What do you think?
Rate this book
The Curate's Awakening #2
The Lady's Confession
When the newly arrived and beautiful stranger Juliet Meredith becomes seriously ill in Glaston, talented surgeon Paul Faber, curate Thomas Wingfold, and his wife Helen come to her rescue, but a secret from Juliet's past threatens the blossoming love between doctor and patient.
287 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
19 people are currently reading
359 people want to read
About the author
George MacDonald
1,681 books2,490 followersGeorge MacDonald was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister. He became a pioneering figure in the field of modern fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll. In addition to his fairy tales, MacDonald wrote several works of Christian theology, including several collections of sermons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
November 6, 2025
Paul Faber is an atheist, but still remains friends with Thomas Wingfold, the curate. The two have lively discussions about God and Christianity, but Paul still continues to deny the existence of God even though he respects Thomas as a person. Paul is called to the bedside of a young woman and, with his skill as a doctor, brings her back from the edge of death. Juliet is a lukewarm Christian at best, and she soon comes to think that Paul might have the truth on his side. Their romance is shadowed by secrets from their past. They try to create a perfect dream of love and happiness together, but they don't trust each other with their darkest secrets until they begin to seek healing from Christ.
Juliet befriends Dorothy, the daughter of a local minister who has fallen into poverty and begins to doubt his faith when he feels that God has forsaken him. Dorothy also has her doubts about Christianity and feels miserable until she can find her faith again as she sees how God is working in her father's life.
I really loved this story about various people trying to pinpoint what they really believe about Christ. Each in their own way, they begin to realize that they can't just dismiss the person of Christ, or attend church because it is socially acceptable. They have to make a personal decision for their soul, accepting Christ completely and thereby radically changing their lives. It was really inspiring and exciting to read about!
I love MacDonald's writing style. It's poignant and deeply thoughtful and emotional. The edition I read was unedited, so the writing can be a bit long-winded, but I just let my mind sink into the depths and took my time wading through all the sermons, stopping to think and ponder between chapters. And when I emerged on the other side, I found myself spiritually refreshed and invigorated!
Juliet befriends Dorothy, the daughter of a local minister who has fallen into poverty and begins to doubt his faith when he feels that God has forsaken him. Dorothy also has her doubts about Christianity and feels miserable until she can find her faith again as she sees how God is working in her father's life.
I really loved this story about various people trying to pinpoint what they really believe about Christ. Each in their own way, they begin to realize that they can't just dismiss the person of Christ, or attend church because it is socially acceptable. They have to make a personal decision for their soul, accepting Christ completely and thereby radically changing their lives. It was really inspiring and exciting to read about!
I love MacDonald's writing style. It's poignant and deeply thoughtful and emotional. The edition I read was unedited, so the writing can be a bit long-winded, but I just let my mind sink into the depths and took my time wading through all the sermons, stopping to think and ponder between chapters. And when I emerged on the other side, I found myself spiritually refreshed and invigorated!
March 29, 2021
Part two in a series. (Thomas Wingfold Curate is #1) Free on Kindle.
Not necessary to read the first book, but highly recommended that you do.
Unlike book 1, "Paul Faber, Surgeon" seems more heavily laced with Christian theology and is filled with sermons, poetry, and bible references. It is clear to me that the author, being a Christian minister, was using his writing talents to reach deep down into the reader to get them thinking/contemplating about their own humanity and actions towards their fellow man. Although I love deep thinking and spirituality, I have to admit, it was a little overkill.
The story itself was engaging, but I felt the build up way too slow. The plot is character driven and the action/ conflict doesn't really take off until about 50%. The author definitely tried my patience as he is a master of dragging out the emotional suspense.
It was a great joy to see Thomas and Helen married. A perfect couple IMO, yet I was sad to see less of them. I was also glad that the Polsworth's make a reappearance towards the end to help Paul and Juliet in their marriage troubles.
Summary: Town doctor and surgeon, Paul, is young, handsome, kind, honest, and dedicated to serving his fellow man. He is a man of science and proof. An atheist. While attending to patient Juliet, bringing her back from the brink of death, he falls head over heels in love with her.
Juliet is religious and this bothered Paul in the beginning, but he pursues her relentlessly and she finally gives in and agrees to become his wife, deciding that she loves Paul so much that she is willing to change her views about God and Jesus, giving her love and worship to him instead.
One day after hearing a sermon while Paul was out with a patient, Juliet becomes overwhelmed with a past mistake she made before she met Paul. The sermon had affected her so much that she decides to confess her past sin to him in hopes he will absolve her. What a mistake!
There is another story which coincides with Paul and Juliet's. Mr. Drake was a former minister and comes to realize his past preaching was askew. He also realizes that he is not so sure he believes in God or Jesus, contrary to his preconditioned beliefs. Mr. Drake lives with his daughter Dorothy and adopted daughter Amanda. Together they work towards surviving poverty and finding God in their hearts.
Content concerns:
Recommended for Christians and those who are looking for insights to becoming closer with God and Jesus. Clergymen and those looking to become a better person within themselves would really like this.
Not necessary to read the first book, but highly recommended that you do.
Unlike book 1, "Paul Faber, Surgeon" seems more heavily laced with Christian theology and is filled with sermons, poetry, and bible references. It is clear to me that the author, being a Christian minister, was using his writing talents to reach deep down into the reader to get them thinking/contemplating about their own humanity and actions towards their fellow man. Although I love deep thinking and spirituality, I have to admit, it was a little overkill.
The story itself was engaging, but I felt the build up way too slow. The plot is character driven and the action/ conflict doesn't really take off until about 50%. The author definitely tried my patience as he is a master of dragging out the emotional suspense.
It was a great joy to see Thomas and Helen married. A perfect couple IMO, yet I was sad to see less of them. I was also glad that the Polsworth's make a reappearance towards the end to help Paul and Juliet in their marriage troubles.
Summary: Town doctor and surgeon, Paul, is young, handsome, kind, honest, and dedicated to serving his fellow man. He is a man of science and proof. An atheist. While attending to patient Juliet, bringing her back from the brink of death, he falls head over heels in love with her.
Juliet is religious and this bothered Paul in the beginning, but he pursues her relentlessly and she finally gives in and agrees to become his wife, deciding that she loves Paul so much that she is willing to change her views about God and Jesus, giving her love and worship to him instead.
One day after hearing a sermon while Paul was out with a patient, Juliet becomes overwhelmed with a past mistake she made before she met Paul. The sermon had affected her so much that she decides to confess her past sin to him in hopes he will absolve her. What a mistake!
There is another story which coincides with Paul and Juliet's. Mr. Drake was a former minister and comes to realize his past preaching was askew. He also realizes that he is not so sure he believes in God or Jesus, contrary to his preconditioned beliefs. Mr. Drake lives with his daughter Dorothy and adopted daughter Amanda. Together they work towards surviving poverty and finding God in their hearts.
Content concerns:
Recommended for Christians and those who are looking for insights to becoming closer with God and Jesus. Clergymen and those looking to become a better person within themselves would really like this.
September 8, 2015
Paul Faber is a country doctor, a little too selfish and proud but generous and good man, a man of science, 'no friend to the church, or to Christianity, or even to religious belief of any sort'. In short, a confirmed atheist.
His local curate and friend, Thomas Wingfold would like to see him acknowledge the existence of God, but he knows enough not take up an evangelical approach to his conversion. Only the tragedies and triumphs of life can bring an individual to Christ.
Faber falls in love with a beautiful young woman called Juliet Meredith, whose life he saves with a blood transfusion. For her, 'God had never been much more than a name', soon replaced by her love for Paul. But she has a secret past which will come between them.
Consider that, the troubled lovers aside, three of the other main characters in this book are a curate, a pastor and a rector, then you will have a good idea of its content and themes. George MacDonald was a practicing minister as well as writer, and his novels are always enthused with very deep and very subtle ruminations on faith, about those that have it and those that don't.
His is a universal and welcoming Christianity, one which warns against sectarianism, unctuousness and tyranny. But how can he have an atheist for a protagonist? Because, as the curate says, 'It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God, than a so-called Christian who does not.'
This curate, Thomas Wingfold, may well be MacDonald himself, or at least closely represent his ideas on what it means to be a Christian. The pastor and the rector are more experienced, yet for differing reasons have served Mammon more readily than God, but it's never too late to learn, and Wingfold helps them both through his example as well as his preaching.
Though raised a Catholic, I would have to consider myself an atheist. If, however, George MacDonald had been my parish priest, things may have turned out differently, so coaxing and understanding are his arguments. He never condemns those that lack faith, merely hopes and prays for them.
The human drama that plays out in the novel is not its strength, however. Later publications of the book saw it renamed The Lady's Confession, but the lady in question, Judith Meredith, is an infuriatingly weak and ungrateful character, I simply didn't like her enough to feel much sympathy for her.
But everything about MacDonald himself is entirely likable. Little wonder that he had such a host of fans amongst those writers whose own work was similarly informed by a tolerant Christianity, such as Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis.
MacDonald could make anyone want to believe.
'Let me here remark that, until we see God as He is, and are changed into His likeness, all our beliefs must partake more or less of superstition; but if there be a God, the greatest superstition of all will be found to have consisted in denying him.'
His local curate and friend, Thomas Wingfold would like to see him acknowledge the existence of God, but he knows enough not take up an evangelical approach to his conversion. Only the tragedies and triumphs of life can bring an individual to Christ.
Faber falls in love with a beautiful young woman called Juliet Meredith, whose life he saves with a blood transfusion. For her, 'God had never been much more than a name', soon replaced by her love for Paul. But she has a secret past which will come between them.
Consider that, the troubled lovers aside, three of the other main characters in this book are a curate, a pastor and a rector, then you will have a good idea of its content and themes. George MacDonald was a practicing minister as well as writer, and his novels are always enthused with very deep and very subtle ruminations on faith, about those that have it and those that don't.
His is a universal and welcoming Christianity, one which warns against sectarianism, unctuousness and tyranny. But how can he have an atheist for a protagonist? Because, as the curate says, 'It is better to be an atheist who does the will of God, than a so-called Christian who does not.'
This curate, Thomas Wingfold, may well be MacDonald himself, or at least closely represent his ideas on what it means to be a Christian. The pastor and the rector are more experienced, yet for differing reasons have served Mammon more readily than God, but it's never too late to learn, and Wingfold helps them both through his example as well as his preaching.
Though raised a Catholic, I would have to consider myself an atheist. If, however, George MacDonald had been my parish priest, things may have turned out differently, so coaxing and understanding are his arguments. He never condemns those that lack faith, merely hopes and prays for them.
The human drama that plays out in the novel is not its strength, however. Later publications of the book saw it renamed The Lady's Confession, but the lady in question, Judith Meredith, is an infuriatingly weak and ungrateful character, I simply didn't like her enough to feel much sympathy for her.
But everything about MacDonald himself is entirely likable. Little wonder that he had such a host of fans amongst those writers whose own work was similarly informed by a tolerant Christianity, such as Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis.
MacDonald could make anyone want to believe.
'Let me here remark that, until we see God as He is, and are changed into His likeness, all our beliefs must partake more or less of superstition; but if there be a God, the greatest superstition of all will be found to have consisted in denying him.'
February 11, 2017
"Priding ourselves on our goodness, are we not equally separated from God, equally in need of his cleansing forgiveness, equally without wisdom and insight and strength to save ourselves? In ourselves, we cannot even stand. Without Divine Life within us, we fall utterly. In the confession of that truth is the beginning of wisdom." From the Afterword by M. Phillips
December 21, 2016
Thought-provoking but too much of a slog to enjoy.
February 8, 2017
Macdonald transports me through time and space to Scotland in the 1800's. His portrayal of the good doctor struggling with how to see the world, trying and failing to meet his own expectations for ethical behavior...it's a powerful story that leaves one with a lot to chew on after closing the book.
Read
October 22, 2007MacDonald, George PB
September 26, 2013
Not one of his best, I'd say. Think a lot of the fault lies in the editing. Still enjoyed it.
November 19, 2014
George MacDonald's writings are like opening windows to let fresh air penetrate the soul. Second reading of
his novels -- still fascinating, inspiring and renewing to me.
his novels -- still fascinating, inspiring and renewing to me.
January 9, 2016
This is the sequel to 'The Curate's Awakening', showing the life of Doctor Paul Faber. This had the same feel as the first book and showed how man cannot resist God.
June 5, 2017
Loved the writing and the story.
October 12, 2023
Not as good as other books by George MacDonald, but still worth a read. Don't let this book be the basis of your opinion of MacDonald - read Phantastes :)
January 17, 2025
This is definitely a lesser known book byGeorge Macdonald. But, this is my fourth of his, and I loved it the best. Be prepared for some 19th century sermons, and some definite repetition along doctrinal lines. But, also be prepared for deep insightful moments where the author links who God is with who we are through the characters he creates. My favorite part in the book describes Helen, who was a main character in the prequel, The Curates Awakening. "Now her step was lighter, her voice was flexible, her laugh much merrier, and more frequent, for now her heart was full of joy. Her husband praised God when he heard her laugh, for the laugh in itself, suggested praise. ....But Helen had developed a great attitude for liking people. Surely more people would allow themselves to be thus changed if they realized how greatly the coming of the kingdom of God is slowed by a simple lack of courtesy....A year before, Helen could hardly endure Mrs. Bevis. But now she had found something to like in her."
Mr. Wingfield, and the Pollworths are a little too good to be true, but that doesn't mean George Macdonald's clear vision into God's character doesn't shine through them still. This is one of those books, as are most of Macdonald's, that I would joyfully return to so that I could underline more passages and draw more truth from.
Mr. Wingfield, and the Pollworths are a little too good to be true, but that doesn't mean George Macdonald's clear vision into God's character doesn't shine through them still. This is one of those books, as are most of Macdonald's, that I would joyfully return to so that I could underline more passages and draw more truth from.
June 26, 2015
George Macdonald manages to write books that read like a novel but have the content of three very good sermons. Even the "preachy" parts (and this is one of his more preachy books) don't feel contrived, forced, or offensive. This book, like The Curate's Awakening, is about what it means to be saved, and how so many of those who do God's work don't know God. It's also a great story about love and forgiveness. Bonus points: I thought I knew what was going to happen at the end but there were a few surprises which was nice :)
October 28, 2023
The companion to "The Curate's Awakening" and equally as good. It was another book in which the reader can settle in and orient themselves with splendid characters, intriguing conversations...ones that take thought and intellect. This book had a lot more suspense and heartbreak, yet continued with a great salvation message and how the wayward heart finds peace only in our holy Savior. Love to love books that reveal true LOVE! Both this book and The Curates Awakening are positive reads that enrich the Christian life. Would be great group study books.
April 28, 2018
MacDonald writes about wisdom and redemption. He describes his characters more as souls than as persons you might know as friends. He exposes their inner motives--all for the purpose of bringing them through life's pains or joys to wisdom and redemption.
He speaks in spiritual truths and sometimes I couldn't follow his thought. Was it me or the translator, I don't know. But over all there are enough wise and memorable sayings to provoke the reader's soul to productive contemplation.
Sometimes is was hard to keep track of the timeline in his plot. But that is a minor complaint.
He speaks in spiritual truths and sometimes I couldn't follow his thought. Was it me or the translator, I don't know. But over all there are enough wise and memorable sayings to provoke the reader's soul to productive contemplation.
Sometimes is was hard to keep track of the timeline in his plot. But that is a minor complaint.
July 20, 2011
Great story. Leaves the reader with a lot to think about.
August 4, 2012
this book is definitely worth reading
May 25, 2015
A beautiful book. Keeps you in such suspense!
June 1, 2015
Loved this book! What an engaging story with memorable characters, and what a wonderful theology teaching book!
October 28, 2015
It took me a'while to get into this book and writing style. Once I did, it's clear to see how this story reveals the power of forgiveness as only God can provide for us.
July 30, 2016
An introspective exploration of faith, doubt and forgiveness.
February 28, 2018
Wonderful story.
September 16, 2025
See my previous comments (in my review of ‘Thomas Wingfold, Curate’) about the history of Michael Phillips’ editions of George MacDonald’s novels. I have previously read both the original George MacDonald novel (1879) and Michael Phillips’ 1986 edition, ‘The Lady’s Confession’. This was my first time through Phillips’ ‘Cullen Collection’ edition.
This book is the second in the series of three novels in the Thomas Wingfold series. Since the conclusion of ‘Thomas Wingfold, Curate’, Thomas and Helen have married (I was so used to this idea that I had actually forgotten they did not marry at the end of the previous book!). They both appear in this second book, along with other previous characters Joseph Polwarth and his niece Rachel, and (briefly) Mrs. Ramshorn, Helen’s aunt. But there are some new characters, especially the physician Paul Faber, Juliet Meredith (who Paul marries), Mr. Drake (an out-of-work congregational minister) and his daughter Dorothy, Mr. Bevis (the vicar of the parish) and his wife, and several others.
Paul (a young atheist physician) and Juliet are the main characters, and their spiritual journey is the central theme of the book. Spoiler alert: that journey is not complete at the end of the novel, although both of them will have gone through great trials to make what progress they have.
The usual criticisms of George MacDonald’s fiction apply: the characters tend to be rather stereotypical, the dialogue very unrealistic, and the author can’t resist the temptation of breaking off the story regularly to draw spiritual lessons for his readers. At times the story of Paul and Juliet is annoyingly melodramatic. And the story is slow; the main plot development doesn’t even begin until about halfway through the book.
Nevertheless, there are some real gems in here, and I’m glad I read it (or re-read it, if you count the earlier versions I’ve already read). And for the most part, I warm to the sort of Christianity embodied by the Polwarths and the Wingfolds (which stands in strong contrast for much that passes for Christianity in the popular imagination today).
If it was just for the excellent message, I’d give this book four stars. However, given its stylisdtic faults, I’ll have to limit myself to three.
This book is the second in the series of three novels in the Thomas Wingfold series. Since the conclusion of ‘Thomas Wingfold, Curate’, Thomas and Helen have married (I was so used to this idea that I had actually forgotten they did not marry at the end of the previous book!). They both appear in this second book, along with other previous characters Joseph Polwarth and his niece Rachel, and (briefly) Mrs. Ramshorn, Helen’s aunt. But there are some new characters, especially the physician Paul Faber, Juliet Meredith (who Paul marries), Mr. Drake (an out-of-work congregational minister) and his daughter Dorothy, Mr. Bevis (the vicar of the parish) and his wife, and several others.
Paul (a young atheist physician) and Juliet are the main characters, and their spiritual journey is the central theme of the book. Spoiler alert: that journey is not complete at the end of the novel, although both of them will have gone through great trials to make what progress they have.
The usual criticisms of George MacDonald’s fiction apply: the characters tend to be rather stereotypical, the dialogue very unrealistic, and the author can’t resist the temptation of breaking off the story regularly to draw spiritual lessons for his readers. At times the story of Paul and Juliet is annoyingly melodramatic. And the story is slow; the main plot development doesn’t even begin until about halfway through the book.
Nevertheless, there are some real gems in here, and I’m glad I read it (or re-read it, if you count the earlier versions I’ve already read). And for the most part, I warm to the sort of Christianity embodied by the Polwarths and the Wingfolds (which stands in strong contrast for much that passes for Christianity in the popular imagination today).
If it was just for the excellent message, I’d give this book four stars. However, given its stylisdtic faults, I’ll have to limit myself to three.
April 26, 2025
With what seemed to be a lot more philosophizing than story line, this went much more slowly than The Curate’s Awakening.
“In truth, they were submissive to one another out of the depths of their mutual love and respect.”
“‘Suppose there should be no God’” . .
“‘Then I grant you there could be no poetry. Somebody says poetry is the speech of hope; and certainly if there were no God there could be no hope.’”
“‘But you do not know what it would be for me to lose my God. The emptiness would be total - the conviction that I should never myself be good, never have anything to love absolutely, never be able to love perfectly, never be able to make amends for the wrongs I had done. . . .’”
“‘God hides nothing. His work from the very beginning has been revelation. . . until at length in his Son Jesus he unveils his very face and character. . . The whole of creation, its growth, its history, the gathering of all human existence, is an unveiling of the Father.’”
“A man needs many fresh starts in the spiritual life as he climbs to the heavenly gates.”
“The God to whom we pray is nearer to us than the very prayer itself before it leaves the heart.”
“‘O Father of life . . ., help us to grow faster - as fast as you can help us to grow. . . .’”
“No one learns more until he accepts and obeys the teaching he is given.”
“In truth, they were submissive to one another out of the depths of their mutual love and respect.”
“‘Suppose there should be no God’” . .
“‘Then I grant you there could be no poetry. Somebody says poetry is the speech of hope; and certainly if there were no God there could be no hope.’”
“‘But you do not know what it would be for me to lose my God. The emptiness would be total - the conviction that I should never myself be good, never have anything to love absolutely, never be able to love perfectly, never be able to make amends for the wrongs I had done. . . .’”
“‘God hides nothing. His work from the very beginning has been revelation. . . until at length in his Son Jesus he unveils his very face and character. . . The whole of creation, its growth, its history, the gathering of all human existence, is an unveiling of the Father.’”
“A man needs many fresh starts in the spiritual life as he climbs to the heavenly gates.”
“The God to whom we pray is nearer to us than the very prayer itself before it leaves the heart.”
“‘O Father of life . . ., help us to grow faster - as fast as you can help us to grow. . . .’”
“No one learns more until he accepts and obeys the teaching he is given.”
April 26, 2025
With what seemed to be a lot more philosophizing than story line, this went much more slowly than The Curate’s Awakening.
“In truth, they were submissive to one another out of the depths of their mutual love and respect.”
“‘Suppose there should be no God’” . .
“‘Then I grant you there could be no poetry. Somebody says poetry is the speech of hope; and certainly if there were no God there could be no hope.’”
“‘But you do not know what it would be for me to lose my God. The emptiness would be total - the conviction that I should never myself be good, never have anything to love absolutely, never be able to love perfectly, never be able to make amends for the wrongs I had done. . . .’”
“‘God hides nothing. His work from the very beginning has been revelation. . . until at length in his Son Jesus he unveils his very face and character. . . The whole of creation, its growth, its history, the gathering of all human existence, is an unveiling of the Father.’”
“A man needs many fresh starts in the spiritual life as he climbs to the heavenly gates.”
“The God to whom we pray is nearer to us than the very prayer itself before it leaves the heart.”
“‘O Father of life . . ., help us to grow faster - as fast as you can help us to grow. . . .’”
“No one learns more until he accepts and obeys the teaching he is given.”
“In truth, they were submissive to one another out of the depths of their mutual love and respect.”
“‘Suppose there should be no God’” . .
“‘Then I grant you there could be no poetry. Somebody says poetry is the speech of hope; and certainly if there were no God there could be no hope.’”
“‘But you do not know what it would be for me to lose my God. The emptiness would be total - the conviction that I should never myself be good, never have anything to love absolutely, never be able to love perfectly, never be able to make amends for the wrongs I had done. . . .’”
“‘God hides nothing. His work from the very beginning has been revelation. . . until at length in his Son Jesus he unveils his very face and character. . . The whole of creation, its growth, its history, the gathering of all human existence, is an unveiling of the Father.’”
“A man needs many fresh starts in the spiritual life as he climbs to the heavenly gates.”
“The God to whom we pray is nearer to us than the very prayer itself before it leaves the heart.”
“‘O Father of life . . ., help us to grow faster - as fast as you can help us to grow. . . .’”
“No one learns more until he accepts and obeys the teaching he is given.”
March 3, 2021
2.5 stars. This book started out good, but as it got closer to the end I was dying for it to be over. I’m not even sure what it was that made it just “okay.” I knew going into it that there would be long sermons and preaching, so I don’t think that was it. In fact, I got some very nice quotes from those sections. Maybe it was that the entire storyline was just so unbelievable. Also, I kept waiting for there to be some significance to the mention of Mr. Drew’s wife coming back, but it never came. Maybe that he forgave her? I don’t know, but at the beginning it seemed like it was going to be important, especially when Juliet has such a marked reaction to seeing her in the street. Maybe I missed something along the way.
I didn’t realize it was so long (read it on kindle). I will probably go on to the third book because it has good reviews and it is about half the length.
I didn’t realize it was so long (read it on kindle). I will probably go on to the third book because it has good reviews and it is about half the length.
vintage-to-read
April 28, 2020I read and enjoyed the first book in this series, The Curate's Awakening, especially because its storyline isn't the typical "he lost his faith/belief in God because something bad happened to him" scenario.
Even so, it seems one book of theological/evangelistic sermons wrapped in a layer of story with dramatic but poorly developed romance is enough for me.
While I appreciate the author's intent to preach the Gospel, heaps of overt preaching by way of fiction generally doesn't make for compelling novels to me. I could read nonfiction for that.
I do plan to try at least one more adult novel by this author, and I'll likely read more of his fantasy fiction, as I remember enjoying At the Back of the North Wind years ago and was especially touched by the ending.
Even so, it seems one book of theological/evangelistic sermons wrapped in a layer of story with dramatic but poorly developed romance is enough for me.
While I appreciate the author's intent to preach the Gospel, heaps of overt preaching by way of fiction generally doesn't make for compelling novels to me. I could read nonfiction for that.
I do plan to try at least one more adult novel by this author, and I'll likely read more of his fantasy fiction, as I remember enjoying At the Back of the North Wind years ago and was especially touched by the ending.
February 29, 2024
George MacDonald does a lovely job of writing wholesome, entertaining books while somehow incorporating core truths about the Gospel into his narration. This book really hit home for me because one of the characters was asking questions about Christianity and MacDonald's answers were powerful and deep, while also being simple to understand. The growth that one of the main characters goes through, from being a selfish man who ignored his wife's pain to being a broken and humble man who selflessly loves and cares for his wife, was beautiful to read about. I throughly enjoyed this book and I highly suggest it.
March 3, 2020
I want to love George MacDonald's adult novels as much as I love his fairy tales. But, at least thus far, I'm definitely not.
The Lady's Confession suffers from some of the same issues The Curate's Awakening did--most notably that it tries to combine an overtly evangelistic tone with a melodramatic storyline. Don't get me wrong, I can revel in melodrama with the best of them when it's done well (and, quite honestly, sometimes it doesn't even have to be done well), but it's a mix that just doesn't work for me in this novel.
The Lady's Confession suffers from some of the same issues The Curate's Awakening did--most notably that it tries to combine an overtly evangelistic tone with a melodramatic storyline. Don't get me wrong, I can revel in melodrama with the best of them when it's done well (and, quite honestly, sometimes it doesn't even have to be done well), but it's a mix that just doesn't work for me in this novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews