The Sabbatical: A Novel

by Michael D. O'Brien

Dr. Owen Whitfield is the elderly Oxford professor of history who first appeared in Michael O''Brien''s novel The Father''s Tale . In the events of The Sabbatical, which occur sometime later, Dr. Whitfield is looking forward to a sabbatical year of peace and quiet, gardening in his backyard, and tinkering with what he calls his latest "unpublishable book". As the year begins, he is drawn by a series of seeming coincidences into involvement with a group of characters from across Europe, including a family that has been the target of assassination attempts by unknown powers. During his journey to Romania, the situation in which he finds himself becomes more sinister than it first seemed. The story deals with the tension between fatalism and the providential understanding of history, with the courage and love that are necessary for navigating through a confusion of signs, and with the triumph of faith and reason over the forces of destruction.

Genres: Catholic, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Novels, Religion, Adult Fiction, Christian

375 pages, Hardcover

Published July 29, 2021

About the author

Michael D. O'Brien is a Roman Catholic author, artist, and frequent essayist and lecturer on faith and culture, living in Combermere, Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Anna Zehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, O'Brien waxes too didactic for my tastes. I don't think this book is among his greatest works, but I stand strong in my resolve to read everything O'Brien has written. A secret tunnel, helicopter rescues, and a somewhat senile and crabby old woman contribute to the plot of this book. And O'Brien is at his best again in his exploration of trauma, its impact, and Christian responses.

[Anita Yoder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful! The plot took me to England and Romania and the intrigue kept me turning pages. I didn't get all the intended nuances about history, worldview, and politics but I still enjoyed this enormously.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard to not give a MD O'Brien book 5 stars. Really enjoyed it. Is, and will always be my favorite author.

[Danna · Rating 2 out of 5]

It makes me sad to give a low review to one of my favorite authors, but — while the book wasn’t bad — I wouldn’t recommend this novel.

Though I overall agree with Owen’s worldview, the book was a series of rants against various subjects, none of which dove deep so that it felt like a book full of complaints rather than a thoughtful reflection.
Additionally the amount of detail in Owen’s daily routine - the food he ate, the clothes everyone wore, etc. - was unnecessary and excessive. There were also characters that were frustrating unrealistic/random/unexplained: Ion, Edmund, Father Turner

Things I liked: the description of Owen and Monica’s marriage & the reflection at the end from Father Turner.

[HaleyL · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read so much of O’Brien’s work, this one stands out as rather unusual. Plenty of theology and philosophy to consider. A good plot too. I did enjoy the read. I guess I’m still thinking it over. Wishing he went into more detail about determinism and providence, but maybe that’s my job? I did want some resolution or at least bigger answers regarding the darkness that attempts to converge upon the heroes. Or maybe I just wanted some specifics. But, O’Brien isn’t one to delve into the darkness, as it might seem to glorify evil. Good story all around, centered on Christ as King.

[Fr. Ryan Humphries]

A meditation piece on Karl of Austria, I think. Much more akin to his *Lighthouse* than *Father Elijah*.

O'Brien is a master of character, but this one has a lot of deliberately underdeveloped characters that can make it frustrating reading. A good book, but certainly not for everyone.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought-provoking way for O’Brien to express his thoughts of what’s happening in the world.
As always, some beautifully described saintly characters.

[Richard Bicknase · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would maybe give this 4.5 stars if that were an option. I already thought O'Brien might be the best novelist I've read at capturing and critiquing our society, and this novel solidifies that thought further. Much like The Father's Tale, the novel that first introduces the main character of this novel, this novel is more about ideas and truth than about plot. If tightly written and resolved plots are what you are looking for, you may find this novel, and most of O'Brien's novels, to be unsatisfying. If you are looking for a novel that captures modern society and thought, is firmly grounded in history and Christian truth, and contends with hard questions and ideas, you will probably enjoy this novel and O'Brien's writing in general.

Since I've read them all, below is my current power ranking of all of O'Brien's novels:
1. The Island of the World
2. The Father's Tale
3. The Lighthouse
4. Plague Journal
5. The Sabbatical
6. By the Rivers of Babylon
7. Sophia House
8. Strangers and Sojourners
9. Voyage to Alpha Centauri
10. Theophilos
11. Elijah in Jerusalem
12. Letter to the Future
13. The Fool of New York City
14. A Cry of Stone
15. Eclipse of the Sun
16. Father Elijah

[K D Tarvainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably a 2.5 but I’ll round up to 3 stars because there were some beautiful reflections on the state of our world and faith. In fact, I wish O’Brien had just written a series of essays on that topic as it would have potentially been a more successful book.
The Sabbatical started promising — Lost Catholic aristocracy! The charm of Oxford! A trip to a Romanian castle! Possible murder! — but the execution was clunky. A great proportion of the characters felt flat; it was a case of them all being *too* good and saintly. I never felt like I got any definition between several of the secondary characters. On top of that, the dialogue was wooden in several parts and characters were constantly “chuckling” at (very) mildly amusing small talk. The effect was a little like being at a dinner party where the host keeps laughing at al of his not-very-funny jokes.
I really wanted to like this, and I still plan on trying other books by O’Brien - I haven’t given up on him - but this one was a miss for me.

[Faith Flaherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't read "The Sabbatical" by Michael D. O'Brien if you want all the storylines tied up. The plot is open-ended. The story purposely leaves the reader wondering what will happen. I have to think that there will be a sequel. What will happen to Ion, an important character? What will happen to the Forschtenbergs? Who is after them, and why?

The novel begins with the von Forschtenbergs playing outside. Clement, the father sees a red laser dot bouncing around on his son's chest. Disaster is averted. This won't be the only close call. Who is doing this?

The Forschtenbergs go into hiding on a Romanian estate of a distant relative, Count Alexandru Eszterhazy. This count has valuable connections, money, and the providential wherewithal to help the Forschtenbergs.

The story is told through the eyes of Owen Whitfield, a history professor. It's during his sabbatical that the story's action unfolds. Likeminded intellectuals, like Whitfield, converge on Eszterhazy's estate to present their views related to current political, economic, religious, history, and what their present situation means in God's plan. It is a highly Catholic referenced novel. There is much ado about Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica, Question # 83 on freedom and the human will. There are daily Mass, rosary, visits to the Chapel, and private prayer.

There are hints that Ion, who the dark forces (whoever they may be) are after, represents the future--the future of the church, the future of civilization, the future of mankind. Everyone prays for him.

The story frightened me. I have children who don't see the value of religion. I have grandchildren whom I teach religion to. (One benefit of COVID is that Grandma is taking over teaching religion.) I'm doing my best. Pray for me. Pray for my grandchildren. Pray for the future of mankind. Pray for our church.

[William Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

My review will be somewhat harsh. That is only because I have higher expectations for this author.
So much of this book seemed like meaningless filler, with endless detail about things that had nothing to do with propelling the story forward. I was wholly unimpressed with the supposed erudition of the professors at the convention. Much of it just seemed silly. Any reader of Touchstone
or First Things could see what the author was trying to get at here. Much of this seemed like a self-congratulation society. Sure there is evil in the world which wants to kill, steal, and destroy. And that can indeed make a good story.
But the characters were superficial cardboard figures. The author's use of superlatives and tendentious adjectives was painful to read at times. The overwhelming purity and saintlike goodness of many of the characters seemed more Hallmark than reality. I bought this book from Ignatius Press because I loved O'Brien's "The Fool of New York City". I was disappointed by the quality of writing and the artificiality of the story line and characters.

[Pete Orsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The following is an expert in the book it summarizes what I took from the novel.



“People in war time strive to get through, making small islands Normality in the midst of looming disasters. And we are surely now at war.

But what to do?

“You do the duty of the task at hand,” He lectured him self in a whisper, prompting to man sitting opposite to lift his eyes from the Times. “You keep faith with your responsibilities and your relocation, and you love the souls you’ve brought into the world, in the souls God brings into your life. You work and you pray. You try to turn everything into prayer, and your practice hope. You keep your eyes trained on the true Verizon.”

Anyway, that was his theory—One that he believed was true. The praxis was more difficult.”





I Once read the first task of an apologist well she strengthen the faithful. Michael O’Brien does that in this book. Well done Michaels. You are one of the Lords great apologists.

[Jenny Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully very few parallels between this sabbatical and my own (besides, of course, the discovery that a liminal season offers its own adventures) but I was glad for the prompt to read this.

Hard to say whether I'd recommend - the first 2/3 of this felt more like a professor's logbook than a story, and I struggled to connect emotionally to the characters during the long intellectual conversations and lectures. But the last 1/3 of the book made up for it (I read in one sitting), as both the plot and character development picked up their pace and the philosophical questions raised in the first half found their flesh and bones. In the last 100 pages, I felt the strengths of O'Brien's characterization and depth that has won over many of my friends.

All in all, glad I read it, and will be reading more by Michael O'Brien!

[A Enwright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a difficult time getting into the book. However, once about two-thirds through I couldn't put it down. I have always liked Michael D. O'Brien's work. I like the way he links the characters in this novel with the same characters from an earlier novel in a not obvious way. He discusses the ideas and challenges of our times through his fiction. Either you love this sort of thing, or can't stand it. I like it. He's kind of like a Catholic Chaim Potok (in that his characters are brilliant, religious, and deep and prone to discourse). One of the things he does well is bring up the kind of anonymity of evil and violence. It's a bit of an ideological detective story. Who did what, why did they do it? And you aren't given a clear answer, which is a strength of the novel.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael O Brien is a voice calling out in the wilderness of this spiritual war we are in. He is calling souls to respond to God’s grace with fervor and devotion through his story telling. The Truth shines through his writing encouraging weary, battle embroiled souls to keep hope, to hold fast their line of defense in a spiritual battle, and to be ready for the key parts they play in salvation history. The Sabbatical called me to do just this. As with all of O’Brien’s books I feel refreshed, steadied to continue this spiritual battle, and enkindled with hope that I will live out my essential part in God’s plan for the world.

[Tamara Vojnovic · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nije moj đir niti malo. Ovo je prva i zadnja njegova knjiga koju čitam. Naporna, s previše nevažnih detalja, zadnjih 30% je dinamično, napeto, ali ostatak....... Ako ti je poznata Istina nemoj čitat, jer ćeš se samo zgrozit.
2 zvijezdice zbog ipak napisane knjige.

Owen i Monica su engleski profesori koji dolaze u Rumunjsku na poziv grofa Eszterhazya da Owen drži predavanje na "sedmodnevnom okupljanju prijatelja i srodnih duša koje nastoje zajednički pronaći odgovore na neka teorijska i politička pitanja". Ali svašta se događa, ljudi u skrivanju, ubojstva, eksplozije, tralalala. Poveznica iz Prvog svjetskog rata. Ko voli nek izvoli. Ali nebi je preporučila.

[Rafael Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque Michael O'Brian es uno de mis autores contemporáneos favoritos, esta novela no me encantó. Aunque tiene algunos pasajes con reflexiones medianamente interesantes sobre el estado actual del mundo (un poco repetitivas respecto a sus otras obras), la narración es lenta y al final uno se queda con la idea de que este libro es sólo el preludio a una historia que se terminará de contar en otros libros.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Michael D. O'Brien has a way with words. This is a thought provoking story which doesn't really end, it just fades away. We live in an uncertain world and this books shows very well that we do not always know what the threats are or even why they are, because man has fallen.
I will be pondering this story and all the things that were brought out for some time to come.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG this is sooooooo boring! I almost fell asleep in it several times. The detail-exactly what each character ate, the color of the dinner plates, the design on the glasses, how the potatoes were served-was overkill. I kept asking myself "What is the point?" "When is something going to actually happen?"

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another terrific book from Michael D. O'Brien. I am giving it four stars since, while it is very good, I didn't find it quite to the same standard as a novel like Island of the World. The message in this book takes awhile to come to the surface but in the end it reminded me a bit of the theme in the film It's a Wonderful Life.

[Laurel Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is quite possibly the best novel i’ve ever read. It is multi-layered and some scenes are only completely understood by a person of Faith. O’Brien has been interviewed about this novel and has said it is a compilation of many true stories and persons. I have reason to say I am sure that is true.

[Nathaniel Kauffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful writing, as Michael O'Brien always does, but I finished the book with so many burning questions about the storyline. The part of me that loves the "happily ever after" stories, missed the lack of finality to the plot.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story.

[Belton Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative I rated a 3, but the second appendix was a treasure of opposition arguments and rejoinders against Christian principles as a basic guide for our lives and society. Thus, a 4 rating.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished and I want to start re-reading. The book is full of grief and hope and much to think about.

[Rachel Zehr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all O'Brien's books, The Sabbatical is a terrible comfort.

[Leaflet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to see a follow-up novel to pick up the loose threads in this book. The ending practically begs for one.