Official Review: A Love Song for Bethany by Stephen K Bess
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Official Review: A Love Song for Bethany by Stephen K Bess
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Love Song for Bethany" by Stephen K Bess.]
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The story plays off at a Christian University, where the main character, Dylan is studying. He is in his final semester at grad school. He also facilitates a class. He is older than the average student. He is a believer in Jesus Christ.
The reader, if a conservative fellow believer, may easily identify with the character, as he/she reads the first few pages, but are then suddenly hit with many surprises and curve-balls as he/she continues with the story.
He and Bethany meet and are immediately in love with each other. Love at first sight. She is almost too perfect for the reader. Their relationship flies into 4th gear from the start. He comes forth as a confident, strong-willed, mature man that isn't eaily persuaded but would rather make other question their opinions. Almost as if he is arrogant and think too much of himself. He is sure of his own opinions but like others to questions theirs.
As you follow their speedily growing love relationship, you also gain more insight into the day to day confrontations that students at a Christian University are confronted with. The reader goes through different emotions as the story unfolds and even gets offended at times. So much that one may want to stop reading the book.
It helps to remember that this is only a story and that the opinion of the characters and/or author is only their point of view on a matter and that it doesn’t have to alter the readers’.
As the students in the story are confronted to question theologian viewpoints and statements, and are encouraged to find their own answers to theologian questions, the reader may find it interesting to read or be offended or even challenged to alter his/her own beliefs.
Personally, if this is the truth about Christian Universities, that they are out to shake your beliefs and question all that you belief about the Bible and what you base your faith upon... I would never want to enroll for Theologian studies at all.
Christians may find contradictions in the storyline as they read about the characters love-relationship and may find certain actions not quite respective which might raise some questions as to how sincere and committed these characters are to their faith.
The reader might feel to continue reading the book, to find out whether their love relationship will endure and whether there will be a fall-out or a moment of truth, which may hit them between the eyes. Will their perfect relationship stand? How long will the commitment last? Is he going to marry her or will they just continue to enjoy the moment, while it lasts?
Is their love a lifetime commitment to each other or not? Won’t any of the two ask for a more secure commitment from the other in order to get married? When will the paw-paw hit the fan? What will happen to their relationship at the end? These questions may encourage the reader to read the book till the end.
What further theologian questions may pop up ... doesn’t really matter. There have been so many discussions, and various point-of-view on different faith matters and truths... that one can almost recommend it to a mature christian book discussion group. The book could just as well be someone's thesis on his/her beliefs.
The book will challenge fellow believers, especially conservative ones. It might shake some.
Nevertheless, when one read about the two main characters, one wonders what the future holds for them and whether she would ask for more, as her beliefs might differ from his. There are other women that is interested in him as well. Will Bethany be perfect enough to hold his attention? Will they stay committed to each other, will they marry or just live together? Will the two be able to still love each other in spite of different faith and lifestyle beliefs? Will someone else eventually win over his heart? What is going to happen, that will break or shake all the "perfectness"? For the reader to find out...
The story make one feel, as if the character wants everyone to question their beliefs and that you need to have an answer, as to why you belief, what you belief. As if you can't just have faith. That you have to question everything you believe to find out the origin of your beliefs. That you have to back everything up with some facts or things before you can believe a biblical truth.
The reader has to keep in mind that this is only the story’s viewpoint and that not everything in life can be explained and reasoned out with facts backing it up, that’s why you have to have faith. When you find it, keep it and treasure it and protect it. At the end, everything in your life will be shaken. But stay steady and grounded on the truth, if you have found the Truth, no matter what anyone says or questions you about.
I gave the book a 2 out of 4 stars rating, since although it will make an interesting read, for a book club discussion group, I won’t recommend it to anyone else unless I know it’s someone that would appreciate a good debate and discussion or like to be challenged in their faith. I also struggled to finish reading the book, I got bored with it, too much opinions being shared, although it the character’s. I struggled to finish the book.
***
Buy "A Love Song for Bethany" on Amazon
Buy "A Love Song for Bethany" on Barnes and Noble
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The reader, if a conservative fellow believer, may easily identify with the character, as he/she reads the first few pages, but are then suddenly hit with many surprises and curve-balls as he/she continues with the story.
He and Bethany meet and are immediately in love with each other. Love at first sight. She is almost too perfect for the reader. Their relationship flies into 4th gear from the start. He comes forth as a confident, strong-willed, mature man that isn't eaily persuaded but would rather make other question their opinions. Almost as if he is arrogant and think too much of himself. He is sure of his own opinions but like others to questions theirs.
As you follow their speedily growing love relationship, you also gain more insight into the day to day confrontations that students at a Christian University are confronted with. The reader goes through different emotions as the story unfolds and even gets offended at times. So much that one may want to stop reading the book.
It helps to remember that this is only a story and that the opinion of the characters and/or author is only their point of view on a matter and that it doesn’t have to alter the readers’.
As the students in the story are confronted to question theologian viewpoints and statements, and are encouraged to find their own answers to theologian questions, the reader may find it interesting to read or be offended or even challenged to alter his/her own beliefs.
Personally, if this is the truth about Christian Universities, that they are out to shake your beliefs and question all that you belief about the Bible and what you base your faith upon... I would never want to enroll for Theologian studies at all.
Christians may find contradictions in the storyline as they read about the characters love-relationship and may find certain actions not quite respective which might raise some questions as to how sincere and committed these characters are to their faith.
The reader might feel to continue reading the book, to find out whether their love relationship will endure and whether there will be a fall-out or a moment of truth, which may hit them between the eyes. Will their perfect relationship stand? How long will the commitment last? Is he going to marry her or will they just continue to enjoy the moment, while it lasts?
Is their love a lifetime commitment to each other or not? Won’t any of the two ask for a more secure commitment from the other in order to get married? When will the paw-paw hit the fan? What will happen to their relationship at the end? These questions may encourage the reader to read the book till the end.
What further theologian questions may pop up ... doesn’t really matter. There have been so many discussions, and various point-of-view on different faith matters and truths... that one can almost recommend it to a mature christian book discussion group. The book could just as well be someone's thesis on his/her beliefs.
The book will challenge fellow believers, especially conservative ones. It might shake some.
Nevertheless, when one read about the two main characters, one wonders what the future holds for them and whether she would ask for more, as her beliefs might differ from his. There are other women that is interested in him as well. Will Bethany be perfect enough to hold his attention? Will they stay committed to each other, will they marry or just live together? Will the two be able to still love each other in spite of different faith and lifestyle beliefs? Will someone else eventually win over his heart? What is going to happen, that will break or shake all the "perfectness"? For the reader to find out...
The story make one feel, as if the character wants everyone to question their beliefs and that you need to have an answer, as to why you belief, what you belief. As if you can't just have faith. That you have to question everything you believe to find out the origin of your beliefs. That you have to back everything up with some facts or things before you can believe a biblical truth.
The reader has to keep in mind that this is only the story’s viewpoint and that not everything in life can be explained and reasoned out with facts backing it up, that’s why you have to have faith. When you find it, keep it and treasure it and protect it. At the end, everything in your life will be shaken. But stay steady and grounded on the truth, if you have found the Truth, no matter what anyone says or questions you about.
I gave the book a 2 out of 4 stars rating, since although it will make an interesting read, for a book club discussion group, I won’t recommend it to anyone else unless I know it’s someone that would appreciate a good debate and discussion or like to be challenged in their faith. I also struggled to finish reading the book, I got bored with it, too much opinions being shared, although it the character’s. I struggled to finish the book.
***
Buy "A Love Song for Bethany" on Amazon
Buy "A Love Song for Bethany" on Barnes and Noble
Latest Review: "Unleash Your Potential Beyond Just motivation" by Abegunde Sunday Olaoluwa
