What do you think?
Rate this book
Asylum
The stress of ten-year-old Ian Lane's life has forced him to retreat into his own private world of rhyme. He trusts no one, especially after the tragic deaths of his alcoholic parents- deaths he secretly fears may have been his fault.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Nan Corbitt Allen
7 books2 followersNan Corbitt Allen is a three-time Dove Award winner whose lyrics and dramas have been performed around the world. Her previous books include The Words We Sing and Watercolor Summer. Nan and her husband have two grown sons and live near Nashville, Tennessee.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 3, 2011
I loved this novel! I felt so connected to the little boy and couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2013
I struggled with parts of this book seeming unrealistic to me but ultimately the story picked up and I was so heartbroken for this sad little lost boy that I could hardly stand it. A good read all in all.
November 9, 2013
When I saw this sitting on the library shelf and read the blurb, I got the impression it was a nice little introspective drama about a runaway orphan…turns out it's nothing but an attempt to convert readers to baptist christianity. No need to rely on my interpretation; there's a page near the back flat out admitting the book is a conversion tool. If I'd looked closely at the back cover, where the blurb is, I'd have seen MOODY PUBLISHERS in small white type…minor oversight there on my part.
Honestly this wouldn't even bother me if the writing weren't so condescending and just plain terrible. It's presented in a tense utilizing "had had" many, many times. The characters keep referring to Magnum P.I. as if the story were set in 1982, which it isn't - people have cell phones. Of course they don't know how to use them - they think you have to yell into them or won't get reception outside your own home - because they're stupid. Everyone is stupid, for no reason. The runaway kid doesn't realize the place he's hiding is a church, because even though he's a regular ten year old suburban kid who's gone to school with other kids and watched TV he's never seen a church before, never heard of Jesus, doesn't recognize anything in the place…this is what I mean by condescending and terrible and stupid and all being used to convey christian concepts to people who may not be familiar with them…despicable, really, to write that way.
This is on top of the writing just being bad and stupid on its own. Combined with the religious propaganda I'd give this book negative five stars if I could. Here's a sample:
"These are good, Reverend," Pete said as he bit into a hot French pastry.
"Jim. You can call me Jim."
Tibby's usually closed at 6:00 on Saturdays, but he was willing to stay open longer for Brother Jim and the policeman.
"Are you from Mobile, Lieutenant?" Jim asked.
"Pete."
Jim had been invited to return a friendlier greeting.
"Sure. Pete," Jim said.
Jim didn't know where the conversation would lead, but he prayed that he could have the opportunity and the courage to share Christ with Pete.
Christ indeed. Jim had been invited to return a friendlier greeting? Really? REALLY? Wow, thanks for pointing that out! I didn't know because I've never read a friggin' book before! Or seen a movie or tv show! Where this type of exchange has happened thousands upon thousands of times and is almost always just as pointless an interaction as it is here! Golly!
This is the same bakery where dozens of people, after learning that the runaway had in fact been hiding out in the church next door until that very morning, sit and eat and talk and pray instead of GOING OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK FOR HIM. Seriously, they know he was there very recently, they know he's just a kid on foot, but they do absolutely nothing to go find him. And then he just shows up again, having decided to come back. The story is full of ridiculous coincidence like that, presented as God Working Miracles In Mysterious Ways but is really just weak writing.
The whole thing is pathetic and disgusting and manipulative. Those responsible should be ashamed and those who appreciate or accept this garbage should wake up and learn to think for themselves.
Honestly this wouldn't even bother me if the writing weren't so condescending and just plain terrible. It's presented in a tense utilizing "had had" many, many times. The characters keep referring to Magnum P.I. as if the story were set in 1982, which it isn't - people have cell phones. Of course they don't know how to use them - they think you have to yell into them or won't get reception outside your own home - because they're stupid. Everyone is stupid, for no reason. The runaway kid doesn't realize the place he's hiding is a church, because even though he's a regular ten year old suburban kid who's gone to school with other kids and watched TV he's never seen a church before, never heard of Jesus, doesn't recognize anything in the place…this is what I mean by condescending and terrible and stupid and all being used to convey christian concepts to people who may not be familiar with them…despicable, really, to write that way.
This is on top of the writing just being bad and stupid on its own. Combined with the religious propaganda I'd give this book negative five stars if I could. Here's a sample:
"These are good, Reverend," Pete said as he bit into a hot French pastry.
"Jim. You can call me Jim."
Tibby's usually closed at 6:00 on Saturdays, but he was willing to stay open longer for Brother Jim and the policeman.
"Are you from Mobile, Lieutenant?" Jim asked.
"Pete."
Jim had been invited to return a friendlier greeting.
"Sure. Pete," Jim said.
Jim didn't know where the conversation would lead, but he prayed that he could have the opportunity and the courage to share Christ with Pete.
Christ indeed. Jim had been invited to return a friendlier greeting? Really? REALLY? Wow, thanks for pointing that out! I didn't know because I've never read a friggin' book before! Or seen a movie or tv show! Where this type of exchange has happened thousands upon thousands of times and is almost always just as pointless an interaction as it is here! Golly!
This is the same bakery where dozens of people, after learning that the runaway had in fact been hiding out in the church next door until that very morning, sit and eat and talk and pray instead of GOING OUT INTO THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO LOOK FOR HIM. Seriously, they know he was there very recently, they know he's just a kid on foot, but they do absolutely nothing to go find him. And then he just shows up again, having decided to come back. The story is full of ridiculous coincidence like that, presented as God Working Miracles In Mysterious Ways but is really just weak writing.
The whole thing is pathetic and disgusting and manipulative. Those responsible should be ashamed and those who appreciate or accept this garbage should wake up and learn to think for themselves.
February 2, 2019
Author sacrifices all common sense for the sake of evangelizing.
April 10, 2024
Easy read, mysterious and left me wondering. I disagree that it was an effort to convert people, though it is a faith based book. Cute story!
August 2, 2014
Interesting concept at first. I love survival books, and the alcoholic perspective I related too, so this book intrested me at first when I picked it up at a used book store. The editing was horrible, which was my biggest pet peeve. I didn't realize how religious it was either, which I'm not a big fan of. Overall, it's not the worst book I've read, but it wasn't that great.
June 27, 2009
good read.
About a little boy who has run away because he thinks he did something horrible (you will have to read to find out). He hides in a church and learns who God is in the actions of the people around him.
we did this one for Christian book club
About a little boy who has run away because he thinks he did something horrible (you will have to read to find out). He hides in a church and learns who God is in the actions of the people around him.
we did this one for Christian book club
September 20, 2010
At first I thought the "world of rhyme" might get on my nerves, but as it turns out, there's not much rhyming so not sure why that's mentioned in the story synopsis. Asylum does start off a little slow, but picks up and ends good. I thought it would make a good Lifetime movie for sure.
June 24, 2011
good thus far, but i think this kid is kinda dramatic? for lack of a better word. but I guess he has reason to be for what hes been through, maybe hes not dramatic really just dealing? i don`t know... we`ll see
June 13, 2011
I bought this book on a whim at a Christian bookstore; it was on sale for less than $4. I'm glad I bought it. It was amazing. I read it in one afternoon. I so wanted to reach into the book and hug little Ian.
January 23, 2008
This is an great book, with a captivating story line. Great for anyone that thinks there is not a good ending for a bad start on life.
February 21, 2011
At first the books seems depressing but good read
July 2, 2011
This book was awful. I wish I could find more Christian fiction that isn't. Alas, have to move on from here.
February 17, 2013
How far can someones faith in God really go.
August 8, 2013
great, kinda sad, but great!
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews