Very well written and it is such a beautiful story and a great story about Gods love and overcoming your past.

I loved this book! I was glued to the whole story. Very interesting...about a lifestyle I had never dreamed about anda love story that was very special. I highly recommend it!

This book had promise, and while I did enjoy it, the conclusion was unsatisfying and abrupt.. ( spoiler alert if you don’t want to know what happens)!)In fact, everything up to Valesco’s conversion was riveting and well written, with interesting characters and an intriguing story line. But after that denouement, the book seemed less genuine to me, and I felt that it was clipped short. My favorite part was the possibility of who the father of Grace’s baby might have been, after all. That was very clever, and a real surprise.I enjoyed the fact that he was an artist. But his manner of speech and demeanor when he came to Christ just wasn’t convincing. Suddenly his entire persona was reinvented, and it seemed superficial to me. Yes , God in Christ transforms us, but maybe not quite in this way. It just didn’t seem credible. He could have been refashioned, but still recognizable as an artistic Christian soul who would always be a outlier. But the inspirational message that we can redirect our energies and life’s purpose as he did with his art is a very good one!

From: Kim HladSubject: The Masterpiece by Francine RiversThere is nothing that will keep me up at night and let my housework go than a brand new Francine Rivers book hot off the press! I buy a lot of used books but pull out the wallet for a newly released Rivers novel every time.This book did not disappoint.Close to 500 pages and a story that unfortunately rings true increasingly in the lives of today’s children. Childhood trauma . The parents of addiction and abusers who try in the midst of their own tarnished childhood past to love a child ... but leave them with hearts full of pain and anger and walls that only God Himself can penetrate.Billy Ray Dean lived with a mother who drown her shame of prostitution in drugs.. disappearing one night and leaving Billy at age 7 to the system where his anger kept him fleeing and entering a life of crime.7 year old Grace learned how to play hide and seek when mommy told her to when her father came home drunk; until the night she hid in the closet listening to her mother scream and shots are fired. She is taken by an aunt to be raised as the only relative and physically well cared for , without love and affection.Oh how the God of heaven works his sovereign plan into the life of broken people and as the hound of heaven draws them to himself through his army of angels and the Holy Spirit and yes even through his fallen angels .I was dismayed to read reviews from readers who scoffed at the spiritual and out of this world experiences in this book and I pity them. Because we are living in a world of spiritual warfare and the King of the Army is in command.I don’t want to give more of the story away except to say that Billy Ray Dean is taken to a boys home at age 15 and worked on a ranch where he is covered with Gods love despite his every move to break the rules and flee. His artistic talent is soon discovered and fed and at 18 he is released into the world where he becomes a millionaire as an artist and builds his own mansion in a canyon near Los Angeles where the view is beautiful and life is good. Or is it? He can have any woman he wants any night and he has a studio any artist would dream of having.Then he uses an agency to hire him an assistant and in walks Grace, chewed up and spit out by a man who her aunt warned her not to marry, divorced and living with a Christian couple who took her in and helped her through a pregnancy from a one night stand and take care of Samuel for her while she works .Grace gave her heart to God as a child in Sunday School and yet seeks after men like her brutal father and lacks self esteem. With her protective wall up and Billy .... now Roman Velasco, thinking he could have her also as a friend with benefits , sparks fly and a journey of healing and loss and brokenness begins. All with the fingerprints of God on every event .The plan of salvation flows richly through this story and given in detail at the end by Francine herself . A surprise revelation , a “what if” comes at the end. This book is a testament to the power of God to change lives from the inside out. No other relationship will work unless first the individual is in right relationship to God.Every book of Rivers is one you would read over and over and never forget; relevant for today and weaving through God’s holy Word we live by.Sent from my iPhone

Great book as usual from Francine Rivers

A deeply moving, raw, journey of transformation that only God, Himself can accomplish. There's no trauma experienced that He cannot heal and redeem. It has been a totally enjoyable experience reading this story!!!!Priceless!