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Children of the Last Days #5
Sophia House
Sophia House is set in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. Pawel Tarnowski, a bookseller, gives refuge to David SchAfer, a Jewish youth who has escaped from the ghetto, and hides him in the attic of the book shop. Throughout the winter of 1942-43, haunted by the looming threat of discovery, they discuss good and evil, sin and redemption, literature and philosophy, and their respective religious views of reality. Decades later, David becomes a convert to Catholicism, is the Carmelite priest Fr. Elijah SchAfer called by the Pope to confront the Anti-christ in Michael O'Brien's best-selling novel, Father Elijah: an Apocalypse.
In this "prequel," the author explores the meaning of love, religious identity, and sacrifice viewed from two distinct perspectives. The cast of characters also includes the notorious Count Smokrev, a literate Nazi Major, a French novelist, a terrifying Polish bear, the Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, and Pawel's beloved Kahlia, the elusive figure who moves through the story as an unseen presence. As the story unfolds, the loss of spiritual fatherhood in late Western society is revealed as a problem of language in the heart and soul, and as one of the gravest crises of our times. As the author points the way to rediscovery of our Father in heaven, he also shows us the path to renewal of human fatherhood. This is a novel about small choices that shift the balance of the world.
In this "prequel," the author explores the meaning of love, religious identity, and sacrifice viewed from two distinct perspectives. The cast of characters also includes the notorious Count Smokrev, a literate Nazi Major, a French novelist, a terrifying Polish bear, the Russian icon painter Andrei Rublev, and Pawel's beloved Kahlia, the elusive figure who moves through the story as an unseen presence. As the story unfolds, the loss of spiritual fatherhood in late Western society is revealed as a problem of language in the heart and soul, and as one of the gravest crises of our times. As the author points the way to rediscovery of our Father in heaven, he also shows us the path to renewal of human fatherhood. This is a novel about small choices that shift the balance of the world.
488 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
88 people are currently reading
975 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. O'Brien
45 books838 followersMichael D. O'Brien is a Roman Catholic author, artist, and frequent essayist and lecturer on faith and culture, living in Combermere, Ontario, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
July 24, 2017
I'm rating my father's novels here as a fan. But I'm going to decline writing a review for now, due to my kinship with the author. Suffice to say, I look forward to his books as much as anyone else, and find them deeply moving. I am not unaware of their flaws, but their strengths surpass them, and so abundantly, I find them almost moot. I'm normally moved to the point of tears about 3-4 times per novel (If I find myself choked up only once, I tell him it's not his best work). He has a rare gift of penetrating deeply into spiritual truths, which is a reflection of the person he is -- an artist who has been refined in a furnace of faith, not unlike many of his characters.
Sophia House is a prequel to Father Elijah, explores the backstory of the boy David (Fr. Elijah) in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. It's largely an exchange of ideas and friendship between two unlikely persons: the Jewish boy and the Polish bookseller who hides him. Count Smokrev from Father Elijah also makes an appearance. The novel's treatment of homosexuality is one of the most nuanced (and probably controversial) I've read. The ending is one of the most powerful for me of all my father's books.
Sophia House is a prequel to Father Elijah, explores the backstory of the boy David (Fr. Elijah) in Warsaw during the Nazi occupation. It's largely an exchange of ideas and friendship between two unlikely persons: the Jewish boy and the Polish bookseller who hides him. Count Smokrev from Father Elijah also makes an appearance. The novel's treatment of homosexuality is one of the most nuanced (and probably controversial) I've read. The ending is one of the most powerful for me of all my father's books.
May 19, 2021
Sophia House or ‘House of Wisdom’ is a book shop, a delightful setting for a story, yet marred by the fact that it is 1943, winter in Poland and the bookseller, Pawel Tarnowski, is hiding a young Jewish refugee from the ghetto, David Schaefer.
Sophia House is a man’s story which deals primarily with male relationships. I don’t often classify books as ‘masculine’ and/or ‘feminine’ but in this case it is appropriate. It was a privilege for me as a woman to be able to view the world from this perspective.
Pawel Tarnowski was sexually abused as a young boy though he repressed the memory, and it has overshadowed his life ever since, making him fearful of almost everything, especially himself and his own sexuality. He is a kind, good man but withdrawn, afraid to love or trust. Pawel struggles to protect David from the Germans, curious visitors to the shop, the harsh Polish weather and even his own unwanted desires.
The poignancy of the story is palpable. The conversations between David and Pawel are exquisite. Seldom have I read such profound writing. This was fiction but there was much that was true Wisdom. I cried. I re-listened to sections that were especially sweet. I did not want the story to end. If God grants me the time, I hope to return to this marvelous book.
I have enjoyed all of Michael O’Brien’s books, but this is my favorite … so far. I have read, Father Elijah: An Apocalypse, before, but now that I know the young man, David Schaefer, and this winter he spent with his mentor, Pawel Tarnowski, I will have a whole new perspective on the adult monk.
Beautiful!
Sophia House is a man’s story which deals primarily with male relationships. I don’t often classify books as ‘masculine’ and/or ‘feminine’ but in this case it is appropriate. It was a privilege for me as a woman to be able to view the world from this perspective.
Pawel Tarnowski was sexually abused as a young boy though he repressed the memory, and it has overshadowed his life ever since, making him fearful of almost everything, especially himself and his own sexuality. He is a kind, good man but withdrawn, afraid to love or trust. Pawel struggles to protect David from the Germans, curious visitors to the shop, the harsh Polish weather and even his own unwanted desires.
The poignancy of the story is palpable. The conversations between David and Pawel are exquisite. Seldom have I read such profound writing. This was fiction but there was much that was true Wisdom. I cried. I re-listened to sections that were especially sweet. I did not want the story to end. If God grants me the time, I hope to return to this marvelous book.
I have enjoyed all of Michael O’Brien’s books, but this is my favorite … so far. I have read, Father Elijah: An Apocalypse, before, but now that I know the young man, David Schaefer, and this winter he spent with his mentor, Pawel Tarnowski, I will have a whole new perspective on the adult monk.
Beautiful!
November 21, 2021
This was such a lovely book, perfectly suited to my taste: a poignant interior portrait, spanning from childhood through middle age, of a lonely artist turned bookseller and writer in Poland during the Second World War. When, almost against his will, Pawel Tarnowski feels he must give refuge to a Jewish boy in the attic of his bookshop, and that boy turns out to be an extraordinary conversation partner, Pawel’s life takes a turn he never expected. I especially liked Pawel’s earnestness and his struggles with wanting to trust people but being afraid to.
O’Brien writes beautifully and has crafted an engaging interior story that turns into a story of friendship. I loved it, and found it better written and more to my taste than his earlier and more famous Father Elijah, for which it turns out to be a prequel.
O’Brien writes beautifully and has crafted an engaging interior story that turns into a story of friendship. I loved it, and found it better written and more to my taste than his earlier and more famous Father Elijah, for which it turns out to be a prequel.
December 30, 2016
Pawel Tarnowski may be an unlikely hero, but he is one of mine.
I have been slowly working my way through O'Brien's body of work this year. Reading this one hit me deeper than most- and they all have had an impact- because of its raw and powerful themes. I read this 2 months ago and have read other books since, but still find myself going back to it and pondering the questions it has raised in my own life.
Sophia House, set in Poland in the time period leading up to WWII and the Nazi occupation, drives strongly at a few main themes:
* The necessity to face one's past, and the pain that can result of running from it- the ways it prevents a person from living fully and freely and from finding inner peace and communion with God and others
* The reality and mystery that God really will "work all things together for the good of those who love Him"
* The reality that love is a gift of self and is ordered to serving the good of another- not taking for oneself- and while it may seem in dark moments that this would create emptiness, it is actually how one is filled and healed.
I see the crossing of paths between David and Pawel as a beautiful act of compassion from the Lord, and a prime example of how He works through His mystical body to accomplish His will for His people- no matter how unlikely or unusual the circumstances may be.
Pawel's self-sacrifice for the young David Schäfer ultimately worked as part of God's salvific and healing plan for himself as well as David. It is beautiful to see how the witness of one to the other as friends worked in the lives of eachother. God used the introduction of David to Pawel to teach Pawel how to love and how to forgive. Later on Schäfer's memory of Pawel's sacrificial love for him also brought him back to the Lord and set him firmly on the path to his ultimate mission. It's an incredible witness to friendship/relationship and the important role it should play in our lives. "No man is an island" - we need companions on the journey of our lives.
Pawel is a beautiful witness to self-denial, especially the denial of self that is involved when you choose to not act out of fear but out of love for the sake of another. Consider the question when reading- what if Pawel had allowed fear to rule in his heart when it came to the young David?
There is much, much more to be found in this book, but 2 months after reading it, these are the points which have stayed with me.
I have been slowly working my way through O'Brien's body of work this year. Reading this one hit me deeper than most- and they all have had an impact- because of its raw and powerful themes. I read this 2 months ago and have read other books since, but still find myself going back to it and pondering the questions it has raised in my own life.
Sophia House, set in Poland in the time period leading up to WWII and the Nazi occupation, drives strongly at a few main themes:
* The necessity to face one's past, and the pain that can result of running from it- the ways it prevents a person from living fully and freely and from finding inner peace and communion with God and others
* The reality and mystery that God really will "work all things together for the good of those who love Him"
* The reality that love is a gift of self and is ordered to serving the good of another- not taking for oneself- and while it may seem in dark moments that this would create emptiness, it is actually how one is filled and healed.
I see the crossing of paths between David and Pawel as a beautiful act of compassion from the Lord, and a prime example of how He works through His mystical body to accomplish His will for His people- no matter how unlikely or unusual the circumstances may be.
Pawel's self-sacrifice for the young David Schäfer ultimately worked as part of God's salvific and healing plan for himself as well as David. It is beautiful to see how the witness of one to the other as friends worked in the lives of eachother. God used the introduction of David to Pawel to teach Pawel how to love and how to forgive. Later on Schäfer's memory of Pawel's sacrificial love for him also brought him back to the Lord and set him firmly on the path to his ultimate mission. It's an incredible witness to friendship/relationship and the important role it should play in our lives. "No man is an island" - we need companions on the journey of our lives.
Pawel is a beautiful witness to self-denial, especially the denial of self that is involved when you choose to not act out of fear but out of love for the sake of another. Consider the question when reading- what if Pawel had allowed fear to rule in his heart when it came to the young David?
There is much, much more to be found in this book, but 2 months after reading it, these are the points which have stayed with me.
June 21, 2012
In Fr. Elijah, Michael O'Brien briefly notes that his protagonist escaped from the Ghetto due to the assistance of a book merchant with whom he had many deep conversations. Sophia House (Sophia means "wisdom") is the recounting of the winter with the book merchant. There's little plot and less traditional novel to this amazing book. It's slow, considered and deep. Readers have to expect that the pages will need to be read slowly and then pondered. It's a great story and the poetry and indirect prose are truly beautiful. This is O'Brien indulging the high art of literature...
At the same time, the book is sad. It's set in the high times of the Holocaust and the Count Smokrev who figures prominently in Father Elijah is also present here. Like his other books, O'Brien doesn't shy away from suffering and the grit of life. Sophia House is not an easy read and it's got tough themes, but I think it's worth the time and the work that goes into it.
At the same time, the book is sad. It's set in the high times of the Holocaust and the Count Smokrev who figures prominently in Father Elijah is also present here. Like his other books, O'Brien doesn't shy away from suffering and the grit of life. Sophia House is not an easy read and it's got tough themes, but I think it's worth the time and the work that goes into it.
October 6, 2024
This is a novel about fatherhood: stolen, broken, exploited, and restored through the Father.
It's a tremendous work of psychological and spiritual transformation, set against WWII in Poland. The philosophical aspects of the book can become tedious at times, but it's worth the journey.
Michael O'Brien is the greatest Catholic novelist of our time, a modern Dostoevsky.
It's a tremendous work of psychological and spiritual transformation, set against WWII in Poland. The philosophical aspects of the book can become tedious at times, but it's worth the journey.
Michael O'Brien is the greatest Catholic novelist of our time, a modern Dostoevsky.
March 31, 2023
Ouch. Read it.
April 30, 2011
This was an incredibly moving story about a Polish man who takes in a Jewish teenager during the Nazi occupation of Warsaw. The life of the Polish host is tinged with sadness, but ultimately, like all of O'Brien's books, this is a story of redemption. Highly recommended.
December 13, 2017
Anything by Michael O'Brien is always hard to put down and Sophia House is no different. I couldn't put it down once I was down to the last 100 pages and, well, some household chores were neglected. Baby in one arm, book in the other... you get the picture.
September 21, 2024
“He saw that life is a word spoken. It cannot be taken back once uttered.”
^^^Michael O’Brien said it all there
^^^Michael O’Brien said it all there
November 18, 2023
FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK! by far my favorite michael o’brien (so far!).
i’m a little biased as i happen to love art, philosophy, literature, etc, and have a constant fascination for both WWII and devout Judaism.... but! nonetheless! i was pleased and astounded once again by o’brien’s truthful handling of delicate subjects — this time, a deep dive into topics i had never heard him address before: homosexuality, pedophilia, broken and abusive families, fatherlessness, and how they deeply wound a human soul.
unlike many modern voices, o’brien treats these topics not with vulgarity but with an exposition of what they truly are. he reveals the deep spiritual pain of these matters, and weaves them into a lifelong story that is ultimately about redemption, forgiveness, and mercy.
there are few authors i have encountered who i think understand reality, souls, and providence as much as michael o’brien does. he is a gift many times over. ❤️
i’m a little biased as i happen to love art, philosophy, literature, etc, and have a constant fascination for both WWII and devout Judaism.... but! nonetheless! i was pleased and astounded once again by o’brien’s truthful handling of delicate subjects — this time, a deep dive into topics i had never heard him address before: homosexuality, pedophilia, broken and abusive families, fatherlessness, and how they deeply wound a human soul.
unlike many modern voices, o’brien treats these topics not with vulgarity but with an exposition of what they truly are. he reveals the deep spiritual pain of these matters, and weaves them into a lifelong story that is ultimately about redemption, forgiveness, and mercy.
there are few authors i have encountered who i think understand reality, souls, and providence as much as michael o’brien does. he is a gift many times over. ❤️
January 14, 2012
I have a mixed opinion on Michael O'Brien's books. I loved Plague Journal, could not appreciate Strangers and Sojourners (though I did finish it) and Eclipse of the Sun was especially poignant.
Sophia House joins Eclipse of the Sun in terms of poignancy but O'Brien's use of language is pure craftsmanship. He easily immerses you in every situation from the protagonist's mind and thoughts to war-torn Warsaw and to the tiny bookshop where a majority of the novel is set. The book has amazing character development, in particular, that of the protagonist Pawel Tarnowski, and the other characters have so much personality that you do not forget who they are.
Various themes are explored in this novel but the two that I think makes this book stand out is that of hope and the dignity of the human person. Hope for those who think they have nothing to hope and for those who think that they are unworthy of life that there is always something to live for. And the dignity of the human person is defended particularly in visual arts as well as in human relationships. Philosophers would enjoy the various discussions that Pawel and David have about words and communication; and those interested in reading more about a Jewish perspective would like O'Brien's respectful treatment of their teachings and beliefs. And I personally enjoy what he has to say about religious icons.
Like most of his works, this novel does have a religious undertone but one does not need to be a Catholic (nor a Jew for that matter) to understand the message he's trying to pass on. There are also homosexual elements within the novel which may be a cause of concern for some readers but there is nothing graphic and is dealt with in a rather intelligent manner.
In summary, it is a challenging read due to the subject matter but beautifully-written and definitely thought-provoking.
Sophia House joins Eclipse of the Sun in terms of poignancy but O'Brien's use of language is pure craftsmanship. He easily immerses you in every situation from the protagonist's mind and thoughts to war-torn Warsaw and to the tiny bookshop where a majority of the novel is set. The book has amazing character development, in particular, that of the protagonist Pawel Tarnowski, and the other characters have so much personality that you do not forget who they are.
Various themes are explored in this novel but the two that I think makes this book stand out is that of hope and the dignity of the human person. Hope for those who think they have nothing to hope and for those who think that they are unworthy of life that there is always something to live for. And the dignity of the human person is defended particularly in visual arts as well as in human relationships. Philosophers would enjoy the various discussions that Pawel and David have about words and communication; and those interested in reading more about a Jewish perspective would like O'Brien's respectful treatment of their teachings and beliefs. And I personally enjoy what he has to say about religious icons.
Like most of his works, this novel does have a religious undertone but one does not need to be a Catholic (nor a Jew for that matter) to understand the message he's trying to pass on. There are also homosexual elements within the novel which may be a cause of concern for some readers but there is nothing graphic and is dealt with in a rather intelligent manner.
In summary, it is a challenging read due to the subject matter but beautifully-written and definitely thought-provoking.
May 9, 2024
~Wow~. Michael D. O’Brien… Wowowow.
This book has been a journey— but above all reminds me of the gift of fiction, able to communicate deep truths in good and beautiful ways. A truly transcendental experience ◡̈ As with each of the other MDO books I’ve read, this has led to beautiful prayer and reflection in my own life, and the delivery of this book has made it easy and truly enjoyable to ponder with God on how He made each of us. The story moves at a wonderful pace— not too slow that it’s hard to pick up or too fast that it demands to be consumed as quickly as the eyes can devour words on a page (until the epilogue. I raced).
I’m really trying to give any more review other than just raving on its effects. In this book there are deep wells of the themes of fatherhood, suffering, perseverance through temptation and fear, sacrifice, and friendship— and more.
Read this book!! And Father Elijah and Elijah in Jerusalem !! I can’t imagine giving any book from O’Brien anything less than 5 stars— I’m interested to see if it’s possible but doubt it!! This author speaks to my heart!!
This book has been a journey— but above all reminds me of the gift of fiction, able to communicate deep truths in good and beautiful ways. A truly transcendental experience ◡̈ As with each of the other MDO books I’ve read, this has led to beautiful prayer and reflection in my own life, and the delivery of this book has made it easy and truly enjoyable to ponder with God on how He made each of us. The story moves at a wonderful pace— not too slow that it’s hard to pick up or too fast that it demands to be consumed as quickly as the eyes can devour words on a page (until the epilogue. I raced).
I’m really trying to give any more review other than just raving on its effects. In this book there are deep wells of the themes of fatherhood, suffering, perseverance through temptation and fear, sacrifice, and friendship— and more.
Read this book!! And Father Elijah and Elijah in Jerusalem !! I can’t imagine giving any book from O’Brien anything less than 5 stars— I’m interested to see if it’s possible but doubt it!! This author speaks to my heart!!
May 31, 2022
Wow, so many emotions after reading this book. The author managed to write a book with number of themes rolled into one cohesive storyline. Loneliness, philosophy, beauty, art, literature, depression, desire , lust. This will definitely be a book I'll re-read a number of times. The way he describes the battle reconciling religious conviction and same-sex attraction brought tears to my eyes. The price of regret, the shame , it's all there. Definitely a book I'll recommend to all my gay/SSA friends wherever they fall on the spectrum of religious conviction. But really, anyone can read this book and be challenged and inspired, amidst the raw pain that permeates this story, we see the shining rays of God's love for humanity coming through.
October 18, 2022
In The Idiot, Dostoevsky, through his character Prince Myshkin, proclaims that "beauty will save the world". With Sofia House, Michael O'Brien takes on this claim, setting out not only to unpack what this could possibly mean, but also seeking to contribute his own piece of beauty through the moving story of Pawel Tarnowski. At its core, Sofia House is the backstory of a young David Schafer, who will go on to become Fr. Elijah in subsequent novels, told from the perspective of Pawel Tarnowski, the man who rescues David after he flees from a Jewish ghetto, houses and feeds him in the upstairs apartment of his bookshop, and ultimately sacrifices himself for David's salvation. Set in Poland during the Nazi invasion, the novel acts as a sort of memoir of Pawel's life, from the trauma of his early childhood, to his loss of faith while striving to become an artist in Paris, and his humble return to Poland culminating in the rediscovery of his faith and the beautiful friendship he finds with David. A significant theme O'Brien touches on in Sophia House is the power small actions have in changing the course of the world. Divine providence plays a critical role in not only Pawel's life but the entire narrative of the story O'Brien weaves throughout the Father Elijah trilogy. This Truth is revealed most explicitly for readers who have read Father Elijah: An Apocalypse, as David's future actions, and the role his experiences during his childhood in Poland play in his destiny, are hinted out throughout Sophia House. O'Brien self-describes this work as a sort of mosaic, with numerous themes taking place in the background of the novel which culminate to a product much greater than the sum of their parts. Specifically O'Brien uses conversations between Pawel and David to dive deeply into philosophical topics such as beauty, symbolism, language, religious traditions, and good and evil. While many of these themes are each worthy of their own dissertation, they are much more subtle and act more as a compliment to the larger portrait O'Brien is painting, rather than taking up the forefront of the story. The plot is very contemplative and slow-paced, making for a beautiful and intimate portrait of the life of Pawel.
Perhaps the most striking part of Sophia House is the character arc O'Brien tells with Pawel. His portrayal is one of the most beautiful portraits of humanity I have ever read and O'Brien's treatment of his interior life is done with extraordinary grace. The messiness of Pawel's story presents a startling portrait of the human condition. Beginning with Pawel's sexual abuse at a young age and transitioning to his early adult life in Paris, O'Brien paints a vivid picture of human suffering, resulting in a depressed, jaded Pawel, a character who could have been taken straight out of a 19th century Russian novel. As Pawel's character progresses, O'Brien is able to articulate his conversion of heart as he comes to know the Lord in the latter half of the novel and does so in a way to highlight both man's yearning for God and the workings of Grace throughout his trials. As Pawel wrestles with his desires, his heart undergoes a purification from the trauma he experienced in his childhood as he learns to forgive past wrongs and channel his suffering into a purer love for David, culminating ultimately in his Christ-like sacrifice at the end of the novel. The way Pawel and David's relationship slowly takes form throughout the novel is capable of softening any heart and really carries the plot forward despite the lack of tangible action taking place otherwise. This is a strong testament to O'Brien's penmanship, as his portrayal of the human experience is so apt that he is able to take the silent, mundane moments of Pawel and David's lives and draw the reader into the characters' hearts. The closing chapters were some of the most beautiful and satisfying closes to a book I have read yet, as the two's bond grows the strongest and Pawel's redemption is brought to a close. Amidst the agony of the Jewish concentration camp, as Pawel meditates upon the beauty of the human person and transcends the shallow, imperfect human love he had once sought out in favor of the perfect divine love, O'Brien challenges his readers to fully consider what it means to will the good of another. Through the small portraits O'Brien paints throughout Pawel's life, Christ's face is slowly revealed, leaving a lasting impact on the reader while depicting a character worthy of sainthood.
Sophia House is a beautiful book, strikingly different from O'Brien's previous work Father Elijah: an Apocalypse, yet touching on many of the same themes. While not as easily accessible, it is greatly worth the required added attention and thought. I greatly enjoyed reading it and O'Brien succeeds once again in masterfully portraying the spiritual reality of the human experience. Although an unlikely hero, Pawel Tarnowski serves as a reminder of the power of self-giving love and his story will remain with me for a long time.
Perhaps the most striking part of Sophia House is the character arc O'Brien tells with Pawel. His portrayal is one of the most beautiful portraits of humanity I have ever read and O'Brien's treatment of his interior life is done with extraordinary grace. The messiness of Pawel's story presents a startling portrait of the human condition. Beginning with Pawel's sexual abuse at a young age and transitioning to his early adult life in Paris, O'Brien paints a vivid picture of human suffering, resulting in a depressed, jaded Pawel, a character who could have been taken straight out of a 19th century Russian novel. As Pawel's character progresses, O'Brien is able to articulate his conversion of heart as he comes to know the Lord in the latter half of the novel and does so in a way to highlight both man's yearning for God and the workings of Grace throughout his trials. As Pawel wrestles with his desires, his heart undergoes a purification from the trauma he experienced in his childhood as he learns to forgive past wrongs and channel his suffering into a purer love for David, culminating ultimately in his Christ-like sacrifice at the end of the novel. The way Pawel and David's relationship slowly takes form throughout the novel is capable of softening any heart and really carries the plot forward despite the lack of tangible action taking place otherwise. This is a strong testament to O'Brien's penmanship, as his portrayal of the human experience is so apt that he is able to take the silent, mundane moments of Pawel and David's lives and draw the reader into the characters' hearts. The closing chapters were some of the most beautiful and satisfying closes to a book I have read yet, as the two's bond grows the strongest and Pawel's redemption is brought to a close. Amidst the agony of the Jewish concentration camp, as Pawel meditates upon the beauty of the human person and transcends the shallow, imperfect human love he had once sought out in favor of the perfect divine love, O'Brien challenges his readers to fully consider what it means to will the good of another. Through the small portraits O'Brien paints throughout Pawel's life, Christ's face is slowly revealed, leaving a lasting impact on the reader while depicting a character worthy of sainthood.
Sophia House is a beautiful book, strikingly different from O'Brien's previous work Father Elijah: an Apocalypse, yet touching on many of the same themes. While not as easily accessible, it is greatly worth the required added attention and thought. I greatly enjoyed reading it and O'Brien succeeds once again in masterfully portraying the spiritual reality of the human experience. Although an unlikely hero, Pawel Tarnowski serves as a reminder of the power of self-giving love and his story will remain with me for a long time.
July 10, 2023
I'm not sure why more people aren't talking about Michael O'Brien... he might be our greatest living novelist.
February 14, 2025
Absolutely beautiful book. Well written & spiritually deep. I cried all through the last 20 pages. Such a great & true sacrifice. I could only hope I would be able to do the same. 💔❤️🔥
August 14, 2025
Wow. Riveting and heart rending. Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, and perhaps even better than Father Elijah. Suffering, temptation, sacrifice, and divine love. All you could ask for in a good novel
August 9, 2021
To reference the author, for those whose insignificant decisions shift the balance of the world and whose sacrifice is hidden in God's heart.
July 3, 2024
michael o’brien continues to wreck my heart. this book takes in particular paints the beauty hidden within suffering and how we are made for relationships (esp. with God but also with one another). cried at least 3 times. pls let yourself get wrecked too.
August 11, 2018
It took me a bit to get into this book, it has a lot of philosophy (which I like but which requires a decent amount of mental chewing) but I ended up really liking it. It is set mostly in Poland during WW2 but deals more with the philosophical idea of fatherhood than the war itself. Protagonists are Pawel Tarnowski and David Schäfer. Apparently this book is a prequel to the Father Elijah series, although it is my first Michael O'Brien book.
November 16, 2019
Haven't read a book quite like Sophia House before. Had a hard time putting it down and whenever did it was to let what had just read sink in. The language used by Michael O'Brien to tell the story of Pawel and David's complicated friendship as well as the other characters in this novel were deep and beautiful. Definitely a not a light hearted story with a happy ending since it's set in Poland during WWII, but it ends with redemption, and how the heart can heal from deep wounds.
October 15, 2023
I’ve been coming to love Michael O’ Brien more and more and this book depicts so beautifully his tender heart. He writes of a young Pawel who experienced a serious trauma that shaped his whole view of life growing up, including his faith, but over time you slowly see how his friendship with David is making him into a saint. The climax of the book is short but SO insanely powerful!!!! I love dis bewkkkk!!
January 2, 2025
Sophia House is my new favorite book! It's extremely rare to find a book that makes me cry, but this one had me sobbing at least 3 times. Every chapter, if not every page, had a beautiful nugget of wisdom for me to ponder. I have truly grown through this book, and I can't wait to read Michael O'Brien's other novels!
100% recommend!
100% recommend!
July 31, 2008
This novel tells the story of the relationship between a Polish bookseller and the young Jewish man who he hides from the Nazis during World War II. A fascinating story that explores the spiritual dimensions of human relationships and likable characters make this a fantastic read.
January 2, 2012
I was so moved by this story that I feel an immediate urge to go back to the beginning and read it again. This one will stay with me for a long time to come and has given me quite a bit to think about in regards to my own spiritual journey. It more than exceeded my expectations.
January 7, 2014
Beautiful writing; it really helps fill in the story of Father Elijah, one of my favorite books of all-time. It blends historical consciousness with spiritual awareness to present a gorgeous novel.
December 31, 2024
This is the second book that I’ve read from Michael O’Brien, and I can honestly say, he is one of, if not my most favorite living author today. His writing makes me feel and think I’m ways I only do when reading the Inklings and the Saints. Reading Father Elijah for the first time was like the first time I experienced the Lord of the Rings. I think Sophia House will be like the first time I read CS Lewis’ Great Divorce, I was delighted, and brought to tears by my first reading, but I know I’ll need to return to mine it’s depths. There is so much depth to Pawel and David’s discussions, and yet, I feel like I have only scratched the surface.
If you’ve not read Father Elijah, I think I would still encourage that to be your starting place. This is slower paced and much more dialogue driven than Father Elijah, but equally worth the read. Even though I knew the outcomes for most of the characters, I still cared about them and wanted them to survive.
If you’ve not read Father Elijah, I think I would still encourage that to be your starting place. This is slower paced and much more dialogue driven than Father Elijah, but equally worth the read. Even though I knew the outcomes for most of the characters, I still cared about them and wanted them to survive.
October 31, 2025
Michael O’Brien writes beautifully about the pursuit of friendship, love & sacrifice, the effects of fatherlessness, perseverance and temptation, redemption, and true and lasting freedom. There is also great dialogue about literature, art, and philosophy! And the final 30 pages will probably leave you speechless.
March 4, 2025
Quite different from Fr. Elijah. A friend said it was a good read which was helpful and all I needed to start reading because I am still confused how it is #5 in the series but the books aren't related? If anyone else knows, please let me know. I want to read more Michael D. O'Brien but the ordering throws me off.
Beautiful story of trials and sacrificial love.
Beautiful story of trials and sacrificial love.
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