I sympathized with the characters, I agonized with their
heart wrenching traumas, I appreciated the Christian testimony— all until I
came to the last chapter. The Reason,
by William Sirls, is a novel replete with contemporary problems and relatable
characters, but I was disappointed with the shocking conclusion. The story centers on single mom Brooke Thomas
who is raising her son, Alex, in the home of Pastor and Mrs. Lindy. When a lightning bolt shatter their church’s
cross, staff from the local hospital join the family’s repair efforts. Also volunteering to help is an unknown
carpenter whose recurring appearances begin to affect each character. Problems abound: Brooke’s son develops
life-threatening leukemia, her best friend is an alcoholic, and Pastor Lindy is
blind with a disabled son. Such issues
are not that improbable given today’s society. And a Christian message of faith
prevails. However, the story’s
conclusion is hardly believable and, to me, appears inappropriate. In The Reason, author Sirls demonstrates a
knack for dealing with modern day situations of addiction, illness and
relationships. Christian belief plays an
important part of this story. However
the seemingly contrived sci-fi that concluded the story disappointed me. We all
need to deal in faith with the discouraging, even devastating, realities of
life, and on earth, there are not always happy endings.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the
publisher. I was not required to write a positive review; the words expressed
here are my own.
