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The Whisper Theory
Meghan Shanahan is confident in her Christianity, if not a bit self-righteous . When she moves in with Jeff and Carol, her two unbelieving college roommates, she begins to unravel.
Meghan thought she could save Jeff, but in the first three months of college, she's breaking more rules than she's keeping. Even worse, she finds herself falling in love with Jeff.
When a young woman in their apartment building is murdered, everything starts changing. Through heartache and despair, tragedy and suspense, Meghan learns what friendship is all about, and more importantly, she discovers the voice she's going to follow.
Meghan thought she could save Jeff, but in the first three months of college, she's breaking more rules than she's keeping. Even worse, she finds herself falling in love with Jeff.
When a young woman in their apartment building is murdered, everything starts changing. Through heartache and despair, tragedy and suspense, Meghan learns what friendship is all about, and more importantly, she discovers the voice she's going to follow.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 28, 2011
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9 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 16, 2015
I received a free ecopy of this book courtesy of Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
The Whisper Theory is intended as a book to help late teens/young adults struggle against peer pressure that might lead them into paths they don’t really want to go. The title is taken from a David Crowder band song: “send me a sign, a hint, a whisper. Throw me a line, ’cause I am listening.” This fictional story features a young lady named Meghan who arrives at the Northwestern University of Illinois at Evaston to share accommodations with Carol, who has a 3-bedroom apartment in a low rise building close to campus. She has found a found a 3rd student to share their space and expenses.
In the beginning, Meghan is strong in her faith and has answers to statements made by her new roommates that suggest God doesn’t care, is too remote or doesn’t even exist. But as time passes, she talks less about what God can do and begins rationalizing some of her actions. While she is still reaching out to others (such as a lonely, elderly lady who spends a lot of time looking out her front window), and applying herself to her studies and work, she becomes more involved in activities she wouldn’t have even considered a year earlier.
First problem, the 3rd roommate is named Jeff. Even though ground rules are laid down, problems arise as Jeff and Meghan spend time together and find they are attracted to each other. Even though she knows Jeff is not a Christian and she promised her parents she wouldn’t date him, she breaks that promise and starts going out with him. She does it secretly, so now she’s lying to Carol. Before you know it, Meghan is tempted to try things she’s never been interested in before: alcohol, smoking, and dating. She has led a very “protected” life and is naïve enough to misunderstand when the professor who has hired her as his assistant asks her out for a drink — she thinks he wants to discuss the work assignment.
Next problem, a murder in Meghan’s apartment building brings her parents to visit and they decide she can stay in the building but they sense something is happening between Meghan and Jeff. They suggest that one of them should move into the now available apartment on the 2nd floor. Even though they stop seeing each other, and Meghan meets a Christian boy heading for theological school, more problems present themselves: jealousy, resentment, uncertainty, and guilt. When a second murder occurs in their building, things become really tense.
I see the problems outlined in this story as very real for someone trying to live a Christian life away from home, and, while some might find the ending of the story rather naïve, many will recognize that such things do happen, especially when one has placed his/her faith in God and is listening for the “whispered” answer.
This is an easy to read story with study and discussion outlines at the end of each chapter which I liked at first, but then found a bit distracting as I wanted to get on with the story line. However, the outlines are very thought-provoking and the Bible references are bang on, and I could see how the placement of the study sections would be good if you were sharing the book in a group or in a situation where you were seriously seeking help with similar difficulties. There are lots of references in the story to Christian musical groups, and interactions with older people who step in at the right moment to help with tricky situations. While the target audience is young Christians preparing to head off to university or already at university (or some other first-time-away-from-home setting such as work or training), almost everyone can probably glean something from this story and study. Parents might find some practical advice, and older singles may, as well. I found it a solid, Bible-based outlook as well as an interesting story.
The Whisper Theory is intended as a book to help late teens/young adults struggle against peer pressure that might lead them into paths they don’t really want to go. The title is taken from a David Crowder band song: “send me a sign, a hint, a whisper. Throw me a line, ’cause I am listening.” This fictional story features a young lady named Meghan who arrives at the Northwestern University of Illinois at Evaston to share accommodations with Carol, who has a 3-bedroom apartment in a low rise building close to campus. She has found a found a 3rd student to share their space and expenses.
In the beginning, Meghan is strong in her faith and has answers to statements made by her new roommates that suggest God doesn’t care, is too remote or doesn’t even exist. But as time passes, she talks less about what God can do and begins rationalizing some of her actions. While she is still reaching out to others (such as a lonely, elderly lady who spends a lot of time looking out her front window), and applying herself to her studies and work, she becomes more involved in activities she wouldn’t have even considered a year earlier.
First problem, the 3rd roommate is named Jeff. Even though ground rules are laid down, problems arise as Jeff and Meghan spend time together and find they are attracted to each other. Even though she knows Jeff is not a Christian and she promised her parents she wouldn’t date him, she breaks that promise and starts going out with him. She does it secretly, so now she’s lying to Carol. Before you know it, Meghan is tempted to try things she’s never been interested in before: alcohol, smoking, and dating. She has led a very “protected” life and is naïve enough to misunderstand when the professor who has hired her as his assistant asks her out for a drink — she thinks he wants to discuss the work assignment.
Next problem, a murder in Meghan’s apartment building brings her parents to visit and they decide she can stay in the building but they sense something is happening between Meghan and Jeff. They suggest that one of them should move into the now available apartment on the 2nd floor. Even though they stop seeing each other, and Meghan meets a Christian boy heading for theological school, more problems present themselves: jealousy, resentment, uncertainty, and guilt. When a second murder occurs in their building, things become really tense.
I see the problems outlined in this story as very real for someone trying to live a Christian life away from home, and, while some might find the ending of the story rather naïve, many will recognize that such things do happen, especially when one has placed his/her faith in God and is listening for the “whispered” answer.
This is an easy to read story with study and discussion outlines at the end of each chapter which I liked at first, but then found a bit distracting as I wanted to get on with the story line. However, the outlines are very thought-provoking and the Bible references are bang on, and I could see how the placement of the study sections would be good if you were sharing the book in a group or in a situation where you were seriously seeking help with similar difficulties. There are lots of references in the story to Christian musical groups, and interactions with older people who step in at the right moment to help with tricky situations. While the target audience is young Christians preparing to head off to university or already at university (or some other first-time-away-from-home setting such as work or training), almost everyone can probably glean something from this story and study. Parents might find some practical advice, and older singles may, as well. I found it a solid, Bible-based outlook as well as an interesting story.
July 22, 2013
Meghan, Carol, & Jeff are three college roommates. While Meghan has been raised a Christian & still professes to be one, Carol & Jeff are not. Agreeing to break her own rule about dating roommates, Meghan agrees to go out with Jeff. Soon, her feelings for him & the line of Christianity begin to blur. When there’s a death in their apartment building, things grow more complicated & Meghan must decide where she really stands. Immediately after each chapter, there is a Bible study consisting of questions & Scriptures pertaining to the chapter’s content.
After reading the first few chapters, I begin to have issues with this book. Upon completing it fully, they didn’t dissipate. Christian teens are never going to be perfect. Many of us had issues in our late teens & early twenties, but found our way back to the fold. That isn’t the problem. My problem with Meghan’s character is that she was supposedly the role model in the story, but lost her witness by moving in with a man. Although it’s mentioned often that her parents were okay with it because she & Jeff weren’t dating, I find it farfetched that such devout parents would ever agree to this arrangement.
Furthermore, she teases Jeff by giving & receiving back & leg rubs from him. To me, those are huge mixed messages not just for the characters but for Christian teens reading this book! Honestly, it made me a bit angry. Teen girls shouldn’t be given a green light to be teases. Messages in these types of books, especially if they’re going to contain Bible studies, should be much more clear-cut.
It really is a shame because Amber Swenson is a talented writer. But, for me, I award 2 stars. I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. ALL opinions are my own.
February 24, 2016
An unusual book, not really a novel, a novella, a journal, or a journal of sorts. In fact I guess it would be classified as a Bible Study or devotional. The writing was stilted, and each chapter ended with a discussion guide. Had it been written as a narrative only, with questions at the end of the book ,I believe it would have been best.
The story follows Meghan, a first year college girl, through her finding of herself, her convictions and ability to stand firm in them.
Meghan, a Christian, is rooming with Carol and Jeff who are not. She continually preaches to each of them while although the tolerate it the tease and ridicule her. Determined to stay strong she still allows herself to play with fire when she dates a non believer.
This is a Young Adult book and has a good description of the obstacles and temptations that you encounter when you allow yourself to compromise your values and become tempted. I believe it has some good moral lessons and worth using as a study for a young group or class.
I received this book free for an honest review from Westbow Press and Thomas Nelson Publishers.
The story follows Meghan, a first year college girl, through her finding of herself, her convictions and ability to stand firm in them.
Meghan, a Christian, is rooming with Carol and Jeff who are not. She continually preaches to each of them while although the tolerate it the tease and ridicule her. Determined to stay strong she still allows herself to play with fire when she dates a non believer.
This is a Young Adult book and has a good description of the obstacles and temptations that you encounter when you allow yourself to compromise your values and become tempted. I believe it has some good moral lessons and worth using as a study for a young group or class.
I received this book free for an honest review from Westbow Press and Thomas Nelson Publishers.
April 14, 2013
Hmmm... I'm not sure how to rate this book. It was definitely different than I expected. It was advertised as a book for teens and since I almost have a teenager in the house, I chose this book as my next free book from BookSneeze in exchange for a review.
This book appears to just be a nonfiction story about college kids but at the end of each chapter there is a Bible study - Scripture passages to read as well as thought-provoking questions. The topics included temptation, sex, drinking, murder, and more. Definitely a book for older teens. And probably a great study for college freshman, as the plot has quite a bit of reality to it.
At one point I thought of giving up on this book due to the content. But I stuck it out and it got better and the Bible study part of the chapters redeemed the book.
So for rating this book... four stars for a college Bible study but two stars when advertised as a teen study.
This book appears to just be a nonfiction story about college kids but at the end of each chapter there is a Bible study - Scripture passages to read as well as thought-provoking questions. The topics included temptation, sex, drinking, murder, and more. Definitely a book for older teens. And probably a great study for college freshman, as the plot has quite a bit of reality to it.
At one point I thought of giving up on this book due to the content. But I stuck it out and it got better and the Bible study part of the chapters redeemed the book.
So for rating this book... four stars for a college Bible study but two stars when advertised as a teen study.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews