Official Review: The Narrow Gate by John Servant
Posted: 20 Apr 2019, 13:53
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Narrow Gate" by John Servant.]
4 out of 4 stars
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As the story begins, John Kelly, once an award-winning newspaper reporter, is assigned to write an article on an ex-senator, Joe Jay. The newspaper’s editor has learned that Jay is hospitalized and likely dying. Since Senator Jay rose to fame quickly and was later forced into retirement, due to scandal, the editor suspects that a good story is lurking there. (This is not a spoiler, as the reader will learn this information in the first few pages of the novel).
When Kelly enters the senator’s hospital room, he sees an old man who appears to be near death. Next, he notices a nun, dressed in full habit, kneeling on the tile floor and praying her rosary. Writer’s intuition convinces Kelly that there is definitely an intriguing story here.
At this point, the story flashes back to Senator Joe Jay's earlier life. Ambitious to a fault, Jay is lured into the seedy world of politics. He soon learns that each decision he makes carries an unforeseen, and often dangerous, consequence. As this captivating plot unfolds, both the senator and the nun (Sister Francis) will intersect one another’s lives on numerous occasions. However, it is what occurs between these encounters that will captivate the reader.
The Narrow Gate by John Servant captured my interest from the beginning and held it until the last page. Since this is a short read, I easily read it in one day. Servant does a masterful job of developing the main characters. Jay is the ambitious, arrogant and confident (yet often naïve) politician. Sister Francis is the steady, caring and nurturing nun. She is steadfast in her principles and will not be swayed into compromising them.
Servant keeps the tone of the book teetering between hope and despair. Since the characters are so relatable, readers will identify with both of these emotions, throughout the book. Also, the major themes of the book are greed (for money and power), atonement and service to God. The author is skilled in evoking the reader’s senses. At times, the reader may shudder at the arrogance of Jay, as he nonchalantly makes some of his life-altering decisions. Yet, at other times, the reader will sympathize with Jay’s fear, and utter despair, as the consequences hit him head on.
For all of the reasons noted above, I am pleased to award The Narrow Gate 4 out of 4 stars. I could find nothing to dislike about this novel. Additionally, the book appears to have been professionally edited. Readers may also be interested to learn that Servant was a lawyer. Having witnessed individuals overcome huge hurdles to achieve their dreams, he has also observed as they fell from grace. His experience and knowledge lend another layer of authenticity to this novel.
This intriguing story will appeal to those who have made mistakes in the past, even life-altering ones, and wondered if true forgiveness was possible. Those with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from reading this novel. There are no explicit scenes or strong language to offend readers. However, there are a few hints of sexual liaisons, crime, and death that may not be suitable for young adults. I highly recommend this captivating novel and would love to see it adapted as a movie.
******
The Narrow Gate
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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4 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
As the story begins, John Kelly, once an award-winning newspaper reporter, is assigned to write an article on an ex-senator, Joe Jay. The newspaper’s editor has learned that Jay is hospitalized and likely dying. Since Senator Jay rose to fame quickly and was later forced into retirement, due to scandal, the editor suspects that a good story is lurking there. (This is not a spoiler, as the reader will learn this information in the first few pages of the novel).
When Kelly enters the senator’s hospital room, he sees an old man who appears to be near death. Next, he notices a nun, dressed in full habit, kneeling on the tile floor and praying her rosary. Writer’s intuition convinces Kelly that there is definitely an intriguing story here.
At this point, the story flashes back to Senator Joe Jay's earlier life. Ambitious to a fault, Jay is lured into the seedy world of politics. He soon learns that each decision he makes carries an unforeseen, and often dangerous, consequence. As this captivating plot unfolds, both the senator and the nun (Sister Francis) will intersect one another’s lives on numerous occasions. However, it is what occurs between these encounters that will captivate the reader.
The Narrow Gate by John Servant captured my interest from the beginning and held it until the last page. Since this is a short read, I easily read it in one day. Servant does a masterful job of developing the main characters. Jay is the ambitious, arrogant and confident (yet often naïve) politician. Sister Francis is the steady, caring and nurturing nun. She is steadfast in her principles and will not be swayed into compromising them.
Servant keeps the tone of the book teetering between hope and despair. Since the characters are so relatable, readers will identify with both of these emotions, throughout the book. Also, the major themes of the book are greed (for money and power), atonement and service to God. The author is skilled in evoking the reader’s senses. At times, the reader may shudder at the arrogance of Jay, as he nonchalantly makes some of his life-altering decisions. Yet, at other times, the reader will sympathize with Jay’s fear, and utter despair, as the consequences hit him head on.
For all of the reasons noted above, I am pleased to award The Narrow Gate 4 out of 4 stars. I could find nothing to dislike about this novel. Additionally, the book appears to have been professionally edited. Readers may also be interested to learn that Servant was a lawyer. Having witnessed individuals overcome huge hurdles to achieve their dreams, he has also observed as they fell from grace. His experience and knowledge lend another layer of authenticity to this novel.
This intriguing story will appeal to those who have made mistakes in the past, even life-altering ones, and wondered if true forgiveness was possible. Those with an eye toward politics would certainly benefit from reading this novel. There are no explicit scenes or strong language to offend readers. However, there are a few hints of sexual liaisons, crime, and death that may not be suitable for young adults. I highly recommend this captivating novel and would love to see it adapted as a movie.
******
The Narrow Gate
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like Bluebird03's review? Post a comment saying so!
