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The Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump
Welcome to The Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump. It's a fish out of water story about how God turns 32-year-old Julie's manicured, pedicured, self-absorbed designer life upside down.
Julie, a nominal Christian, heads to New York for a weekend shopping binge. On a deserted train, she sits next to a stranger who turns out to be Jesus. After a wonderful, healing conversation she agrees to His request to "feed My lambs." When she gets off the train she's in India.
Her charmed life is shattered—she must care for 12 "filthy orphans" living on a dump before she can return to her comfortable life. She lives on the street and overwhelming new challenges arise daily. While squatting in an alley, going to the bathroom, an orphan, named Ravi, steals her designer purse. Unbeknownst to Julie, Ravi, who speaks English, holds the key to her communicating with the other orphans.
Will Julie learn 1) to trust the Lord when nothing is in her control? 2) that she doesn't have to perform to be loved? and 3) that her life is built on a shaky foundation? Can she protect the orphans from a predator who steals and maims children and sends them out to beg? How will God provide food when her wallet is stolen? Can she find safe homes for the children?
Julie, a nominal Christian, heads to New York for a weekend shopping binge. On a deserted train, she sits next to a stranger who turns out to be Jesus. After a wonderful, healing conversation she agrees to His request to "feed My lambs." When she gets off the train she's in India.
Her charmed life is shattered—she must care for 12 "filthy orphans" living on a dump before she can return to her comfortable life. She lives on the street and overwhelming new challenges arise daily. While squatting in an alley, going to the bathroom, an orphan, named Ravi, steals her designer purse. Unbeknownst to Julie, Ravi, who speaks English, holds the key to her communicating with the other orphans.
Will Julie learn 1) to trust the Lord when nothing is in her control? 2) that she doesn't have to perform to be loved? and 3) that her life is built on a shaky foundation? Can she protect the orphans from a predator who steals and maims children and sends them out to beg? How will God provide food when her wallet is stolen? Can she find safe homes for the children?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 15, 2012
205 people are currently reading
771 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
September 23, 2013
To be honest, I would probably rate this 3.5. I'm somewhat torn in my opinion. On the positive side, the message of this book was challenging and somewhat convicting. I could relate, in some ways, to Julie's initial reaction to her circumstances, and her journey did make me stop and evaluate my attitudes.
On the negative side, from my perspective alone, I struggled with suspending belief enough to actually become completely absorbed in this story. As a parable, it didn't really work because parables tell a spiritual truth without actually making it an obvious story about God. This was completely and utterly about God, including two meetings with Jesus himself. But if read just as Christian fiction, again, I had that battle with accepting the premise enough to really be able to become immersed in the story. I also found the writing a bit cheesy (for want of a better word) and heavy handed.
The other negative, again purely my own opinion, was that the author wrote Jesus into the story as a character. That sort of thing, putting even very good words into His mouth, always troubles me.
And yet, strangely, I cared about these characters, and although I found the ending to be perhaps the cheesiest part of all, it was still a very nice way to wrap things up.
Laying all that aside, the story is still worth reading for the possible challenge to the reader's attitude alone. It made me think, and it made me uncomfortable at times regarding my attitude toward mission work. That is why, ultimately, I gave it 4 stars.
On the negative side, from my perspective alone, I struggled with suspending belief enough to actually become completely absorbed in this story. As a parable, it didn't really work because parables tell a spiritual truth without actually making it an obvious story about God. This was completely and utterly about God, including two meetings with Jesus himself. But if read just as Christian fiction, again, I had that battle with accepting the premise enough to really be able to become immersed in the story. I also found the writing a bit cheesy (for want of a better word) and heavy handed.
The other negative, again purely my own opinion, was that the author wrote Jesus into the story as a character. That sort of thing, putting even very good words into His mouth, always troubles me.
And yet, strangely, I cared about these characters, and although I found the ending to be perhaps the cheesiest part of all, it was still a very nice way to wrap things up.
Laying all that aside, the story is still worth reading for the possible challenge to the reader's attitude alone. It made me think, and it made me uncomfortable at times regarding my attitude toward mission work. That is why, ultimately, I gave it 4 stars.
August 9, 2016
This book was a horrible representation of God. He kidnaps a woman and dumps her in India to help his orphans with no passport or planning leaving her family behind, basically blackmailing her to do his will because she will be in a lot of trouble if she tries to go home by herself since she has no visa or passport. Then she falls in love with 2 orphans and takes them back to America with her without passports or anything. While on the way back Jesus said the adoption papers were being taken care of but she didn't bother with it she just kidnapped the kids legally. And even though she'd been in India several weeks her family back home only experienced 2 days and were completely happy when she added two new kids with no warning as well as deciding to downsize their house so she could stay home with the kids and send enough money back to India for renting an orphanage. Yeah right. It tries to teach us about god's unfailing love but since he's such an abuser I just can't get behind it.
October 8, 2013
Ok- I LOVED this book. If you liked The Shack, you will love this tale. The story is not very believable and has definite holes in the plot line (like, why didn't the character just GO HOME). However, the dialogue between her and Jesus in the story was immensely deep and touched my heart in life changing ways. I DO have to mention that there IS a character in this book who portrays Jesus. That might bother some readers. I did not find much the character had to say to be off base Scripturallly. There was only one statement that I didn't agree with. Much of what the "Jesus character" said was immediately backed by a Scripture reference. Life changing. Thought provoking. Touched my heart and tugged at my emotions. To think I have a God Who loves me like that! LOVED IT!
June 26, 2014
God's gifts are great!
It is an inspiration to remember that every day I suit up in the armor of God in order to deflect the days fiery arrows. Well written and hard to put down.
It is an inspiration to remember that every day I suit up in the armor of God in order to deflect the days fiery arrows. Well written and hard to put down.
September 1, 2018
Thank You, Lord, for the eye opening adventure that is this book. I pray that I will remember the lessons You teach here, and that I will be faithful to live them out day by day.
January 14, 2020
What an awesome book! God really spoke to me while reading this, and I finished it in one day! Jackie Macgirvin did a wonderful job weaving this story together. Your heart will be moved to action, your soul will be moved to compassion, your eyes will be moved to tears. The title gives nothing away--you won't believe how the designer bag comes into play. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heart-warming, soul-stirring read. But be warned--your outlook may be changed when you finish...
October 12, 2016
Really sweet book
Very unique encouraging book about a very selfish self centered woman with no faith and her journey in India against her will to find it. Implausible but precious.
Very unique encouraging book about a very selfish self centered woman with no faith and her journey in India against her will to find it. Implausible but precious.
November 27, 2013
Good message, but a wannabe "Christian Hallmark Movie"
August 13, 2016
Life Changing
This has changed my whole thinking process. Heart warming. eye opening. Life altering. Storytelling at its best. Bring your tissues.
This has changed my whole thinking process. Heart warming. eye opening. Life altering. Storytelling at its best. Bring your tissues.
October 18, 2020
I read this book for a book group. I hate to give it one star because I respect the person who chose it. But religion is funny that way. For them, this book was spiritual and meaningful. For me it was prejudiced and ill-informed (teleported to India, she sees nice homes near people sleeping in the streets. “Wealth and poverty side by side. That would never happen in the U.S.” Um, hello! It’s in italics on page 36).
The religion was worse, unremitting head-pounding proselytization. But it doesn’t even show the good parts of religion, let alone Christianity. It was purely transactional. Love Jesus. Get food. The book is one physical miracle after another with a constant stream of Jesus browbeating you into loving him if you want your next meal. I mean I gave you your last one, didn’t I?
If Jesus came to me like, that I guess I’d learn to love Him like a puppy learning to sit. But absent immediate tangible repeat miracles this book doesn’t even succeed at showing me why anyone would be a Christian.
It didn’t have any of the appealing parts of Jesus. No teaching about turning the other cheek (which she could realize puts her in a better place than hitting back would have) or not throwing the first stone (because she realized her own house was glass). No teaching, learning or dialectic that would cause me to think. No book of Matthew.
Love Jesus. Get food. I don't usually pan books in public. I hope Jesus will protect me for this one.
The religion was worse, unremitting head-pounding proselytization. But it doesn’t even show the good parts of religion, let alone Christianity. It was purely transactional. Love Jesus. Get food. The book is one physical miracle after another with a constant stream of Jesus browbeating you into loving him if you want your next meal. I mean I gave you your last one, didn’t I?
If Jesus came to me like, that I guess I’d learn to love Him like a puppy learning to sit. But absent immediate tangible repeat miracles this book doesn’t even succeed at showing me why anyone would be a Christian.
It didn’t have any of the appealing parts of Jesus. No teaching about turning the other cheek (which she could realize puts her in a better place than hitting back would have) or not throwing the first stone (because she realized her own house was glass). No teaching, learning or dialectic that would cause me to think. No book of Matthew.
Love Jesus. Get food. I don't usually pan books in public. I hope Jesus will protect me for this one.
August 31, 2018
This book is advertised as a modern-day parable, but it is absolutely not a parable. Parables are gentle and subtle, allowing the reader to extrapolate the message on their own. This book was the complete opposite of subtle. It was a sledgehammer grinding a message into the reader.
As a Christian book I found it ridiculous, tedious, and very heavy handed. The characterization of Jesus Christ was appalling. None of us ask to be born in a certain time or place. I felt like I was being made to feel guilty for being born into a middle-class American family while others are suffering. One person’s blessings are not the cause of someone else’s suffering, and that is the way this story is told. And no, I did not miss the message. How could I? It had all the subtlety of a buffalo playing the tuba.
After having just read Unaccustomed Earth, with its exquisite high quality writing and subtle, yet powerful, messages about interpersonal relationships within families, this book was insulting. I felt talked down to by the writer. It will not even go up on my book review site. I can hardly wait to leave it behind.
As a Christian book I found it ridiculous, tedious, and very heavy handed. The characterization of Jesus Christ was appalling. None of us ask to be born in a certain time or place. I felt like I was being made to feel guilty for being born into a middle-class American family while others are suffering. One person’s blessings are not the cause of someone else’s suffering, and that is the way this story is told. And no, I did not miss the message. How could I? It had all the subtlety of a buffalo playing the tuba.
After having just read Unaccustomed Earth, with its exquisite high quality writing and subtle, yet powerful, messages about interpersonal relationships within families, this book was insulting. I felt talked down to by the writer. It will not even go up on my book review site. I can hardly wait to leave it behind.
August 23, 2017
I had a love/hate relationship with this book. I found the story way too simplistic in how problems are solved and how people change, yet at the same time, God does move in miraculous ways; hence my opposing reactions. I realize it's one person's view of how God speaks and how He moves, but I found that view a bit over the top. At the same time, I liked Julie and saw/heard many of my own thoughts in her inner dialogue. I have never liked time travel kinds of stories, so I was relieved to find it was a time warp and not just a dream. If she had awakened in her perfect life on the last page, I probably would have thrown my Kindle across the room! In spite of feeling that the story could never happen, I found myself cheering the characters on and feeling joy in their finding a home with food and shelter and a family. If only we could make such things happen - times several thousand - the world would be a better place. The book did make me consider my own materialism and my own reaction to needy people - not a bad thing at all!
November 24, 2018
So, I like the overall idea and message of this story but I have some SERIOUS issues with the execution. Love the message of Christ's love and involvement with each of our lives. Love the growth of the characters in the story.
What started as an interesting story turned a corner into sparkly unicorn magic land. I am all for the truth that miracles happen but not magic. I kept expecting the ending to be...it was all a dream...which I would have really hated actually, but this story is SO SO SO unbelievable. Sure, go to India, but on a boat or a plane, not a train. Okay, save the orphans and learn to be a better person, but oh...so...much...whining! It became trite and ridiculous. Awesome, adopt the cute little ones but actually adopt them with like, legal process and paperwork, not magical wand waving.
A great message wrapped in a fantasy plot makes the author's message feel distant rather than personally applicable. Found it frustrating in the extreme to have this really important idea placed in such a far off fantasy land that it felt pretend.
What started as an interesting story turned a corner into sparkly unicorn magic land. I am all for the truth that miracles happen but not magic. I kept expecting the ending to be...it was all a dream...which I would have really hated actually, but this story is SO SO SO unbelievable. Sure, go to India, but on a boat or a plane, not a train. Okay, save the orphans and learn to be a better person, but oh...so...much...whining! It became trite and ridiculous. Awesome, adopt the cute little ones but actually adopt them with like, legal process and paperwork, not magical wand waving.
A great message wrapped in a fantasy plot makes the author's message feel distant rather than personally applicable. Found it frustrating in the extreme to have this really important idea placed in such a far off fantasy land that it felt pretend.
February 19, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and really liked the message that it had. The reason for four stars is because I just didn't feel like I could believe the whole story. But, for some reason I really liked the book and wanted to keep reading.
The book is about Julie who loves to shop and thinks about it all the time. She buys mostly designer items. Hence, the designer bag is the one she takes with her on her journey. She gets on this train and is transported to India to help some orphans who live at the garbage dump. She has to win over their trust and teach them about Jesus.
Along the way Julie also has her own trust issues with Jesus and has to trust him. She turns around from being self absorbed to being a caring and a loving person to the orphans.
Once there in India she can't get back to her own son and husband until her mission is completed.
The book is about Julie who loves to shop and thinks about it all the time. She buys mostly designer items. Hence, the designer bag is the one she takes with her on her journey. She gets on this train and is transported to India to help some orphans who live at the garbage dump. She has to win over their trust and teach them about Jesus.
Along the way Julie also has her own trust issues with Jesus and has to trust him. She turns around from being self absorbed to being a caring and a loving person to the orphans.
Once there in India she can't get back to her own son and husband until her mission is completed.
July 28, 2018
Interesting book. Bible quotes along the way. Teaches those who don't believe. A rich woman name Julie somehow get put on a train on her way to work one day and dropped off in India. How she got there she cant figure out. She ends up having to sleep on the streets . She eventually speaks to the Lord and asks for help. He tries to show her the right path. She soon runs into a bunch of homeless kids who lived near the garbage dump. They stayed together after awhile and she did what she could to feed them and protect them from this bad man who kidnapped kids and made them beg on the street for money and if they didn't he beat them or worse. She went thru so much she never thought would happen to her. Was God the answer to their prayers.
June 21, 2020
Sort of slow. It drove me crazy the way she switched back and forth between different characters so I never knew whose perspective I was supposed to be in. And I kept thinking, "She has her wallet. Why can't she get a hotel room or food?" Definitely some big gaps in reasoning, including the way she brushes aside the difficulties of adopting from another country. And the main character is super unlikable for 2/3 of the book. Mostly, she whines and complains. Interesting premise, but I just didn't enjoy much of it.
July 18, 2022
Wow! this book is so good, you can hardly put it down...or at least I couldn't! It starts out a little "strange" but the messages are so clear and right to the point. I saw myself in so many of the ways and felt the prick of the Holy Spirit as Julie learned her lessons. I saw what God can do with our lives once we turn them over fully to Him. Definitely made me want to be a better and more dedicated person.
March 13, 2023
Wow! Such mixed reviews about this book. Someone had suggested it, and it seemed like something different, so I gave it a chance. I am glad I did. Yes, it starts out kind of cheesy and the main character was quite annoying to start, but I really wanted to find out how the story would go. Great reminders of obedience, faith and peace.. It is not a history book, so don't get all caught up in what can never really happen- it is a story...enjoy it!
April 15, 2018
This book really kept me hooked from the moment I started it. I even stayed up until midnight one night reading, which I haven't done in decades. The only downside I would say is that it sometimes spends a bit too long on Jesus' lectures to the main character. I found myself sometimes skimming these parts to get back to the action. Great story, though!
September 13, 2018
My first read for this author and I enjoyed it. Although the story is predictable in many ways, it is solid Christian fiction. A concrete lesson regarding obedience to the Lord, and quite an uplifting tale.
So refreshing to read a book and not have to be concerned with swearing and sexual content cropping up.
So refreshing to read a book and not have to be concerned with swearing and sexual content cropping up.
November 24, 2018
A wealthy woman finds her life on a different rack after she sits next to Jesus on a subway train. Suddenly she's in India, trying to figure out how to get her life back while taking care of a group of orphans. This was a thought-provoking read. I'm passing it to my sister for her book sharing group.
July 26, 2023
BUY this book NOW!! God will bless you as you read it!!!
This book is amazing and will bless you so much!!! We take our daily gifts for granted-shame on us!! But through the words of Jackie Macgirvin, you will be reminded of our many blessings that God gives us daily…blessings that we don’t deserve… but blessings that our Father loves to give to us.
This book is amazing and will bless you so much!!! We take our daily gifts for granted-shame on us!! But through the words of Jackie Macgirvin, you will be reminded of our many blessings that God gives us daily…blessings that we don’t deserve… but blessings that our Father loves to give to us.
September 10, 2025
Wow
Oh my goodness, I had no idea what I was about to read. This is the best book I have EVER read. Most children in America could not relate to the conditions the children in the story are living in. However children in every country should be cared for. This is a wonderful book. Please read it and it may change your heart and your life.
Oh my goodness, I had no idea what I was about to read. This is the best book I have EVER read. Most children in America could not relate to the conditions the children in the story are living in. However children in every country should be cared for. This is a wonderful book. Please read it and it may change your heart and your life.
May 6, 2017
The Designer Bag at the Garbage Dump
This book was awesome. I learned a lot from this book & how other countries customs are. I feel very privileged to live in a country where freedom reigns. I would recommend this book to everyone.
This book was awesome. I learned a lot from this book & how other countries customs are. I feel very privileged to live in a country where freedom reigns. I would recommend this book to everyone.
July 27, 2017
This was a very heartwarming and uplifting book. I only gave it four stars because it was a little lengthy in some parts. It did however make you want to strive to love Jesus more and talk to him every day and to look for the least of theses that he loves the most.
July 28, 2017
Christian reading that you will love
This book was the best book I have ever read. It has surpassed all others. I was amazed at the story, the understanding of all that was taught through the use of real life. I read constantly and this was excellent. I highly recommend it to all.
This book was the best book I have ever read. It has surpassed all others. I was amazed at the story, the understanding of all that was taught through the use of real life. I read constantly and this was excellent. I highly recommend it to all.
August 18, 2017
No words to explain--just God inspiring!
By far the best storyline of a book I've ever read! This is for sure a keeper! It was a true eye opener for me as well! Thank you Lord for all that You provide!
By far the best storyline of a book I've ever read! This is for sure a keeper! It was a true eye opener for me as well! Thank you Lord for all that You provide!
July 9, 2018
Looking in a Mirror
This book was amazing! For me it as like looking in a mirror and recognizing how much my life was similar to Julie's. I recognized all the times I condemned myself or let the judgment of others condemn me. Freedom has a price and His name is Jesus!
This book was amazing! For me it as like looking in a mirror and recognizing how much my life was similar to Julie's. I recognized all the times I condemned myself or let the judgment of others condemn me. Freedom has a price and His name is Jesus!
April 2, 2019
Interesting
Very interesting book to read about how God intervened in a woman’s life challenging her world view and showing her how to live out her faith. A good reminder of listening and obeying Gods voice
Very interesting book to read about how God intervened in a woman’s life challenging her world view and showing her how to live out her faith. A good reminder of listening and obeying Gods voice
August 16, 2021
This is a good faith-filled book full of lots of important lessons. And the story of orphans in India is really heart-wrenching. But I found some of the Jesus moments a little too repetitive. And maybe they needed to be. But to me, they weighted the story down a bit much.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews