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graciefaith
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I found this novel in my moms stash of books. She hasnt read it. I think she found it at the parish yard sale. Has anyone read this? It's got good reviews from Amazon.
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Mary G
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All the O'Brien books are pretty good reads altho I get a bit tired of the negativity leveled at the current state of the Church. But then he is in Canada, so maybe it's worse up there? The tension and suspense makes for an exciting read. Fr. Elijah is a good one to start with.
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MaryG
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Maddie
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My df's dh read it and really liked it.
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Karen T
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I have loved most of this series, and this is the first in the series, and IMO, the best of them. I would definitely recommend reading it. I bogged down in the last one and need to go back and finish it one of these days.
Karen T
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SusanJ
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Dh loved this book. I read it and thought it was a good read but not my favorite of the series. I read his books usually when we're on vacation and I prefer the slower-paced ones like Strangers and Sojourners or Cry of Stone. The apocalyptic ones are a bit much for me.
My only criticism would be an echo of Mary G. He is really, really done on the modern world. The last one I read was very anti-city which rubs me the wrong way. But, there are certainly plenty of things wrong with modernity and maybe his Canadian perspective lends itself to different insights.
But they are definitely good reads.
Susna
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mary theresa
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He writes simply beautifully with lots of spiritual food for thought. I really love them. I've read all his books but Sophia House. I agree with Mary G. and Susan, they could get you down if you are in a sad mood. But there is plenty of beauty and goodness in there too. 
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Stephanie_Q
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Father Elijah was the first one I read. I really liked it. FYI: Here's the overview and sequence of his novels from studiObrien:
"Children of the Last Days is not the title of a novel, but rather the umbrella name for the six novels within the series.
Generally most of these novels can be read independently of the others. However, three are best read in sequence since they deal with the saga of a single family, in order as follows:
1) Strangers and Sojourners
2) Plague Journal
3) Eclipse of the Sun
4) Fr. Elijah: an apocalypse
5) Sophia House
6) A Cry of Stone
Sophia House is a "prequel" to Fr. Elijah, but the order in which these two are read does not matter. The latter three (4,5,6) can be read in any sequence."
Two other novels, The Island of the World and The Father's Tale, are not officially part of the Children of the Last Days series. The "island" has been published by Ignatius Press in October 2007, and the "tale" will be published sometime in the next few years, since extensive rewriting is still needed on the latter."
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Bookswithtea
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I've read Fr. Elijiah and Strangers and Sojourners. I loved Fr. Elijiah and S and S was heartbreakingly beautiful. I think he's an incredible author, but his books are hard to read, as others have said, because they are depressing. Also, if you are very sensitive, sometimes they are a little more graphic than I would like. I haven't read any others yet, mostly because I am not in the mood for such serious, intense, and potentially depressing material...
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SueW
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I think Fr. Elijah is Michael O'Brien's most exciting novel so far.
I couldn't get into the family sagas as well (Strangers & Sojourners), but maybe I will try again one day!
We recently got his thick new 800-pg "Island of the World" novel, on my sister's recommendation.
According to the dust jacket blurb it's about a child born in the Balkans/former Yugoslavia in 1933, and the book traces his life into current times. World War II figures into it and 'normal' people are strengthened by holding onto their faith.
I haven't started reading it yet, though.... it's too cumbersome to lug around easily and hard to find the time along with everything else 
Maybe during Christmas break!
Let us know what you think of his books.
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LeeAnn
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Ha ha, I received "Island of the World" for my birthday several months ago and still haven't cracked it yet either! It's enormous!
"Sophia House" was very good, but intense and serious (and adult) subject matter.
The rest of his books I like very well (although I haven't read "Cry of Stone")--but regarding the negativity--I think some of them were written quite a while ago when things seemed much less hopeful in the Catholic church.
I hope you enjoy "Father Elijah."
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KristinaP
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Although, Island of the World is HUGE, believe it or not its a fast read. Warning though-some of the tortures mentioned are really vile and there is some very disturbing violence....but it plays a significant part in the character's development. Definitely makes you think twice about what's going on behind those iron curtains and how comfortable we are. Despite the violence and vileness, it was still a great book (and although, i hate to this, those things are necessary to the story b/c I can't stand that kind of stuff).
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graciefaith
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I just wanted to pop in and say thank you for your replies! I did get around to reading it and i loved it! I think I will read Sophia House next since Fr. Elijah's character is involved. I will probably read S and S afterwards and then read the other 2 following it. Thank you all again!
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anitamarie
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I loved Fr. Elijah. Just the other day, I was saying to my dh that it would make a great movie. He went straight to IMDB (love that site) and guess what?! Someone is trying to. I hope they succeed.
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Kyra
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Michael O'Brien made us Catholic.  Our son is named for two of his characters- Nathaniel (Tan) from Plague Journal, and Elijah, from Father Elijah.
I love his books, although I think the quality of his writing varies immensely within each book- there are some distinctly forgettable sections in A Cry of Stone, but it's a fantastic novel. And Father Elijah broke my heart and opened me to an understanding of the Theotokis and the Assumption. Parts of his work are prose poetry. Others are sloppily written.
And yeah, not something to read if you're depressed.
He does all his own covers- he's an artist, and I love his paintings. His website is here.If you haven't seen any of his paintings, I recommend taking a look.
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KristinaP
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I read that he's coming out with a new book either at the end of this year or beginning of next year called Theophilus and I'm really looking forward to that but I haven't heard anything about what its going to be about. Has anyone heard/read anything about it?
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SuzanneG
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KristinaP wrote:
| I read that he's coming out with a new book either at the end of this year or beginning of next year called Theophilus and I'm really looking forward to that but I haven't heard anything about what its going to be about. Has anyone heard/read anything about it? |
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It's OUT! Theophilos
St. Luke addressed his Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles to a man named Theophilos. Who was Theophilos? Scripture scholars do not know, making him a fit subject for Michael O’Brien’s vivid imagination. In this fictional narrative, Theophilos is the skeptical but beloved adoptive father of St. Luke. Challenged by the startling account of the “Christos” received in the chronicle from his beloved son Luke and concerned for the newly zealous young man’s fate, Theophilos, a Greek physician and an agnostic, embarks on a search for Luke to bring him home. He is gravely concerned about the deadly illusions Luke has succumbed to regarding the incredible stories surrounding Jesus of Nazareth, a man of contradictions who has caused so much controversy throughout the Roman Empire. Thus begins a long journey that will take Theophilos deep into the war between nations and empires, truth and myth, good and evil, and into unexpected dimensions of his very self. His quest takes the reader into four ancient civilizations - the Greek, Roman, Jewish, and that of Christianity at its birth, where he meets those who knew this man that some believe is the Messiah. Though Theophilos is a man of the past ages, he is as familiar to us as the men of our own times. Schooled in the empiricism of both medicine and philosophy, Theophilos is well suited to speak to our age in which seeing cannot be the basis for faith, but rather hearing the witness of those who have been touched by God and opening ourselves to the possibility of an encounter with the living Christ. This is a story about the mysterious interaction of faith and reason, the psychology of perception, and the power of love over death.
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KristinaP
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Wow, this is an old thread! Thanks for remembering!
Yeah, I did just see that it came out recently with Ignatius's new Spring catalog. I haven't gotten Theophilus yet but it does look very interesting...especially, the quote "the psychology of perception". I've been grappling with that lately in light of objective Truth. I love early Church history anyway. :-) Have you read it yet or are you planning on reading it?
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SuzanneG
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KristinaP wrote:
| Have you read it yet or are you planning on reading it? |
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I haven't read it yet. But would like to...eventually. Anyone else?
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Suzanne in ID
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SuzanneG
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KristinaP wrote:
Wow, this is an old thread! Thanks for remembering!
Yeah, I did just see that it came out recently with Ignatius's new Spring catalog. I haven't gotten Theophilus yet but it does look very interesting...especially, the quote "the psychology of perception". I've been grappling with that lately in light of objective Truth. I love early Church history anyway. :-) Have you read it yet or are you planning on reading it? |
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MrsM
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Did anyone ever read this? I love the Father Elijah book, but the others by O'Brian weren't my cup of tea. I'd love to read a review.
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4Real Forums : Book Club
Topic: Father Elijah by Michael D. O'Brien ??
