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Martyr's Song #2
When Heaven Weeps
A thriller unlike any you have ever read. A love strong enough to bring a tremor to your bones. A sacrifice powerful enough to make heaven weep. At the close of World War II, a shell-shocked solider, Jan Jovic, was forced to inflict a game of life and death on a peaceful Bosnian community. In a few short hours, this young man was confronted by more love—and hate—than most experience in a lifetime. Years later, Jan has become a world-renowned writer with widespread influence in the United States, his past buried deep in his memory. Until, at the most inopportune time, the game Jan witnessed comes back to haunt him . . . and unwittingly leads him to a beautiful broken woman caught in an underworld of crime. Jan must now defeat an evil rarely seen. But there is a price. One that even this war-scarred solider can’t imagine. Praise for When Heaven Weeps : “Ted Dekker is one of the most remarkable creative writers of our time . . . engrossing and spiritually inspiring . . . highly recommended!” —Bill Bright, founder and president, Campus Crusade for Christ International “ When Heaven Weeps is a first in Christian a bold, knock-your-socks off, four-hankie, romantic supernatural thriller. And a brilliantly written one to boot. Hang on for something brand new.” —Mark Olsen, screenwriter and bestselling author of Hadassah
384 pages, Paperback
First published May 28, 2001
158 people are currently reading
2823 people want to read
About the author
Ted Dekker
193 books10k followersTed Dekker is known for novels that combine adrenaline-laced stories with unexpected plot twists, unforgettable characters, and incredible confrontations between good and evil. Ted lives in Austin with his wife LeeAnn and their four children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 2, 2022
Though the story and writing were both great, parts of this book were confusing, and it also tended to be overly long. It was good, but not Mr. Dekker's best.
January 13, 2010
Quite possibly Dekker's best work. This book painted an incredibly beautiful and powerful picture of Christ's love and redemptive power.
August 13, 2011
To enjoy this book, you must have an understanding of the story of Hosea, and hopefully a cursory understanding of the different interpretations of the Song of Solomon.
Brilliant book, about the love of God for each and every (worthless) human being on this earth. Stunning story, full of heartwrenching contradictions.
My only two complaints were that Karen really didn't have anything to do with the story except to provide tension... and yes, the violence is up there. But as Janjic says in the book - it's a martyr's story and it would do little justice to blunt the stark facts of the martyrdoms.
Appropriate for older readers only - at least 16 and up - for dealing with mature themes (drug addiction, physical and sexual abuse, some implied inappropriate romance, graphic martyrdom/murder) and simply because anyone younger isn't going to get anything out of it.
Brilliant book, about the love of God for each and every (worthless) human being on this earth. Stunning story, full of heartwrenching contradictions.
My only two complaints were that Karen really didn't have anything to do with the story except to provide tension... and yes, the violence is up there. But as Janjic says in the book - it's a martyr's story and it would do little justice to blunt the stark facts of the martyrdoms.
Appropriate for older readers only - at least 16 and up - for dealing with mature themes (drug addiction, physical and sexual abuse, some implied inappropriate romance, graphic martyrdom/murder) and simply because anyone younger isn't going to get anything out of it.
January 2, 2022
In the preface to The Heaven Trilogy, a 3-in-1 re-release that includes Heaven’s Wager and Thunder of Heaven, Dekker remarks that many readers—even those who aren’t fans of any of his other books—find When Heaven Weeps to be their favorite. As someone who has read every Dekker novel multiple times, I have to agree. Of all Ted’s books, When Heaven Weeps is the one I find myself returning to time and time again. While it isn’t his best-written or most-acclaimed, and while the pacing suffers at time, there’s a raw energy to When Heaven Weeps that compels readers to immerse themselves in the story.
It’s the mid-1960s and Jan Jovic is enjoying a new life in America. He has survived the war in Yugoslavia and written a book about his experiences, in particular, he’s written a book about an experience he had as a witness to intense suffering for the cause of Christ. It’s the story of a young girl named Nadia, a priest called Father Michael, and a murderous soldier named Karadzic. The book is wildly successful and Jovic is thrust into the realm of the “evangelical elite.”
Much like Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps is concerned about the allure of success and wealth. Dekker, a missionary kid turned successful businessman, is in some ways writing about himself—and almost presciently writing about his future writing career. Dekker also taps into the vapid veneer of the evangelical business machine, something he’s entering into by publishing in the Christian market. It’s a courageous move, but it’s a message that’s proved itself over and over again.
Almost by chance (so it seems), Jan crosses paths with Helen, a young drug addict trying to escape her abusive lover. Unfortunately for the both of them, Glenn Lutz is rich, powerful, and connected. I always envision Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin as a comparable analogue. He’ll stop at nothing to get Helen back, and Helen herself often feels compelled to get just one more hit.
When Heaven Weeps is, in reality, a retelling of the story of Hosea—and a much better retelling than Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, if we’re being honest. Jan becomes the picture of a God who loves the broken, and though a monster of their past may haunt them, though it might come at deep personal cost, though they continue to crawl back to their addiction and brokenness, that love will never fail. Through Helen, Jan learns to love the way Christ loves and comes to understand the things he wrote about in his book.
This love, of course, comes with the disapproval of the “evangelical elite,” endangering Jan’s wealth and success. It makes him the target of a wealthy and powerful man who is now bent on ruining both of them. It’s a story of a scandalous salvation that blends suspense and allegory into a compelling, page-turning novel. Ted has written better books, but the emotion and aura of When Heaven Weeps has yet to be matched. Twenty years after its publication, I have to say…this is still his best.
It’s the mid-1960s and Jan Jovic is enjoying a new life in America. He has survived the war in Yugoslavia and written a book about his experiences, in particular, he’s written a book about an experience he had as a witness to intense suffering for the cause of Christ. It’s the story of a young girl named Nadia, a priest called Father Michael, and a murderous soldier named Karadzic. The book is wildly successful and Jovic is thrust into the realm of the “evangelical elite.”
Much like Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps is concerned about the allure of success and wealth. Dekker, a missionary kid turned successful businessman, is in some ways writing about himself—and almost presciently writing about his future writing career. Dekker also taps into the vapid veneer of the evangelical business machine, something he’s entering into by publishing in the Christian market. It’s a courageous move, but it’s a message that’s proved itself over and over again.
Almost by chance (so it seems), Jan crosses paths with Helen, a young drug addict trying to escape her abusive lover. Unfortunately for the both of them, Glenn Lutz is rich, powerful, and connected. I always envision Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin as a comparable analogue. He’ll stop at nothing to get Helen back, and Helen herself often feels compelled to get just one more hit.
When Heaven Weeps is, in reality, a retelling of the story of Hosea—and a much better retelling than Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, if we’re being honest. Jan becomes the picture of a God who loves the broken, and though a monster of their past may haunt them, though it might come at deep personal cost, though they continue to crawl back to their addiction and brokenness, that love will never fail. Through Helen, Jan learns to love the way Christ loves and comes to understand the things he wrote about in his book.
This love, of course, comes with the disapproval of the “evangelical elite,” endangering Jan’s wealth and success. It makes him the target of a wealthy and powerful man who is now bent on ruining both of them. It’s a story of a scandalous salvation that blends suspense and allegory into a compelling, page-turning novel. Ted has written better books, but the emotion and aura of When Heaven Weeps has yet to be matched. Twenty years after its publication, I have to say…this is still his best.
January 16, 2013
I read "The Martyrs Song" before this and I was sorry I did. I had to skip about 40 pages to get past what I had read in the first book. The basis for this story was a nice idea but it got lost in the over-the-top mushiness of the love story. Rather than being a beautiful example of Gods love, it came across as unbelievable and like someone's fantasy of how love could/should be. The writing was good and some parts of the story draw you in, but I just wasn't that impressed.
December 3, 2015
I had to think awhile before writing a review on this book. Almost from the very beginning of this story, I have experienced very conflicting emotions. There were parts I loved, and parts that repulsed me, frustrated me, and made me very angry. "Why is it OK that Jan Jovic falls in love with another woman and breaks off his engagement to Karen? Am I just supposed to accept this as an unfortunate event and move on?" was the first problem I had with the story's plot. Perhaps I sympathized with Karen more than most, but this was a hard plot line for me to move beyond.
Many other disagreeable plot elements followed: Helen's repeatedly turning back to drugs and her abusive lover; Jan always taking her back with so much patience and forgiveness.
But--and this is a very big BUT--this book does a super job at portraying God's love for humanity (through the metaphor of a man-woman romantic relationship) in such a way that makes us sit up and take notice. It sure has had me thinking about His love in a new light! I agree with another reviewer who noted that, in order to understand this book, you need to have an understanding of the book of Hosea.
And I'm sure the unease I felt when reading this book--the unease of Helen's total unworthiness, for instance, and Jan's seemingly pointless suffering due to his wife's unfaithfulness--this unease, it must be completely intentional on the author's part. It serves to remind us of the scandalous truth of God's great grace towards us. We are totally worthless. There is nothing in us that would make it "make sense" for God to love us as extravagantly as He does.
Because of this, I am giving this book 4 stars. The writing was good, but the author did tend to write very minute details about some parts of the story and then skip major sections of time; and there was a little more violence than I would have liked; which keeps this novel just shy of 5 stars, in my opinion.
Many other disagreeable plot elements followed: Helen's repeatedly turning back to drugs and her abusive lover; Jan always taking her back with so much patience and forgiveness.
But--and this is a very big BUT--this book does a super job at portraying God's love for humanity (through the metaphor of a man-woman romantic relationship) in such a way that makes us sit up and take notice. It sure has had me thinking about His love in a new light! I agree with another reviewer who noted that, in order to understand this book, you need to have an understanding of the book of Hosea.
And I'm sure the unease I felt when reading this book--the unease of Helen's total unworthiness, for instance, and Jan's seemingly pointless suffering due to his wife's unfaithfulness--this unease, it must be completely intentional on the author's part. It serves to remind us of the scandalous truth of God's great grace towards us. We are totally worthless. There is nothing in us that would make it "make sense" for God to love us as extravagantly as He does.
Because of this, I am giving this book 4 stars. The writing was good, but the author did tend to write very minute details about some parts of the story and then skip major sections of time; and there was a little more violence than I would have liked; which keeps this novel just shy of 5 stars, in my opinion.
February 16, 2024
The one thing I love most about Ted DeKkers writing is that he beautifully paints deep, spiritual, and biblical concepts into a story that gives a whole new perspective. He uses fiction to reveal the truth about who Christ is and who we are in Him.
As you read this novel you think that what Helen is doing, running back to the perverted and filthy life, is disgusting and wrong. How could she betray Jan, a man who loved her unconditionally by running back over and over again? But such were some of us, we are all Helen, every single person no matter the sin. Makes me thank God that He welcomes me with loving and open arms!
Highly recommend!
As you read this novel you think that what Helen is doing, running back to the perverted and filthy life, is disgusting and wrong. How could she betray Jan, a man who loved her unconditionally by running back over and over again? But such were some of us, we are all Helen, every single person no matter the sin. Makes me thank God that He welcomes me with loving and open arms!
Highly recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2022
In the preface to The Heaven Trilogy, a 3-in-1 re-release that includes Heaven’s Wager and Thunder of Heaven, Dekker remarks that many readers—even those who aren’t fans of any of his other books—find When Heaven Weeps to be their favorite. As someone who has read every Dekker novel multiple times, I have to agree. Of all Ted’s books, When Heaven Weeps is the one I find myself returning to time and time again. While it isn’t his best-written or most-acclaimed, and while the pacing suffers at time, there’s a raw energy to When Heaven Weeps that compels readers to immerse themselves in the story.
It’s the mid-1960s and Jan Jovic is enjoying a new life in America. He has survived the war in Yugoslavia and written a book about his experiences, in particular, he’s written a book about an experience he had as a witness to intense suffering for the cause of Christ. It’s the story of a young girl named Nadia, a priest called Father Michael, and a murderous soldier named Karadzic. The book is wildly successful and Jovic is thrust into the realm of the “evangelical elite.”
Much like Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps is concerned about the allure of success and wealth. Dekker, a missionary kid turned successful businessman, is in some ways writing about himself—and almost presciently writing about his future writing career. Dekker also taps into the vapid veneer of the evangelical business machine, something he’s entering into by publishing in the Christian market. It’s a courageous move, but it’s a message that’s proved itself over and over again.
Almost by chance (so it seems), Jan crosses paths with Helen, a young drug addict trying to escape her abusive lover. Unfortunately for the both of them, Glenn Lutz is rich, powerful, and connected. I always envision Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin as a comparable analogue. He’ll stop at nothing to get Helen back, and Helen herself often feels compelled to get just one more hit.
When Heaven Weeps is, in reality, a retelling of the story of Hosea—and a much better retelling than Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, if we’re being honest. Jan becomes the picture of a God who loves the broken, and though a monster of their past may haunt them, though it might come at deep personal cost, though they continue to crawl back to their addiction and brokenness, that love will never fail. Through Helen, Jan learns to love the way Christ loves and comes to understand the things he wrote about in his book.
This love, of course, comes with the disapproval of the “evangelical elite,” endangering Jan’s wealth and success. It makes him the target of a wealthy and powerful man who is now bent on ruining both of them. It’s a story of a scandalous salvation that blends suspense and allegory into a compelling, page-turning novel. Ted has written better books, but the emotion and aura of When Heaven Weeps has yet to be matched. Twenty years after its publication, I have to say…this is my favorite.
It’s the mid-1960s and Jan Jovic is enjoying a new life in America. He has survived the war in Yugoslavia and written a book about his experiences, in particular, he’s written a book about an experience he had as a witness to intense suffering for the cause of Christ. It’s the story of a young girl named Nadia, a priest called Father Michael, and a murderous soldier named Karadzic. The book is wildly successful and Jovic is thrust into the realm of the “evangelical elite.”
Much like Heaven’s Wager, When Heaven Weeps is concerned about the allure of success and wealth. Dekker, a missionary kid turned successful businessman, is in some ways writing about himself—and almost presciently writing about his future writing career. Dekker also taps into the vapid veneer of the evangelical business machine, something he’s entering into by publishing in the Christian market. It’s a courageous move, but it’s a message that’s proved itself over and over again.
Almost by chance (so it seems), Jan crosses paths with Helen, a young drug addict trying to escape her abusive lover. Unfortunately for the both of them, Glenn Lutz is rich, powerful, and connected. I always envision Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin as a comparable analogue. He’ll stop at nothing to get Helen back, and Helen herself often feels compelled to get just one more hit.
When Heaven Weeps is, in reality, a retelling of the story of Hosea—and a much better retelling than Francine Rivers’ Redeeming Love, if we’re being honest. Jan becomes the picture of a God who loves the broken, and though a monster of their past may haunt them, though it might come at deep personal cost, though they continue to crawl back to their addiction and brokenness, that love will never fail. Through Helen, Jan learns to love the way Christ loves and comes to understand the things he wrote about in his book.
This love, of course, comes with the disapproval of the “evangelical elite,” endangering Jan’s wealth and success. It makes him the target of a wealthy and powerful man who is now bent on ruining both of them. It’s a story of a scandalous salvation that blends suspense and allegory into a compelling, page-turning novel. Ted has written better books, but the emotion and aura of When Heaven Weeps has yet to be matched. Twenty years after its publication, I have to say…this is my favorite.
June 28, 2025
I really enjoy this author. I did not enjoy this book.
The book is broken up into four parts. The first part had a similar feel to the first book in the series. Spiritually heavy, deep, Christian fiction at its finest. But then things take a significant turn in the second part of the book, and we're taken from a deep and intense spiritual scene set in war torn Bosnia to Atlanta, and into a story that I did not at all expect, nor did I enjoy.
I wont critique every thing I disliked about the book, but will sum it up by saying I understood this was in a way a modern retelling of the book of Hosea, but it was a raunchy retelling. There was no cussing but the language was crude throughout most of the book. Jan and Ivanas characters were ruined to me by what was supposed to be the point of the book. It was written to be them showing the unconditional love of God but it came across as them being reckless and deceived. I understood the underlying message, but the delivery seemed to veer off the normal course and even seemed dangerous, in sending the message that if a believer becomes involved with someone who is an unbeliever, using drugs and cheating, that we can love them into wholeness by showing the love of God. Also, the ending really upset me. And I was very disappointed they did not name the baby after Ivana.
Last note, I did not enjoy this on audio book. The book mentions several times that Jan and Ivana are from Bosnia, and mentions they both have accents. But the narrator didn't even attempt an accent for either of them. It was weird hearing the narrator read, "he spoke with an accent", and then make Jan sound American.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series! And I do like this author. So I'll be moving on to the third and final book in the series at some point soon.
The book is broken up into four parts. The first part had a similar feel to the first book in the series. Spiritually heavy, deep, Christian fiction at its finest. But then things take a significant turn in the second part of the book, and we're taken from a deep and intense spiritual scene set in war torn Bosnia to Atlanta, and into a story that I did not at all expect, nor did I enjoy.
I wont critique every thing I disliked about the book, but will sum it up by saying I understood this was in a way a modern retelling of the book of Hosea, but it was a raunchy retelling. There was no cussing but the language was crude throughout most of the book. Jan and Ivanas characters were ruined to me by what was supposed to be the point of the book. It was written to be them showing the unconditional love of God but it came across as them being reckless and deceived. I understood the underlying message, but the delivery seemed to veer off the normal course and even seemed dangerous, in sending the message that if a believer becomes involved with someone who is an unbeliever, using drugs and cheating, that we can love them into wholeness by showing the love of God. Also, the ending really upset me. And I was very disappointed they did not name the baby after Ivana.
Last note, I did not enjoy this on audio book. The book mentions several times that Jan and Ivana are from Bosnia, and mentions they both have accents. But the narrator didn't even attempt an accent for either of them. It was weird hearing the narrator read, "he spoke with an accent", and then make Jan sound American.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series! And I do like this author. So I'll be moving on to the third and final book in the series at some point soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2012
Honestly I feel this book was one of the most intense love stories I've ever read! I could not put this book down, I had to know what was happening. Nadia's story (and the priest's) broke my heart and had me in tears. I was very frustrated with Helen throughout the book, but that's what I love about DekKer, he keeps his characters real, and I'm sure that someone in Helen's situation would have behaved the same way.
I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a great love story, and not just a romantic one, but about God's desperate love for you. I know Heaven is weeping for all the lonely souls out there, and I look forward to the day we can all join the laughter.
I would recommend this book to everyone looking for a great love story, and not just a romantic one, but about God's desperate love for you. I know Heaven is weeping for all the lonely souls out there, and I look forward to the day we can all join the laughter.
March 2, 2024
¿Qué es el amor? El amor es amable, paciente y siempre perdurable. El amor es besos y sonrisas; es calidez y éxtasis. El amor es risas y alegrías. Pero la parte más fabulosa del amor se halla en la muerte. Ningún ser humano tuvo amor más grande.
Trama: 4⭐
Jan Jovic se vuelve un famoso escritor y predicador luego de contar su historia en la Segunda Guerra. Vio morir gente por defender sus creencias pero no llegó a entender plenamente el amor de Dios hasta que Helen, una adicta que va a transformar la vida y fe de Jan.
No es la trama acostumbrada de Ted. No tiene grandes giros en la historia. Pero me resultó interesante cómo muestra los efectos de la guerra en el presente y que, a pesar de todo lo vivido, Jan no había comprendido plenamente el amor de Dios hasta encontrarse con Helen.
Personajes: 3⭐
A pesar de que me gustaron los personajes, siento que no se llega a profundizar en ninguno. Me gustó el concepto de Jan viviendo realmente el amor de Dios. Y, aunque a veces te desespera, la realidad es que Helen logra ilustrar la forma en la que muchas veces rechazamos ese amor. Ivena me causó mucha ternura y ni hablar del padre Michael y de Nadia especialmente 🥺. Ojalá todos tuvieramos esa misma fe.
Estilo: 3⭐
Como mencioné en la trama, no es un libro de los típicos de Ted que nunca sabes qué va a pasar. La historia es como un remake en el presente de Oseas. Se vuelve un poco denso en el medio y siento que al final se resuelve todo muy rápido. Tiene frases muy lindas y también fuertes. La historia te lleva a reflexionar en cómo muchas veces decimos creer en Dios pero no llegamos a amarlo a Él y a los demás con todo nuestro corazón, alma y mente.
Las escenas de la risa fueron algo raro y lindo a la vez. Todo el libro me deja pensando en cómo vivimos nuestra relación con Dios. ¿Vemos el pecado como Él lo ve? ¿Amamos como Él ama? ¿Anhelamos el cielo como el lugar donde vamos a estar para siempre gozándonos en Él?
Cada lágrima que derramaste se ha enjugado en la palma de mi mano.
Cada hora solitaria la pasaste a mi lado.
Cada ser amado perdido, cada río cruzado.
Cada momento, cada hora estaba señalando hace este día,
Anhelando este día... porque finalmente estás en casa.
Puntaje final: 3.5⭐
Trama: 4⭐
Jan Jovic se vuelve un famoso escritor y predicador luego de contar su historia en la Segunda Guerra. Vio morir gente por defender sus creencias pero no llegó a entender plenamente el amor de Dios hasta que Helen, una adicta que va a transformar la vida y fe de Jan.
No es la trama acostumbrada de Ted. No tiene grandes giros en la historia. Pero me resultó interesante cómo muestra los efectos de la guerra en el presente y que, a pesar de todo lo vivido, Jan no había comprendido plenamente el amor de Dios hasta encontrarse con Helen.
Personajes: 3⭐
A pesar de que me gustaron los personajes, siento que no se llega a profundizar en ninguno. Me gustó el concepto de Jan viviendo realmente el amor de Dios. Y, aunque a veces te desespera, la realidad es que Helen logra ilustrar la forma en la que muchas veces rechazamos ese amor. Ivena me causó mucha ternura y ni hablar del padre Michael y de Nadia especialmente 🥺. Ojalá todos tuvieramos esa misma fe.
Estilo: 3⭐
Como mencioné en la trama, no es un libro de los típicos de Ted que nunca sabes qué va a pasar. La historia es como un remake en el presente de Oseas. Se vuelve un poco denso en el medio y siento que al final se resuelve todo muy rápido. Tiene frases muy lindas y también fuertes. La historia te lleva a reflexionar en cómo muchas veces decimos creer en Dios pero no llegamos a amarlo a Él y a los demás con todo nuestro corazón, alma y mente.
Las escenas de la risa fueron algo raro y lindo a la vez. Todo el libro me deja pensando en cómo vivimos nuestra relación con Dios. ¿Vemos el pecado como Él lo ve? ¿Amamos como Él ama? ¿Anhelamos el cielo como el lugar donde vamos a estar para siempre gozándonos en Él?
Cada lágrima que derramaste se ha enjugado en la palma de mi mano.
Cada hora solitaria la pasaste a mi lado.
Cada ser amado perdido, cada río cruzado.
Cada momento, cada hora estaba señalando hace este día,
Anhelando este día... porque finalmente estás en casa.
Puntaje final: 3.5⭐
October 12, 2022
This story was very touching and held a lot of symbolism to the bible, and good vs. evil.
This is the second book and Janic, who was a soldier in WWII, was part of a troop, whose leader was pure evil. Janic and the troop tortured a bunch of innocent women and children and a priest. Both the priest and a child was killed by this madman.
Janic, years later, wrote a book about his adventure and was widely known as a Christian hero, who talked of God and the miracles and how he was saved.
In comes Helen, a heroine/cocaine addict, who finds Janic. Janic, of course, wants to save her. Helen really wants to be saved (loved) by Janic, but her addiction brings her back to a man who abuses and controls her.
There were a few confusing parts, like how the new species of flowers bloomed. I really didn't get the connection. (happy to hear your thoughts).
Overall, it was touching.
This is the second book and Janic, who was a soldier in WWII, was part of a troop, whose leader was pure evil. Janic and the troop tortured a bunch of innocent women and children and a priest. Both the priest and a child was killed by this madman.
Janic, years later, wrote a book about his adventure and was widely known as a Christian hero, who talked of God and the miracles and how he was saved.
In comes Helen, a heroine/cocaine addict, who finds Janic. Janic, of course, wants to save her. Helen really wants to be saved (loved) by Janic, but her addiction brings her back to a man who abuses and controls her.
There were a few confusing parts, like how the new species of flowers bloomed. I really didn't get the connection. (happy to hear your thoughts).
Overall, it was touching.
December 17, 2024
This is actually a reread for me and a rewrite of my previous review for reasons I will spare you…
Book one, HEAVEN’S WAGER, was a two star read for me and this book is only marginally better. Unfortunately, I do not agree with many others that this is Dekker’s best book. I find everything about it over done: characters, plot, descriptions and even the scenes where faith is featured are so over the top they don’t ring honestly.
The word that comes to my mind is preposterous.
Book one, HEAVEN’S WAGER, was a two star read for me and this book is only marginally better. Unfortunately, I do not agree with many others that this is Dekker’s best book. I find everything about it over done: characters, plot, descriptions and even the scenes where faith is featured are so over the top they don’t ring honestly.
The word that comes to my mind is preposterous.
December 7, 2020
Este es el libro #1 y lo leí de segundo. Hasta ahora es el mejor. Definitivamente Dios se encarga de convertir tumbas en jardines.
January 29, 2024
Somewhat flawed but theologically thought-provoking. (3 stars)
In a small village in Serbia, a Christian community is brutalized by a group of soldiers, the women threatened with death and forced to carry heavy stone crosses from the nearby cemetery. “You’re simply going to carry a cross for your Christ.” (p16) Under the orders of his brutal commander Karadzic, Janjic Jovic participates in the crazy game, which results in the death of a young girl and a priest, Father Micheal. Jan can’t understand how these Christians accept “the death of martyrs, choosing death instead of renouncing Christ.” (p62), and their outpouring of love for Christ leads Jan to swear to follow their Christ (p51).
Later in America, Jan writes a best-selling book which recounts his life-story, “The Dance of the Dead”. Engaged to marry his beautiful agent and publicist Karen, and on the verge of a multi-million dollar movie deal, everything is set for a happy ending. Until Jan meets Helen, a promiscuous drug addict who begs him for help. Helen is a familiar character from Book 1, but now we learn her true story: “My dad was an idiot and my mom was a vegetable and I became a junkie.” (p104). When Jan finds himself falling in love with Helen, he must deal with the anger of the Christian community, as well as with Glenn Lutz, Helen’s powerful lover and drug supplier.
Helen “was addicted...from the soul up” (p174), and even after her marriage to Jan she keeps returning to Glenn. How will Jan respond? The main message of “The Dance of the Dead” is that “God loves man passionately, that one moment with God is worth death”. (p64) Although he’s witnessed the love of a priest and a young girl for Christ, has Jan himself really learned what this love is? Ivena, his “adoptive” mother from Serbia thinks not: You have not “learned the nature of God’s love yet” (p64), “God knows you have more to learn of love.” (p66). In the events that follow, Jan’s love for Helen mirrors God’s love for sinners.
Strengths:
1. Plot: The story-line isn’t quite as fast as the first book in the series, but the action is certainly as intense, particularly in the first and the last part of the book (although the climax is not entirely convincing). The story of persecution in Serbia is horrifying, but gripping, intense, and stirring.
2. Theology: Unlike many other Christian novelists, Dekker’s theology is not incidental to the story-line, but underlies the entire plot, and is the framework that shapes and holds the story. The peril of this approach is that flawed theology will ruin the entire book, but conversely accurate theology results in an even more powerful and solid story than most. The theological thrust of the novel revolves around two main points:
a) God’s love for sinners.
i. Jan comes to realize that his love for Helen has been worked in him by God, and reflects Christ’s love for the church. “These emotions that are driving you insane, they are the same sentiments that put Father Micheal on the cross. They are the same that Christ himself showed. For God so loved the world, Janjic. Is this the love which you love Helen? ... You are feeling the love of the priest; the love of Christ.” Jan concludes “Helen is *meant* to be loved by me... And Christ loves the church with this mad, passionate emotion.” (p180) Here Dekker clearly draws on the imagery from the book of Hosea and the Song of Songs, as Jan says: “You have made me Solomon, desperate for the maiden; you have made me Hosea, loving with your heart.” (p363) This is also evident on the titles Dekker uses for Book 3 “The Lover” and Book 4 “The Beloved”, as well as the Scripture passages quoted at their commencement (Isa 62:5; Jer 2:2; SoS 8:6-7)
ii. Under the influence of her addictions, Helen is pulled back to her former life with Glenn, who even says to her: “To you I’m Satan.” (p190) Helen’s longing to go back to Glenn, “wallowing back to that pig,” is “no different than what most men do with Christ. No different from Israel turning her back on God. Helen is no different than the church, worshiping at the altar one day and blundering back into sin the next. She’s doing nothing more than what you yourself have done.” (p263) It is concerning her that the significance of the title becomes evident. Like in Book 1, there are several short visions of heaven (p193-4) that recur, and in this context Jan observes that “Heaven was weeping for Helen.” (p195). Sin is an addiction and a form of slavery, and Christians are guilty of going back to it time and again, just like Helen.
iii. Although Helen is adulterous, and “a woman who’s in an adulterous affair with another man does give you right of divorce” (p293), yet Jan continues to love her. His “love for an adulterous woman” is “no different than God’s love for an adulterous nation. For Israel. No different than his deep love for the church. His bride. You.” (p294)
iv. A mysterious flower begins growing when Helen comes into Jan and Ivena’s life. Although the precise significance of this image is never clearly spelled out, it seems to picture the growth of God’s love for sinners, and Jan’s love for Helen - “The aroma is like love” (p181).
b) The need for sinners to respond to God’s love by dying to themselves.
i. A repeated thematic note is that “Death must be embraced if you wish to follow Christ” (p55) Above Jan’s home is a slogan which echoes this: “In living we die, in dying we live.” (p155) Just as Christ died for His church, His church must be prepared to die for Him.
ii. Sometimes this requires physical death as a martyr. At one point there is the suggestion that Christians are to make a Christlike sacrifice of death “Christ actually died for his love. And the priest followed him gladly.” (p137).
iii. But more important than physical suffering and death for Christ is the need to put to death sinful desires. This is what Helen, too, must learn. “Even Helen, after her incredible encounter with Christ’s love, was still confused. Even after being on the receiving end of Jan’s love she still did not know how to return that love for the simple reason that she wasn’t yet willing to die to her own longings. Love is found in death.” (p322) Being willing to die to one’s sinful desires is the response of love God requires of His people. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness ... the path to life runs through death ... whoever will find his life must lose his life. If you want to live, you must die. It was what Christ did. He shed his blood. ... It’s only when you decide to give up yourself – to die – that you yourself will understand love. Hear this Helen. You will never understand the love of Christ; you will never return Janjic’s love until you die.”(p254)
Some problematic areas and questions:
a) One of the most serious problems is “Book 2 – The Sinner”, when Jan abandons his engagement to Karen and instead falls in love with and marries the junkie Helen. Dekker wants us to see Jan’s love for Helen as an image of God’s love for sinners, but this image fails in several ways:
i. Jan breaks his promised commitment of marriage to Karen. At one point Jan wonders: “it was the most ridiculous thing he could imagine ... He’d just asked Karen for her hand in marriage before the entire world, just a few days ago. Now he was ... sharing dinner with another woman. ... Stop it, Janjic! Just stop this nonsense.” (p159-160) And it is nonsense! Jan is being unfaithful to his promise to Karen, follows his feelings of passion and lust, and Karen is completely correct when she says to Jan: “Oh come on, Jan. Don’t cast this off on God. You know how pathetic that sounds? You dumped me for another woman because God told you to?” (p249) Rather than sympathize with Jan, I sympathized with Karen and was quite angry with Jan at this point.
ii. Although Helen appears to be a Christian after her marriage to Jan (p238), when Jan first falls for her and proposes marriage to her, she is still an unbeliever. Dekker presents Jan’s love for Helen as worked by God, yet the Bible is very clear that a believer should not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14-17), and that in such cases one must be obedient to God’s Word and not go by feelings. Jan follows feelings rather than what God’s Word plainly has to say about such a relationship. Falling in love with someone who is not yet a repentant believer is against God’s revealed will, but instead Dekker wants us to feel sympathetic for this relationship because it apparently mirrors God’s love. This is a serious and problematic inconsistency.
iii. Helen wins Jan’s love by her charm and beauty. “She’s quite a stunning woman under the dirt.” (p178) But sinners do not win God’s favour by charm. Working with the imagery of Ezekiel 16, where God bestows favour on a girl that is not beautiful, would have strengthened the novel. While Helen is presented as a victim of her circumstances, a woman that we cannot help but feel sorry for, the reality is that sinners aren’t victims but rebels who reject God’s commandments and don’t deserve mercy! For instance, Helen’s spitting on Jan (p192) is clearly intended to parallel how “we have all spit on the face of our Creator” (p186), but in Helen’s case this is not an act of rebellion, but she is forced into it as a victim. Sinners, however, aren’t victims, but ugly rebels who are by nature unloveable.
iv. The novel focuses on Helen’s “choice to return...She had chosen to come back!” (p212) The reality is that sinners are inclined to make the wrong choice, and require God to draw them back (John 6:44). Although it is not as prominent as in the first book of the series, this is a theology that gives too much credit to man, and is typical of Arminianism (as is the thought that “God loves all men”, p15).
If there is a parallel with God’s relationship with His people in this section of the novel, I would say that it is Jan who is the sinner by being unfaithful to his promised engagement to Karen in following his feelings of lust for a junkie. Rather than suggesting that Jan's actions mirror God's love, I would suggest that Jan’s treatment of Karen mirrors our treatment of God by our unfaithfulness!
The story would be much stronger if Karen was not part of the picture. In Hosea, God’s faithfulness is demonstrated to a Bride that He has already entered into a covenant with by marriage. The story of “ When Heaven Weeps” makes most sense after Jan’s marriage, and Jan’s actions in Part 2 of the book (before this marriage) seriously weaken the theological framework.
b) Dekker glorifies physical suffering for Christ, and confuses it with the need to crucify our old nature. From the beginning of the novel, there is an emphasis on the fact that “The greatest part of love is found in death.” (p109) But it is not immediately clear what Dekker means by this. In the first part of the novel, there is the suggestion that this refers to physical death and suffering. In response to a question about attention to detail in describing suffering of the martyrs, the response is given: “Many Christians would shut the suffering of the saints from their minds; it’s not what Christ had in mind. He knew his disciples would want to forget, so he asked them to drink his blood and eat his body in remembrance.” (p82) For this reason Ivena remembers carrying her cross, believing that “There was a kind of redemption in remembering” (p27) Remembering is hard, but rewarding (p33). “Suffering is an oxymoron. There is unfathomable peace and satisfaction in suffering for Christ. It is as though you have searched endlessly for your purpose in life, and now found it in the most unexpected place: in the death of your flesh.” (p256) While it is true that Christ may require physical suffering of some of his children, such physical suffering can never be placed on the same level as the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Carrying our cross primarily requires putting to death our sinful desires, which is even more difficult. Dekker is correct in emphasizing this in the last part of the novel: “Is the death of the will any less painful than the death of the body ... in reality the death of the will is far more traumatic than the death of the body.” (p302) But the emphasis on physical death instead of spiritual death earlier in the book detracts from and confuses this important concept. The novel would have been stronger if Dekker had focused more on how Helen could make progress in fighting her sinful longings. After all, that is the struggle that all Christians have - we are unable to reciprocate God’s love perfectly, and only after death will we be able to put to death our sinful nature and offer Him perfect love in return.
A further concern (which some readers might argue is innocent and prayerful) is the frequent use of expressions like “Good God” (p148) as an expletive. In my view, this is an unacceptable and blasphemous use of God’s Name.
Is “While Heaven Weeps” worth reading? Despite some serious theological flaws, it’s still worth reading. It’s a gripping read, and Dekker is a good writer who knows how to keep us turning the pages. This novel does have something very powerful to say about God’s love for sinners, and about the need for sinners to die to their old nature. It’s just too bad that Dekker missed an opportunity to state this message more clearly than he did. But thumbs up to Dekker for trying to write a novel that is far deeper than most Christian writers today.
In a small village in Serbia, a Christian community is brutalized by a group of soldiers, the women threatened with death and forced to carry heavy stone crosses from the nearby cemetery. “You’re simply going to carry a cross for your Christ.” (p16) Under the orders of his brutal commander Karadzic, Janjic Jovic participates in the crazy game, which results in the death of a young girl and a priest, Father Micheal. Jan can’t understand how these Christians accept “the death of martyrs, choosing death instead of renouncing Christ.” (p62), and their outpouring of love for Christ leads Jan to swear to follow their Christ (p51).
Later in America, Jan writes a best-selling book which recounts his life-story, “The Dance of the Dead”. Engaged to marry his beautiful agent and publicist Karen, and on the verge of a multi-million dollar movie deal, everything is set for a happy ending. Until Jan meets Helen, a promiscuous drug addict who begs him for help. Helen is a familiar character from Book 1, but now we learn her true story: “My dad was an idiot and my mom was a vegetable and I became a junkie.” (p104). When Jan finds himself falling in love with Helen, he must deal with the anger of the Christian community, as well as with Glenn Lutz, Helen’s powerful lover and drug supplier.
Helen “was addicted...from the soul up” (p174), and even after her marriage to Jan she keeps returning to Glenn. How will Jan respond? The main message of “The Dance of the Dead” is that “God loves man passionately, that one moment with God is worth death”. (p64) Although he’s witnessed the love of a priest and a young girl for Christ, has Jan himself really learned what this love is? Ivena, his “adoptive” mother from Serbia thinks not: You have not “learned the nature of God’s love yet” (p64), “God knows you have more to learn of love.” (p66). In the events that follow, Jan’s love for Helen mirrors God’s love for sinners.
Strengths:
1. Plot: The story-line isn’t quite as fast as the first book in the series, but the action is certainly as intense, particularly in the first and the last part of the book (although the climax is not entirely convincing). The story of persecution in Serbia is horrifying, but gripping, intense, and stirring.
2. Theology: Unlike many other Christian novelists, Dekker’s theology is not incidental to the story-line, but underlies the entire plot, and is the framework that shapes and holds the story. The peril of this approach is that flawed theology will ruin the entire book, but conversely accurate theology results in an even more powerful and solid story than most. The theological thrust of the novel revolves around two main points:
a) God’s love for sinners.
i. Jan comes to realize that his love for Helen has been worked in him by God, and reflects Christ’s love for the church. “These emotions that are driving you insane, they are the same sentiments that put Father Micheal on the cross. They are the same that Christ himself showed. For God so loved the world, Janjic. Is this the love which you love Helen? ... You are feeling the love of the priest; the love of Christ.” Jan concludes “Helen is *meant* to be loved by me... And Christ loves the church with this mad, passionate emotion.” (p180) Here Dekker clearly draws on the imagery from the book of Hosea and the Song of Songs, as Jan says: “You have made me Solomon, desperate for the maiden; you have made me Hosea, loving with your heart.” (p363) This is also evident on the titles Dekker uses for Book 3 “The Lover” and Book 4 “The Beloved”, as well as the Scripture passages quoted at their commencement (Isa 62:5; Jer 2:2; SoS 8:6-7)
ii. Under the influence of her addictions, Helen is pulled back to her former life with Glenn, who even says to her: “To you I’m Satan.” (p190) Helen’s longing to go back to Glenn, “wallowing back to that pig,” is “no different than what most men do with Christ. No different from Israel turning her back on God. Helen is no different than the church, worshiping at the altar one day and blundering back into sin the next. She’s doing nothing more than what you yourself have done.” (p263) It is concerning her that the significance of the title becomes evident. Like in Book 1, there are several short visions of heaven (p193-4) that recur, and in this context Jan observes that “Heaven was weeping for Helen.” (p195). Sin is an addiction and a form of slavery, and Christians are guilty of going back to it time and again, just like Helen.
iii. Although Helen is adulterous, and “a woman who’s in an adulterous affair with another man does give you right of divorce” (p293), yet Jan continues to love her. His “love for an adulterous woman” is “no different than God’s love for an adulterous nation. For Israel. No different than his deep love for the church. His bride. You.” (p294)
iv. A mysterious flower begins growing when Helen comes into Jan and Ivena’s life. Although the precise significance of this image is never clearly spelled out, it seems to picture the growth of God’s love for sinners, and Jan’s love for Helen - “The aroma is like love” (p181).
b) The need for sinners to respond to God’s love by dying to themselves.
i. A repeated thematic note is that “Death must be embraced if you wish to follow Christ” (p55) Above Jan’s home is a slogan which echoes this: “In living we die, in dying we live.” (p155) Just as Christ died for His church, His church must be prepared to die for Him.
ii. Sometimes this requires physical death as a martyr. At one point there is the suggestion that Christians are to make a Christlike sacrifice of death “Christ actually died for his love. And the priest followed him gladly.” (p137).
iii. But more important than physical suffering and death for Christ is the need to put to death sinful desires. This is what Helen, too, must learn. “Even Helen, after her incredible encounter with Christ’s love, was still confused. Even after being on the receiving end of Jan’s love she still did not know how to return that love for the simple reason that she wasn’t yet willing to die to her own longings. Love is found in death.” (p322) Being willing to die to one’s sinful desires is the response of love God requires of His people. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness ... the path to life runs through death ... whoever will find his life must lose his life. If you want to live, you must die. It was what Christ did. He shed his blood. ... It’s only when you decide to give up yourself – to die – that you yourself will understand love. Hear this Helen. You will never understand the love of Christ; you will never return Janjic’s love until you die.”(p254)
Some problematic areas and questions:
a) One of the most serious problems is “Book 2 – The Sinner”, when Jan abandons his engagement to Karen and instead falls in love with and marries the junkie Helen. Dekker wants us to see Jan’s love for Helen as an image of God’s love for sinners, but this image fails in several ways:
i. Jan breaks his promised commitment of marriage to Karen. At one point Jan wonders: “it was the most ridiculous thing he could imagine ... He’d just asked Karen for her hand in marriage before the entire world, just a few days ago. Now he was ... sharing dinner with another woman. ... Stop it, Janjic! Just stop this nonsense.” (p159-160) And it is nonsense! Jan is being unfaithful to his promise to Karen, follows his feelings of passion and lust, and Karen is completely correct when she says to Jan: “Oh come on, Jan. Don’t cast this off on God. You know how pathetic that sounds? You dumped me for another woman because God told you to?” (p249) Rather than sympathize with Jan, I sympathized with Karen and was quite angry with Jan at this point.
ii. Although Helen appears to be a Christian after her marriage to Jan (p238), when Jan first falls for her and proposes marriage to her, she is still an unbeliever. Dekker presents Jan’s love for Helen as worked by God, yet the Bible is very clear that a believer should not be unequally yoked with an unbeliever (2 Cor 6:14-17), and that in such cases one must be obedient to God’s Word and not go by feelings. Jan follows feelings rather than what God’s Word plainly has to say about such a relationship. Falling in love with someone who is not yet a repentant believer is against God’s revealed will, but instead Dekker wants us to feel sympathetic for this relationship because it apparently mirrors God’s love. This is a serious and problematic inconsistency.
iii. Helen wins Jan’s love by her charm and beauty. “She’s quite a stunning woman under the dirt.” (p178) But sinners do not win God’s favour by charm. Working with the imagery of Ezekiel 16, where God bestows favour on a girl that is not beautiful, would have strengthened the novel. While Helen is presented as a victim of her circumstances, a woman that we cannot help but feel sorry for, the reality is that sinners aren’t victims but rebels who reject God’s commandments and don’t deserve mercy! For instance, Helen’s spitting on Jan (p192) is clearly intended to parallel how “we have all spit on the face of our Creator” (p186), but in Helen’s case this is not an act of rebellion, but she is forced into it as a victim. Sinners, however, aren’t victims, but ugly rebels who are by nature unloveable.
iv. The novel focuses on Helen’s “choice to return...She had chosen to come back!” (p212) The reality is that sinners are inclined to make the wrong choice, and require God to draw them back (John 6:44). Although it is not as prominent as in the first book of the series, this is a theology that gives too much credit to man, and is typical of Arminianism (as is the thought that “God loves all men”, p15).
If there is a parallel with God’s relationship with His people in this section of the novel, I would say that it is Jan who is the sinner by being unfaithful to his promised engagement to Karen in following his feelings of lust for a junkie. Rather than suggesting that Jan's actions mirror God's love, I would suggest that Jan’s treatment of Karen mirrors our treatment of God by our unfaithfulness!
The story would be much stronger if Karen was not part of the picture. In Hosea, God’s faithfulness is demonstrated to a Bride that He has already entered into a covenant with by marriage. The story of “ When Heaven Weeps” makes most sense after Jan’s marriage, and Jan’s actions in Part 2 of the book (before this marriage) seriously weaken the theological framework.
b) Dekker glorifies physical suffering for Christ, and confuses it with the need to crucify our old nature. From the beginning of the novel, there is an emphasis on the fact that “The greatest part of love is found in death.” (p109) But it is not immediately clear what Dekker means by this. In the first part of the novel, there is the suggestion that this refers to physical death and suffering. In response to a question about attention to detail in describing suffering of the martyrs, the response is given: “Many Christians would shut the suffering of the saints from their minds; it’s not what Christ had in mind. He knew his disciples would want to forget, so he asked them to drink his blood and eat his body in remembrance.” (p82) For this reason Ivena remembers carrying her cross, believing that “There was a kind of redemption in remembering” (p27) Remembering is hard, but rewarding (p33). “Suffering is an oxymoron. There is unfathomable peace and satisfaction in suffering for Christ. It is as though you have searched endlessly for your purpose in life, and now found it in the most unexpected place: in the death of your flesh.” (p256) While it is true that Christ may require physical suffering of some of his children, such physical suffering can never be placed on the same level as the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Carrying our cross primarily requires putting to death our sinful desires, which is even more difficult. Dekker is correct in emphasizing this in the last part of the novel: “Is the death of the will any less painful than the death of the body ... in reality the death of the will is far more traumatic than the death of the body.” (p302) But the emphasis on physical death instead of spiritual death earlier in the book detracts from and confuses this important concept. The novel would have been stronger if Dekker had focused more on how Helen could make progress in fighting her sinful longings. After all, that is the struggle that all Christians have - we are unable to reciprocate God’s love perfectly, and only after death will we be able to put to death our sinful nature and offer Him perfect love in return.
A further concern (which some readers might argue is innocent and prayerful) is the frequent use of expressions like “Good God” (p148) as an expletive. In my view, this is an unacceptable and blasphemous use of God’s Name.
Is “While Heaven Weeps” worth reading? Despite some serious theological flaws, it’s still worth reading. It’s a gripping read, and Dekker is a good writer who knows how to keep us turning the pages. This novel does have something very powerful to say about God’s love for sinners, and about the need for sinners to die to their old nature. It’s just too bad that Dekker missed an opportunity to state this message more clearly than he did. But thumbs up to Dekker for trying to write a novel that is far deeper than most Christian writers today.
June 27, 2022
This book has lots woven into it that may seem strange if you are unfamiliar with the biblical stories it’s hinting at.
August 17, 2010
the story of a terrible atrocity in a small town in Bosnia against an Anglican priest, the women in the village and a girl…Cruel Serb para military group terrorizes the village, kills the priest and the girl after mocking them with carrying crosses. Is the love for Christ they have sufficient to enable them to love the devilish leader and die for Christ? Yes in terms of the girl and priest…women too show amazing courage. One soldier speaks out to stop the brutality…he is imprisoned after WW II by this Serb leader for 5 years. Goes to US, writes a book about his experiences of the love of Christ…becomes a blockbuster best seller and starts a powerful ministry attracting promo types…then this converted soldier, Jan, now a world renowed writer and Ct is to marry one of promo women but falls in love with an street woman, an addict fleeing a cruel man who is a city councilor. Much suspense, much thots on the love of Chrsit in the American church, …9 of 10 but too much violence?
May 23, 2013
This book took me on an emotional roller coaster! I loved parts of it and was horrified by others.
Jan Jovic is an unwilling participant in a game of life and death in a quiet Bosnian village in WWII. He witnesses intense love and hate which stays with him and changes his heart. Years later he writes a book about his experiences which ends up a best seller. In America he gains riches, with the help of his publicist, Karen, who becomes his fiance'. That is until he meets Helen, a young, beautiful drug addict who has a twisted attraction to her very rich dealer and has stolen Jan's heart.
There is violence not for the faint of heart but there is also love to counteract it. This story will have you pushed and pulled between good and evil, loving and hating, but seeing a glimpse of God's Love throughout.
A 3.5 stars
Jan Jovic is an unwilling participant in a game of life and death in a quiet Bosnian village in WWII. He witnesses intense love and hate which stays with him and changes his heart. Years later he writes a book about his experiences which ends up a best seller. In America he gains riches, with the help of his publicist, Karen, who becomes his fiance'. That is until he meets Helen, a young, beautiful drug addict who has a twisted attraction to her very rich dealer and has stolen Jan's heart.
There is violence not for the faint of heart but there is also love to counteract it. This story will have you pushed and pulled between good and evil, loving and hating, but seeing a glimpse of God's Love throughout.
A 3.5 stars
November 5, 2019
I have to confess that at first I didn't feel very attracted to this book, but as I was reading, reading completely caught me and it took my breath until the last page. It is a very moving story that shows God's love for humanity. This story leaves you thinking and meditating on what true love is from God's perspective.
February 3, 2016
First part was good. Last 2/3 was waay too sappy, and waay too wordy. Finished it only because I had too much invested to quit. Liked the first in the series, will not read the third. Will definitely check for romance tags before I read more Dekker. Found myself rolling my eyes at the characters professions of love.
October 23, 2007
This is one of my favorite books of all time.
May 4, 2018
this was one of the sappiest books I've ever read and I didn't care for it.
September 9, 2024
Alright. Where do I start? 😁 This book was SO good! At the same time, I had some issues with it. I'll explain.
From the first pages, I got transported into that little village in Bosnia and, even though it was painful, gut-wrenching and heart-crushing, and I had to stop a few times to gather the strength to continue, it kept pulling me in. That's the power of Dekker's writing. He's SUCH a great writer! And that makes what I have to write next so difficult.
As the plot honed in on the love story, I started to feel like something was missing. In the beginning, when the present inter-mingled with the past, things were very interesting and alive. As soon as that stopped, it became one-sided. It was still captivating, none the less, but not as engaging, I felt. I'm not much of a romance reader, maybe that's why I didn't connect to that side of the story as much as the beginning. 😁
This might be controversial: I'm on Karen's side in this story. I understand the parallels with the story of Hosea and Christ's sacrificial love for his Church. At the same time, the love story between Jan and Helen seems farfetched. He's already engaged, to Karen. Why fall in love with a complete stranger when he could have fallen head over heels for Karen and show her the love of Christ? From the discussions they were having, it was sort of implied she wasn't a born-again believer, just a nominal Christian who pursued succes. She was in just as much need of Christ's love. And they were engaged. He could commit to the relationship and pursue Karen instead of falling in love with someone else. His excuses? (to Karen) "It's not from me, it's from Christ," and (to himself) "I'm not married to Karen, just engaged." That sounds like a man not taking responsibility for his actions and emotions. If he did it once, why not do it again, for someone else in need of Christ's love in the future? Because love is not just something that happens to you, it's a choice. Anyway, I felt so sorry for Karen, she really didn't deserve to be treated like this. In trying to defend Christ's love, I feel like it had the opposite effect on her.
Another thing that bothered me. Jan proposes to Helen days (maybe even hours, I can't remember exactly 🫣) after Karen breaks up with him. There is also this parallel with the lovers in the Song of Songs looking for and finding each other in the garden, which is not too bad, I like the idea of a hidden place where love is safe to manifest itself.
Coming back to a positive note, if I can call it that, I know many people think that it's impossible for Helen to want to go back to Lutz so often, after experiencing true love, the love of Christ. But in reality, this is what we all do. We struggle with different sins and, although we might be strong enough to withstand temptation from time to time, unless we're fully committed to Christ, we always fall short. As Thomas Watson said, "Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet." Helen cannot be satisfied with Jan's sacrificial love as long as her need for drugs is stronger than her love for him. She felt strong and secure enough when he was around, but whenever her rock was gone, she was vulnerable.
Tedd Dekker is definitely one of my favorite writers and this book is great. But I cannot give it 5 stars. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy!
From the first pages, I got transported into that little village in Bosnia and, even though it was painful, gut-wrenching and heart-crushing, and I had to stop a few times to gather the strength to continue, it kept pulling me in. That's the power of Dekker's writing. He's SUCH a great writer! And that makes what I have to write next so difficult.
As the plot honed in on the love story, I started to feel like something was missing. In the beginning, when the present inter-mingled with the past, things were very interesting and alive. As soon as that stopped, it became one-sided. It was still captivating, none the less, but not as engaging, I felt. I'm not much of a romance reader, maybe that's why I didn't connect to that side of the story as much as the beginning. 😁
This might be controversial: I'm on Karen's side in this story. I understand the parallels with the story of Hosea and Christ's sacrificial love for his Church. At the same time, the love story between Jan and Helen seems farfetched. He's already engaged, to Karen. Why fall in love with a complete stranger when he could have fallen head over heels for Karen and show her the love of Christ? From the discussions they were having, it was sort of implied she wasn't a born-again believer, just a nominal Christian who pursued succes. She was in just as much need of Christ's love. And they were engaged. He could commit to the relationship and pursue Karen instead of falling in love with someone else. His excuses? (to Karen) "It's not from me, it's from Christ," and (to himself) "I'm not married to Karen, just engaged." That sounds like a man not taking responsibility for his actions and emotions. If he did it once, why not do it again, for someone else in need of Christ's love in the future? Because love is not just something that happens to you, it's a choice. Anyway, I felt so sorry for Karen, she really didn't deserve to be treated like this. In trying to defend Christ's love, I feel like it had the opposite effect on her.
Another thing that bothered me. Jan proposes to Helen days (maybe even hours, I can't remember exactly 🫣) after Karen breaks up with him. There is also this parallel with the lovers in the Song of Songs looking for and finding each other in the garden, which is not too bad, I like the idea of a hidden place where love is safe to manifest itself.
Coming back to a positive note, if I can call it that, I know many people think that it's impossible for Helen to want to go back to Lutz so often, after experiencing true love, the love of Christ. But in reality, this is what we all do. We struggle with different sins and, although we might be strong enough to withstand temptation from time to time, unless we're fully committed to Christ, we always fall short. As Thomas Watson said, "Until sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet." Helen cannot be satisfied with Jan's sacrificial love as long as her need for drugs is stronger than her love for him. She felt strong and secure enough when he was around, but whenever her rock was gone, she was vulnerable.
Tedd Dekker is definitely one of my favorite writers and this book is great. But I cannot give it 5 stars. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the trilogy!
July 30, 2022
Ted Dekker lo volvió hacer 😌 debo de reafirmar que amo con locura la pluma del autor, me encanta el hecho de que siempre me mantiene en suspenso, y él es la causa de mis ojeras, es aquel escritor que me hace decir un capítulo más y más, y así me hace trasnochar, y pienso que debo tener más tiempo libre para seguir con la historia.🤭😅
A JanJovic, le tome un cariño simpático, yo quería protegerlo de todo el odio que tuvo que experimentar entre juego de vida o muerte en la comunidad pacífica de Bosnia. Al finalizar la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero sin embargo años después que puede pasar ese
"trago amargo" y su vida está llena de éxito me molestaba su personalidad; lo sentía como un títere, y luego si me sentí muy enojada con sus inseguridades emocionales.
Helen me hacía encoger el corazón, quería abrazarla y decirle que todo está bien que no vuelva donde Dios ya la había sacado, sin embargo me daba frustración verla regresar a arrastar su vida en la inmundicia, sentí que el autor le dio un enfoque a la mujer de OSEAS que encontramos en la biblia.
Sin embargo amé con locura a Ivena, me llenaba el corazón como su fé cada día aumentaba, y ese toque especial de estar siempre pendiente de su jardín, la amé, y su personaje me dio una gran enseñanza, que aveces vemos pecados enormes en nuestro prójimo, sin embargo no vemos nuestra propia vida.
Sipnosis.- Un amor lo suficientemente fuerte como para estremecer sus huesos. Un sacrificio lo suficientemente poderoso como para hacer llorar al cielo. Años después, Jan se convirtió en un mundialmente reconocido escritor con amplia influenciaen Estados Unidos. Su pasado está enterrado en las profundidades de su memoria hasta que sale a la superficie en los momentos más inoportunos. El juego presenciado por Jan lo persigue... y sin darse cuenta lo lleva a una hermosa pero quebrantada mujer atrapada en el bajo mundo del crimen. Él ahora debevencer un mal rara vez visto. Pero hay un costo, uno que hasta este soldado traumatizado por la guerra no se puede imaginar.
A JanJovic, le tome un cariño simpático, yo quería protegerlo de todo el odio que tuvo que experimentar entre juego de vida o muerte en la comunidad pacífica de Bosnia. Al finalizar la Segunda Guerra Mundial, pero sin embargo años después que puede pasar ese
"trago amargo" y su vida está llena de éxito me molestaba su personalidad; lo sentía como un títere, y luego si me sentí muy enojada con sus inseguridades emocionales.
Helen me hacía encoger el corazón, quería abrazarla y decirle que todo está bien que no vuelva donde Dios ya la había sacado, sin embargo me daba frustración verla regresar a arrastar su vida en la inmundicia, sentí que el autor le dio un enfoque a la mujer de OSEAS que encontramos en la biblia.
Sin embargo amé con locura a Ivena, me llenaba el corazón como su fé cada día aumentaba, y ese toque especial de estar siempre pendiente de su jardín, la amé, y su personaje me dio una gran enseñanza, que aveces vemos pecados enormes en nuestro prójimo, sin embargo no vemos nuestra propia vida.
Sipnosis.- Un amor lo suficientemente fuerte como para estremecer sus huesos. Un sacrificio lo suficientemente poderoso como para hacer llorar al cielo. Años después, Jan se convirtió en un mundialmente reconocido escritor con amplia influenciaen Estados Unidos. Su pasado está enterrado en las profundidades de su memoria hasta que sale a la superficie en los momentos más inoportunos. El juego presenciado por Jan lo persigue... y sin darse cuenta lo lleva a una hermosa pero quebrantada mujer atrapada en el bajo mundo del crimen. Él ahora debevencer un mal rara vez visto. Pero hay un costo, uno que hasta este soldado traumatizado por la guerra no se puede imaginar.
April 26, 2020
When Heaven Weeps is Book 2 in the Martyr’s Song series, contains almost the entire prequel The Martyr’s Song, and should be read before Book 1: Heaven’s Wager, despite the Editor’s blurb before Chapter 1 saying otherwise . Confused yet?
In a small Balkan village near the end of World War II, a band of soldiers play a cruel game of ultimate stakes with a priest and his flock. Jan Jovic reluctantly participates. But he’s prepared neither for the incredible demonstration of love, nor the terrible events that follow. Now, many years later, that game will spring to life in Jan’s own heart. He will fall madly in love with the wrong woman, her name is Helen. Now it’s Jan’s turn to play the game. But there is a price.
As mentioned before, the first 55 pages of When Heaven Weeps is practically a word for word reprint of The Martyr’s Song novella with minimal variance. If you are anything other than a Ted Dekker fanatic, I would recommend that you skip reading The Martyr’s Song and dive right into this book, for the reasons aforementioned (unless you like reading the same book twice in quick succession).
I must confess that When Heaven Weeps is the first true romance novel I have read. I was sucked into reading it because of the guns and violence, but romancenovelaphobes, please don’t be put off – this story is not your average Mills and Boon (as if I would know). This story is about God’s romance with… you.
It really is an incredible read – and once again, Dekker infuses an amazingly original story with an even more amazing insight into the unconditional love of God, and mankind’s adulterous character by comparison.
In a small Balkan village near the end of World War II, a band of soldiers play a cruel game of ultimate stakes with a priest and his flock. Jan Jovic reluctantly participates. But he’s prepared neither for the incredible demonstration of love, nor the terrible events that follow. Now, many years later, that game will spring to life in Jan’s own heart. He will fall madly in love with the wrong woman, her name is Helen. Now it’s Jan’s turn to play the game. But there is a price.
As mentioned before, the first 55 pages of When Heaven Weeps is practically a word for word reprint of The Martyr’s Song novella with minimal variance. If you are anything other than a Ted Dekker fanatic, I would recommend that you skip reading The Martyr’s Song and dive right into this book, for the reasons aforementioned (unless you like reading the same book twice in quick succession).
I must confess that When Heaven Weeps is the first true romance novel I have read. I was sucked into reading it because of the guns and violence, but romancenovelaphobes, please don’t be put off – this story is not your average Mills and Boon (as if I would know). This story is about God’s romance with… you.
It really is an incredible read – and once again, Dekker infuses an amazingly original story with an even more amazing insight into the unconditional love of God, and mankind’s adulterous character by comparison.
August 22, 2017
I thought this was a great story, and had many spiritual lessons you can take from it. Of the Martyr's Song series, I thought this was the best.
The story is much like Hosea's, a man (Jan) falls for a woman (Helen) who is a drug addict, and they get married. But she leaves him regularly to go back to a man who she can't even stand, disgusts her, but supplies her with drugs. When Jan discovers this betrayal, Ivena, and old friend of Jan's, reminds him that he now knows exactly how God feels.
But really, the point of the book is the importance of death, particularly to yourself as a Christian. To pick up your cross is to die, and as Ivena says, Americans aren't into death. I think that's a valid assessment, the individuality of America brings w/it a certain pride. I like a story that is well told and brings out issues that really matter.
I think it would have been interesting if Jan did not actually fall for Helen, because he was a leader in a national ministry and had a fiance at the time. Would appearances and impressions be more important than showing love to a drug addict?
The story is much like Hosea's, a man (Jan) falls for a woman (Helen) who is a drug addict, and they get married. But she leaves him regularly to go back to a man who she can't even stand, disgusts her, but supplies her with drugs. When Jan discovers this betrayal, Ivena, and old friend of Jan's, reminds him that he now knows exactly how God feels.
But really, the point of the book is the importance of death, particularly to yourself as a Christian. To pick up your cross is to die, and as Ivena says, Americans aren't into death. I think that's a valid assessment, the individuality of America brings w/it a certain pride. I like a story that is well told and brings out issues that really matter.
I think it would have been interesting if Jan did not actually fall for Helen, because he was a leader in a national ministry and had a fiance at the time. Would appearances and impressions be more important than showing love to a drug addict?
September 3, 2019
Although I liked this book, it seemed like a very long read. Usually books take me approximately two weeks to read, this one almost four. I see this as a "prequel" to his first book and know more about Helen now that her character has been developed. The third book will probably give me even more information. I won't give anything away in the book, but was surprised at the forgiveness factor between Jan and Helen. Humanely speaking, I don't know that I would be able to keep "handling" the mistakes that were made. I did like imagining what heaven would be like...which was another "thread" that came through from his first book in the series.
All and all, I give this book three stars because I could put it down and not pick it back up and be fine that I didn't finish the book in a timely manner. I read it for a book club and will be interested to see what everybody else thought.
All and all, I give this book three stars because I could put it down and not pick it back up and be fine that I didn't finish the book in a timely manner. I read it for a book club and will be interested to see what everybody else thought.
October 11, 2020
This one's going to feel like a never ending story, the more you read, the longer the story seems to get - I promise you, and it's definitely not your typical romantic thriller - not sure what I was expecting but I didn't expect to get quite so frustrated with a character - it's fiction after-all!!
Yet, throughout the story I could only feel more and more annoyed with Helen - her selfishness and disregard for the safety of all those trying to protect her, time and time again....not trying to change or seek help to change despite how much other people had done and sacrificed for her.
Good, evil, love, loyalty, forgiveness, drugs and corruption, jealousy, revenge, violence, control, history repeating itself in the most unexpected way and Christian themes....it's an interesting one but I couldn't wait to get to the end of it, once and for all....it really would would make a great movie!!
Yet, throughout the story I could only feel more and more annoyed with Helen - her selfishness and disregard for the safety of all those trying to protect her, time and time again....not trying to change or seek help to change despite how much other people had done and sacrificed for her.
Good, evil, love, loyalty, forgiveness, drugs and corruption, jealousy, revenge, violence, control, history repeating itself in the most unexpected way and Christian themes....it's an interesting one but I couldn't wait to get to the end of it, once and for all....it really would would make a great movie!!
September 29, 2021
A picture of God's relentless love for us, and a reminder of how we are to love others as Christ loves us. It was kind of similar to Redeeming Love but cleaner. You have Helen who is constantly running back to her old life of drugs and Janjic who refuses to let her go without knowing his love (and God's love) for her.
The writing was a bit cheesy at times, but I love how the author tells the overall story. "To live is Christ, to die is gain."
---//---
CONTENT WARNINGS
• Sex - kissing; VERY light references to sex, no details
• Language - no cussing; name calling
• Violence - guns; knives; murder; talk of killing someone; talk of breaking someone's bones
• Other - references to drugs and parties and people being strung out
The writing was a bit cheesy at times, but I love how the author tells the overall story. "To live is Christ, to die is gain."
---//---
CONTENT WARNINGS
• Sex - kissing; VERY light references to sex, no details
• Language - no cussing; name calling
• Violence - guns; knives; murder; talk of killing someone; talk of breaking someone's bones
• Other - references to drugs and parties and people being strung out
December 7, 2022
This is mainly a romance/thriller. I was surprised the focus was so much on romance in this book but as usual, Dekker raised the bar as only he can with such descriptions of evil and terrorism that it's almost hard to read at times. The book begins with a gripping story in Bosnia and then uses that as a springboard for the more modern story/romance. It's basically a modern day version of the book of Hosea but with a lot more violence involved as only Dekker can depict. Honestly, after about page 70 I had a hard time putting the book down as the story grew in intensity. It was a wild ride through to the end of the book. [spoiler alert] I did feel like the ending was especially unrealistic - kind of "pie in the sky" but it makes for a nice story.
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