The Agnostic (book ray)
2 journalers for this copy...
I bought this book at Emerald Isle Books and Toys, where the owner is the author of this book! I very much liked the previous two books by this author and was delighted to find this book in the store during a lovely week's vacation in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, in October, 2022, with some of my family. I'm making this book into a bookray:
1. SqueakyChu (Rockville, Maryland, USA) <--The book is here.
2. BCin DC members who want it (DC/MD/VA, USA)
3. jessibud (Toronto, Canada) (Note: Bring or send with LTer _Zoe_ rather than mail) :D
I found many things about the main character, retired Baptist pastor Thomas Renfro, that appealed to me right from the start of this book. He questions what really controls our lives. He loves his family. He takes a liberal position in discussions with friends his age. He even quotes author and surgeon Atul Guwande. I love that Papa Thomas, which is what his granddaughter calls him, quotes authors repeatedly as I, too, love to record quotes as I read.
In this novel which moves between past and present, Thomas Renfro relives scenes with his now deceased wife, served as pastor of his church as he is beginning to doubt the precepts of his faith, and prepares to have a benign brain tumor removed as his daughters come to support him.
I love Curt Finch’s writing because most of what he says is near and dear to my heart and pertinent to my own life despite my not being Christian. The writing by this author is so beautiful, not simply in turn of phrases, but in the humanity and deep emotions his characters display. They seem real rather than fictitious. And when the author describes places on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina where he lives and I vacation, I feel as if I’ll soon meet those characters one day in person.
This is a fairly simple book, but its messages are profound (which is not surprising since this novel was written by a retired pastor). Live for today, be grateful for what you have, never lose hope, and accept that doubt is part of the human experience.
In this novel which moves between past and present, Thomas Renfro relives scenes with his now deceased wife, served as pastor of his church as he is beginning to doubt the precepts of his faith, and prepares to have a benign brain tumor removed as his daughters come to support him.
I love Curt Finch’s writing because most of what he says is near and dear to my heart and pertinent to my own life despite my not being Christian. The writing by this author is so beautiful, not simply in turn of phrases, but in the humanity and deep emotions his characters display. They seem real rather than fictitious. And when the author describes places on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina where he lives and I vacation, I feel as if I’ll soon meet those characters one day in person.
This is a fairly simple book, but its messages are profound (which is not surprising since this novel was written by a retired pastor). Live for today, be grateful for what you have, never lose hope, and accept that doubt is part of the human experience.
I picked up this softcover book at the BCinDC meet-up at Birdie's Cafe in Westminster. Here's to your memory MaryZee. I and another BCinDC member have vacationed on Emerald Isle, NC, the home of the author of this novel. I'll be giving it back when I finish it. Stay Calm and Read On.
