Saving Faith

by Patrick M. Garry

Because of a misguided medical diagnosis as an orphaned child, Jack Fenien was never adopted. Now, two years after leaving the orphanage, he works as a repossessor for a used car dealer. One night, he enters a bar looking for Ev Sorin, whose car Jack has mistakenly towed. Expecting violent anger, he is surprised when Ev reacts with indifference; but as Jack soon discovers, Ev – a disgraced journalist – has bigger problems on his mind. The next day, in the same courthouse to which Jack and Ev have gone to arrange for the release of Ev’s car from the impound lot, a nurse and young woman sit in a crowded courtroom opposite a row of lawyers, asking the judge to keep alive a comatose patient whose true identity is unknown but who has been given the name Faith Powers. After the hearing, Ev seeks out the nurse – not for years has he done a real story, and he feels a sudden urge to be a journalist again. It is an urge that will connect Jack with Clare, the troubled young woman who appears to have an almost fanatical attachment to Faith. Intrigued with Jack’s role as a repossessor, Clare sees him as a kind of modern moral prophet. Although the characters initially focus on investigating Faith’s real identity, they eventually come to use Faith as a catalyst for changing their own lives. But not until a seemingly random shooting occurs in the city do the characters become truly immersed in the mysteries of the patient and of each other.

304 pages, Unknown Binding

First published March 21, 2007

About the author

Whenever she could find a few spare moments, usually late at night, my mother read. She loved books. To her, reading was both a staple and luxury of life. Because of her example, we all became avid readers. And I became a writer.


My mother was my one consistent reader...and editor. She compiled the indexes for my early law and history books. I didn't even know how to construct an index, but my mother figured it out.

She supported all my writing, but she seemed particularly pleased when, after years of publishing books on law and history, I began writing fiction.

My first novel, "A Bomb Shelter Romance," involved a comedy about an eccentric family in a small town in the Midwest. After she read the manuscript, I could see the questioning look on my mother's face. Perhaps she worried that the family in the novel represented her own family--and maybe it did. It was then that she gave me some advice: try to write about things that really matter.

It took me 13 novels to fully follow that advice, which I think I finally did with my latest, "The Encounters of Quintas Livius." This novel combines history, faith and fiction. It presents a story of an agnostic Roman tax clerk caught up in the miracles of Jesus as he makes his way to Jerusalem.

Faith plays a vital role in many people's lives. But faith involves mysteries; and comprehending mysteries requires imagination, not facts. Consequently, our imagination can be a valuable tool in strengthening or understanding faith. "The Encounters of Quintas Livius" shows just how that tool might be used.

Mom, I hope I finally got it right.

* *

The host of a national book review radio program has called Patrick Garry the best undiscovered writer in America. But Patrick is unique in another respect. He writes about themes and ideas that are often absent in the works of contemporary American novelists.

Garry’s novels reaffirm life and the struggle of individuals to live their lives in ways that rise above mere materialism and the stranglehold of destructive temptations. In A Bridge Back, he writes about characters who never quite lose their desire for redemption, no matter how much guilt they feel for the mistakes of the past. Confronting the past can lead to a discovery of truth, which can then lead to the only true freedom. And once the enslavement to fear is ended, a rediscovery of love becomes possible.

Life can be simpler, and yet more heroic, than is often portrayed in the modern media, which can immerse us in a flood of all that can go wrong with life, rather than clarify for us what lies at the core of life—what defines it and makes it worth living. Garry's novels seek to rescue us from that confusion.

Reviews

[Maria Elmvang · Rating 2 out of 5]

I originally picked up Saving Faith because despite the fact that it was published more than 18 months ago, there was still no reviews or ratings of it here and only one review of it on Amazon. That is highly unusual, and made me curious. After having read it, I understand the lack of reviews though, because it's very difficult to figure out what to say about it. The premise seemed original, and the plot would probably have been very interesting, if only the characters had managed to win my affection. It wasn't that I actually disliked the characters - I just discovered that I simply didn’t care about them or their plight at all. This made it difficult to get properly engaged in the story, which is a shame, as it was otherwise very well written, so I don't know exactly why the characters failed to win my sympathy.

The ending is either a stroke of brilliancy or frustratingly anti-climatic. I haven't quite figured out which yet, and will leave that verdict up to other readers to decide for him- or herself.

[Sunday Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

About the Book:
Jack Fenian is a repossessor of cars who has just towed Ev's car by mistake. Jack, an orphan newly on his own, doesn't expect much of life. He is, therefore, quite interested when Ev tells him to sit down and join him for a beer. In the coarse of the conversation over a few beers, Jack learns that Ev is a down and out reporter, suffering from a past break-up with a rising star reporter. Ev offers to help him get his car but Ev is comfortable waiting until the next day. All he wants to do is drink and complain about his ex, Lyra, and her new significant other.

When Jack finally takes Ev to the courthouse for paperwork to release Ev's car from impound, they stumble upon a hearing. Two women are trying to save the life of a comatose patient, Faith Powers. But the nurse Irene, who is seeking an injunction to a sale of the hospital, has no standing in the case as she is neither a relative nor does she have guardianship of Faith. With her is the young woman, Clare, who also cares for Faith. Ev sees the possibility of a story that might get him back on top of his career. What can be a greater human interest story than the defense of the totally defenseless. So begins the tales of Ev's broken life with Lyra, Clare's broken life with her mother, and Jack's beginning relationship with Clare. For added spice we have Jack's relationship with Lyra and Ev which places him in the middle of their feud.

From the book jacket:

( Although the characters initially focus on investigating Faith's real identity, they eventually come to use Faith as a catalyst for changing their own lives. But not until a seemingly random shooting occurs in the city do the characters become truly immersed in the mysteries of the patient and of each other.)

I don't agree with this description. The true identity of Faith never was the focus of the book of any of the characters. The focus of the book was always the relationship Jack had with Clare, with Ev, and with Lyra. The story is more about saving faith than it is about saving Faith. It tells the tale of how people with the power of reporting the news can twist (edit) things to suit their story, their purpose and how they can use people, not caring who gets hurt.

My Take:
First, I want you to know that I read this book straight through in less than 24 hours. Garry has an engaging writing style that makes his story easy to read and engaging. He also has unique similes that I simply had to mark.
Try: She jumps on causes and trends like cheerleaders do on Homecoming parade floats.
Or: She dug into the envelope like a hungry bear into a tourist's cooler.
Good similes should be short, to the point, and quite graphic. Too many authors try too hard when it comes to them. Garry seems to know exactly what makes them both clear and memorable.

I wasn't too sure about the characters. Jack was someone I could identify with even though I came from a huge family or maybe because I came from a huge family. I was concerned about Jack and I was concerned about Clare but I couldn't connect with the secondary characters. Irene should have been a big part of the Faith story but was more like an after thought. Lyra, while also a large part of the story, especially considering how much trouble she causes, was like an undefined goddess but this might have been Garry's way of showing how life actually is.

The fact that Jack is an orphan and therefore has low expectations is a theme that repeats throughout the book to the point of not only foreshadowing but almost to blatant over-foreshadowing. The story about Faith Powers seems to get lost inside the story about Clare and Jack and the story about Ev and Lyra. But maybe the author actually meant Faith Powers to be only a tangent point, bringing together all these people without being part of the actual story. The shooting brings out all the evil that exist in today's world - evil that doesn't show itself as evil except to the few people harmed by it. Gary does a good job of showing us that side of life in all its gory underpinnings.

I found some of the story hard to follow like a poorly edited movie. Scenes seem to jump. There was talk of a protest, for example, and I was wondering, "What Protest?" The book seemed to be missing the conjunctions between some of the scenes and though I could mostly fill them out as I read further, it was highly distracting and I always felt like I had missed something.

My Recommendation:
I liked the book. Readers who are looking for a slice of real life in a story should find this book a good read. Because of the themes, I would not suggest this one to anyone under fifteen or sixteen and only at that age if you are ready for a real life story. (Think To Kill a Mockingbird).

[Charline Ratcliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was close to finishing “Saving Faith” by author Patrick M. Garry; l was all set to write my review, but then I read the book's last few chapters. These pages threw me into a slight tail spin and consequently it has taken me several days to put my thoughts back in order, (with regard to this title) so that I could pen its review.

In “Saving Faith” we, the reader, meet Jack, an orphan, who has a job as a "Repossessor." Unfortunately for Jack, he has mistakenly towed the wrong vehicle. This vehicle is now sitting in an impound lot and Jack must locate its owner and explain about his bad luck. Ev (the car’s owner) isn't a hard man to find - in fact he's currently occupying a seat at a local watering hole; drowning his perceived troubles with alcohol.

Jack relays the reason for his visit, but is surprised by the laughter that is Ev's response. Jack reiterates his claim of having towed Ev's car and Ev finally ‘buys’ it the second time around. However, he is still not the least bit perturbed by this news, which is surprising to Jack. Most people who have their car repossessed become irate or worse...

Due to his mistake, Jack takes Ev to the courthouse the following day so that Ev's vehicle can be released. However, the court house is where we meet Clare, and a new phase of this story begins. I don't want to provide any more of the tale, but I will state that “Saving Faith” is a good read with a rather unique plot.

As far as the writing goes, author Patrick M. Garry is a skilled writer, and this novel’s story flows smoothly across the pages. Garry's characters are believable and I'm certain that readers from all walks of life will be able to empathize with the various struggles, circumstances and positions these characters find themselves in. While “Saving Faith” does have some religious aspects, Garry did a great job of using those messages as appropriate material/stepping stones for this novel, versus a heavy handed approach that can turn readers away. “Saving Faith” also had a very philosophical look at life through the eyes of an orphan, (Jack), which I very much enjoyed.

In closing, “Saving Faith” is well worth the read.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was only good to read to pass the time