What do you think?
Rate this book
Angel Harp
Angel Harp
Widowed at 34, amateur harpist Marie "Angel" Buchan realizes at 40 that her life and dreams are slowly slipping away. A summer in Scotland turns out to offer far more than she ever imagined! Not only does the music of her harp capture the fancy of the small coastal village she visits, she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving the local curate and the local duke.
The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her with whom will she cast the lot of her future?
The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her with whom will she cast the lot of her future?
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Michael R. Phillips
247 books618 followersLibrarian Note: there is more than one author with this name in the Goodreads database.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
Michael Phillips has been writing in the Christian marketplace for 30 years. All told, he has written, co-written, and edited some 110 books. Phillips and his wife live in the U.S., and make their second home in Scotland.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
February 26, 2011
f I could have rated this book above five stars, I would have done so. I have not been so deeply touched by a book in many years. Since I have a great desire to see Scotland, I find myself reading many books about that country. Michael Phillips has been one of my favorite authors since I read his Stonewycke series, set in turn of the century (1800-1900) Scotland back in the late 1980’s.
This is a story of a woman, Marie, who is widowed, and has always loved Celtic music, and loves the harp. She has become rather lonely since her husband’s death, and decides to invest in a trip to the northern highlands of Scotland. Her first plans are to stay for a week or two, but she becomes involved in the lives of many people in a tiny town on the North Sea named Port Scarnose, and ends up extending her stay and renting a cottage. She meets two interesting men, a minister and a duke, and becomes unwittingly, a part of a triangle that had existed many years ago, and caused the boyhood friends to become estranged. She also meets a special young girl who is in poor health, who loves the harp and they also become great friends. Marie finds herself drawn inexorably into the lives of these people, and also soon caring about the two men, whose lives she has been brought into by her harp playing. There is also a bit of a mystery interwoven into the book which finds Marie entangled in finding out just what really happened.
I was so sure the way the ending was going to turn out that I was totally surprised at how it did. For those of you who know my love for “The Phantom of the Opera” movie, I found a lot of Phantomesque things in this book. The lives of the perfect man and the emotionally scarred man who both become so dear to her heart. I will not spoil the ending, but will say that I was in tears several times while I read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Scotland, who love a beautiful story, and who loves the “Phantom of the Opera.”
This is a story of a woman, Marie, who is widowed, and has always loved Celtic music, and loves the harp. She has become rather lonely since her husband’s death, and decides to invest in a trip to the northern highlands of Scotland. Her first plans are to stay for a week or two, but she becomes involved in the lives of many people in a tiny town on the North Sea named Port Scarnose, and ends up extending her stay and renting a cottage. She meets two interesting men, a minister and a duke, and becomes unwittingly, a part of a triangle that had existed many years ago, and caused the boyhood friends to become estranged. She also meets a special young girl who is in poor health, who loves the harp and they also become great friends. Marie finds herself drawn inexorably into the lives of these people, and also soon caring about the two men, whose lives she has been brought into by her harp playing. There is also a bit of a mystery interwoven into the book which finds Marie entangled in finding out just what really happened.
I was so sure the way the ending was going to turn out that I was totally surprised at how it did. For those of you who know my love for “The Phantom of the Opera” movie, I found a lot of Phantomesque things in this book. The lives of the perfect man and the emotionally scarred man who both become so dear to her heart. I will not spoil the ending, but will say that I was in tears several times while I read. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Scotland, who love a beautiful story, and who loves the “Phantom of the Opera.”
February 22, 2011
I won this as a First Reads book today, 1/10/11. Received the book 1/31/11.
I went back and forth on this book. It was a good book in a lot of ways, but I struggled with it as well. This might be 3.5 stars for me.
I was pleased that it was a very clean book, but the fact that the first 5 chapters were narrative with no dialog and only the character's feelings really should have been a clue for me about the rest of the book. Every time the author would get the plot going, it would come to a grinding halt for him to wax on about religion and personal spirituality, which isn't a bad thing, it just disrupted the flow of the story and almost felt to me like a different book at times. There were some things that were unresolved and bothered me. The death of one of the characters and why everyone is so abrupt when Marie wants to go to some castle ruins and warns her against it so strongly. Also, Marie's husband's death and her estrangement from her father weren't dealt with. Those things are never explained. Her husband's death really bothered me that it wasn't ever dealt with, just mentioned. To me, that's something that would shape a character and it's just brushed over. However, when I read the author's note at the end of the book, it appears there will be a sequel, so perhaps he will deal with those things there. Although, I don't really think he needs to write a sequel to this book. In my opinion, he wrapped up Marie's story very nicely.
One thing I really enjoyed about the book was when the author would write some of the Scottish characters' dialogue. It reminded me a lot of Margaret Mitchell's way of writing the slaves' language in Gone With The Wind. I liked being able to hear how they would say things in my head with the accent than just reading the straight English words. There was also a small glossary at the back of the book which translated some of the words.
Overall, this book was a bit too cheesy and sappy for me. I was worried how it would end, thinking it would be tied up too neatly and happily, but I ended up thinking it worked. So, although this was just an OK book for me, I was still impressed with some things and pleased that it was a very clean read.
I went back and forth on this book. It was a good book in a lot of ways, but I struggled with it as well. This might be 3.5 stars for me.
I was pleased that it was a very clean book, but the fact that the first 5 chapters were narrative with no dialog and only the character's feelings really should have been a clue for me about the rest of the book. Every time the author would get the plot going, it would come to a grinding halt for him to wax on about religion and personal spirituality, which isn't a bad thing, it just disrupted the flow of the story and almost felt to me like a different book at times. There were some things that were unresolved and bothered me. The death of one of the characters and why everyone is so abrupt when Marie wants to go to some castle ruins and warns her against it so strongly. Also, Marie's husband's death and her estrangement from her father weren't dealt with. Those things are never explained. Her husband's death really bothered me that it wasn't ever dealt with, just mentioned. To me, that's something that would shape a character and it's just brushed over. However, when I read the author's note at the end of the book, it appears there will be a sequel, so perhaps he will deal with those things there. Although, I don't really think he needs to write a sequel to this book. In my opinion, he wrapped up Marie's story very nicely.
One thing I really enjoyed about the book was when the author would write some of the Scottish characters' dialogue. It reminded me a lot of Margaret Mitchell's way of writing the slaves' language in Gone With The Wind. I liked being able to hear how they would say things in my head with the accent than just reading the straight English words. There was also a small glossary at the back of the book which translated some of the words.
Overall, this book was a bit too cheesy and sappy for me. I was worried how it would end, thinking it would be tied up too neatly and happily, but I ended up thinking it worked. So, although this was just an OK book for me, I was still impressed with some things and pleased that it was a very clean read.
October 30, 2017
When I first heard about this book I wasn't sure if I really wanted to read it. I am not a big fan of romance especially ones that involve a love triangle. However I knew that with Michael Phillips you really can't go wrong and decided to give it a try. Not surprisingly, I loved it. It is full of deep spiritual truths that I love and appreciate with all his books. The unfolding story of love, forgiveness, and reconciliation was beautiful to observe. I can't wait to read its sequel.
PS. I also loved it that the protagonist was from Canada and over 40. How awesome is that?
PS. I also loved it that the protagonist was from Canada and over 40. How awesome is that?
July 8, 2015
: I devoured the Shenandoah Sisters series Michael Philips wrote, so I was anxious to receive a review copy of Angel Harp. I couldn’t wait to see the adventure Michael Phillips would take me on next. I love how this author develops his characters and lets the reader know them inside and out. I also enjoy how Michael, who has a second home in Scotland, was able to show the reader this country with fresh eyes. I was amazed at how he captured the innocence of experiencing this country for the first time. Michael is also gifted in how he writes believably from a female point of view. Marie is the main character I enjoyed getting to know and felt her struggle. The author let me know her from her deepest parts of heart and mind. Marie’s life’s been on hold since her husband died, and was going nowhere. As her birthday approaches she reflects on her life and decides to start living it. She didn’t want to give up on her dreams; she finally desired to make them happen. Marie realizes, “When you let your dream die...you don’t only lose the dream...you stop dreaming altogether.”
Marie sets out on her dream trip to Scotland. She gets off a bus in a small town that catches her eye and starts walking until she finds a place to spend the night, determined to set out on foot to discover the land and its people in the morning. She is also on a mission to find the perfect place to play her harp and be one with the land.
Marie plays her harp in a beautiful park and meets the most amazing girl named Gwendolyn. She’s 12 years old and is captivated by the harp Marie is playing. Gwendolyn is drawn to Maria and her music, but her aunt doesn’t want her to talk to strangers. Marie has experience teaching children to play the harp, so when Gwendolyn says she loves the music and the harp; Marie offers to instruct her on how to play. Marie gives the harp and a quick lesson to Gwendolyn and watches in amazement. She can’t believe her ears, it’s absolutely magical. She has never seen anyone play the harp like this without training, it was astounding.
Marie has a plan to stay in Scotland longer than she’d thought. She has a purpose. She wants to teach Gwendolyn play on her harp every day if she could. She wanted to bring joy into this girl’s life and watch her talents bloom and grow.
Marie then meets Pastor Iain Barclay. He hears her play the harp which gets them talking about spiritual matters and how music stirs the soul. Iain talks about a personal relationship with Jesus, something she knew nothing about. He tells her, "Life is a Journey, a quest for truth and understanding...God is in the business of waking people up. It’s all about finding truth, walking in integrity, becoming who we’re meant to be, discovering who God is. Those are the things that matter.”
Word gets around about Marie’s music and Alashdair, the Duke, requests her to play for him at the Castle. Alashdair says to her later, “Your music sparked something in me that I had not felt for many years, maybe that I had never felt…I thought I had never heard anything so lovely, so peaceful, so haunting…It made me both sad and happy at once…All these thoughts rushed though me in an instant. Your music forced me to confront myself…”
Maria’s love for music and her ability to express herself through music is a gift everyone in this small community wanted to be part of. Maria starts to feel alive and fall in love with this town and its' people - people who aren’t afraid to tell her what’s on their mind. Love always brings complications. Marie finds her life has taken an unbelievable turn playing for Duke’s in castles and also in a beautiful church setting. Maria must decide the direction her life should go and where she will spend it. She has tough choices and the reader feels her anguish and start rooting for her.
Once again I was whisked away into Michael Phillips world with a story that spoke to my spirit and touched my heart in so many ways. Michael knows relationships and how the power of God can move in peoples hearts like no one else can. This author has a way of describing music, how it moves the human spirit in a special way and can change lives like the spoken word can’t. I enjoyed the characters and their struggle. I loved the complexity of the situation and how God provides a way when there seems to be no way out. It was a treat to read this novel and get to know these unforgettable characters I grew to love and wanted to hang out with long after the book ended. I felt my soul refreshed. You will too.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blow www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
Marie sets out on her dream trip to Scotland. She gets off a bus in a small town that catches her eye and starts walking until she finds a place to spend the night, determined to set out on foot to discover the land and its people in the morning. She is also on a mission to find the perfect place to play her harp and be one with the land.
Marie plays her harp in a beautiful park and meets the most amazing girl named Gwendolyn. She’s 12 years old and is captivated by the harp Marie is playing. Gwendolyn is drawn to Maria and her music, but her aunt doesn’t want her to talk to strangers. Marie has experience teaching children to play the harp, so when Gwendolyn says she loves the music and the harp; Marie offers to instruct her on how to play. Marie gives the harp and a quick lesson to Gwendolyn and watches in amazement. She can’t believe her ears, it’s absolutely magical. She has never seen anyone play the harp like this without training, it was astounding.
Marie has a plan to stay in Scotland longer than she’d thought. She has a purpose. She wants to teach Gwendolyn play on her harp every day if she could. She wanted to bring joy into this girl’s life and watch her talents bloom and grow.
Marie then meets Pastor Iain Barclay. He hears her play the harp which gets them talking about spiritual matters and how music stirs the soul. Iain talks about a personal relationship with Jesus, something she knew nothing about. He tells her, "Life is a Journey, a quest for truth and understanding...God is in the business of waking people up. It’s all about finding truth, walking in integrity, becoming who we’re meant to be, discovering who God is. Those are the things that matter.”
Word gets around about Marie’s music and Alashdair, the Duke, requests her to play for him at the Castle. Alashdair says to her later, “Your music sparked something in me that I had not felt for many years, maybe that I had never felt…I thought I had never heard anything so lovely, so peaceful, so haunting…It made me both sad and happy at once…All these thoughts rushed though me in an instant. Your music forced me to confront myself…”
Maria’s love for music and her ability to express herself through music is a gift everyone in this small community wanted to be part of. Maria starts to feel alive and fall in love with this town and its' people - people who aren’t afraid to tell her what’s on their mind. Love always brings complications. Marie finds her life has taken an unbelievable turn playing for Duke’s in castles and also in a beautiful church setting. Maria must decide the direction her life should go and where she will spend it. She has tough choices and the reader feels her anguish and start rooting for her.
Once again I was whisked away into Michael Phillips world with a story that spoke to my spirit and touched my heart in so many ways. Michael knows relationships and how the power of God can move in peoples hearts like no one else can. This author has a way of describing music, how it moves the human spirit in a special way and can change lives like the spoken word can’t. I enjoyed the characters and their struggle. I loved the complexity of the situation and how God provides a way when there seems to be no way out. It was a treat to read this novel and get to know these unforgettable characters I grew to love and wanted to hang out with long after the book ended. I felt my soul refreshed. You will too.
Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blow www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com
February 8, 2021
I enjoyed the story but thought the spiritual content didn't always line up with scripture.
March 27, 2011
Overall, this book was a wonderful read and I think you should give the story a chance! It's probably the longest book I've read so far in
2011. Canadian harpist Marie is widowed and suffering from depression. She recalls how she used to daydream with her deceased husband about visiting Scotland. She takes a summer off from teaching harp lessons to visit Scotland. When she arrives in a small town in Scotland, she finds a place she wants to stay for awhile. She rents a cottage and takes long walks, sitting on her favorite bench, playing the harp. During these excursions she manages to meet a preacher/curate (Iain), a duke (Alasdair), and an old religious man (Ranald) who enjoys playing the fiddle and talking about God. Marie soon finds that she's the subject of interest in the small Scottish town, especially when she begins dating both the duke and the curate. There's also a sickly girl named Gwendolyn whom Marie befriends. Gwendolyn and her Aunt Olivia create a strange twist to the story - a twist that's co-mingled with Iain's and Alasdair's lives.
After about the first fifty or sixty pages, the story moved pretty well. The scenery on the Scottish coastline was vivid, and I wanted to see that pretty water and those dolphins myself. The characters were real and I felt that I really knew the people in this small town. Marie's connection to her harp is real and stunning, kind of like the connection that most writers have with their writing and creating stories. She plays the harp for solace and she enjoys teaching others her craft. The love triangle was interesting, too, and you were surprised at what happens when you read this story.
Although there was much to love about this book, I saw some things I would've liked to change:
#1. I would've cut off the first fifty or sixty pages of the book when Marie is still in Canada, suffering from her loneliness and depression. While reading this part, I grew very bored. In this section, there was NO DIALOG...at all! It was just Marie's depressing thoughts about being by herself and missing her husband. I almost didn't finish the book because of the way it started out. I'm glad I didn't stop reading and kept at it, giving the book a fair chance. If I'd stopped reading, then I would've missed a good treat of a story.
#2. Dialect. I had NO IDEA what the common folk in Scotland were saying...at all! In writing, I've always been taught that dialect should be used sparingly. This author uses dialect for most of the townspeople. I understood conversations between Marie and the curate and duke - they spoke without the annoying dialect. I know there's a glossary in the back of the book, but, when I'm reading a novel, I'm not going to look at a glossary to figure out what somebody is saying. As a matter of fact, it's rare for me stop and look up much of anything while reading a novel, I'm reading to be entertained, and it's too bothersome to stop and figure something out.
#3. I'll admit that I skipped pages, several times. Sometimes, the author rambled about God and beliefs and salvation. An example of this is when Marie is talking to Ranald and Ranald gives her a brief religious history of Scotland...in dialect. I skipped over this. Passages like this were boring to me, if I want a brief religious history about Scotland, I'll go to a history book and read about it myself. I don't want to read so much detail about it in a novel.
Over all, this book was a good read and the author is a good writer. I think you should give this book a chance - don't give up too quickly like I almost did. The author did do a great job in showing Marie's spiritual journey. Marie has a strong struggle with her faith - her faith has weakened considerably since her husband's untimely death and as a result, she no longer goes to church. That is, until she meets Iain and her life takes a drastic turn.
2011. Canadian harpist Marie is widowed and suffering from depression. She recalls how she used to daydream with her deceased husband about visiting Scotland. She takes a summer off from teaching harp lessons to visit Scotland. When she arrives in a small town in Scotland, she finds a place she wants to stay for awhile. She rents a cottage and takes long walks, sitting on her favorite bench, playing the harp. During these excursions she manages to meet a preacher/curate (Iain), a duke (Alasdair), and an old religious man (Ranald) who enjoys playing the fiddle and talking about God. Marie soon finds that she's the subject of interest in the small Scottish town, especially when she begins dating both the duke and the curate. There's also a sickly girl named Gwendolyn whom Marie befriends. Gwendolyn and her Aunt Olivia create a strange twist to the story - a twist that's co-mingled with Iain's and Alasdair's lives.
After about the first fifty or sixty pages, the story moved pretty well. The scenery on the Scottish coastline was vivid, and I wanted to see that pretty water and those dolphins myself. The characters were real and I felt that I really knew the people in this small town. Marie's connection to her harp is real and stunning, kind of like the connection that most writers have with their writing and creating stories. She plays the harp for solace and she enjoys teaching others her craft. The love triangle was interesting, too, and you were surprised at what happens when you read this story.
Although there was much to love about this book, I saw some things I would've liked to change:
#1. I would've cut off the first fifty or sixty pages of the book when Marie is still in Canada, suffering from her loneliness and depression. While reading this part, I grew very bored. In this section, there was NO DIALOG...at all! It was just Marie's depressing thoughts about being by herself and missing her husband. I almost didn't finish the book because of the way it started out. I'm glad I didn't stop reading and kept at it, giving the book a fair chance. If I'd stopped reading, then I would've missed a good treat of a story.
#2. Dialect. I had NO IDEA what the common folk in Scotland were saying...at all! In writing, I've always been taught that dialect should be used sparingly. This author uses dialect for most of the townspeople. I understood conversations between Marie and the curate and duke - they spoke without the annoying dialect. I know there's a glossary in the back of the book, but, when I'm reading a novel, I'm not going to look at a glossary to figure out what somebody is saying. As a matter of fact, it's rare for me stop and look up much of anything while reading a novel, I'm reading to be entertained, and it's too bothersome to stop and figure something out.
#3. I'll admit that I skipped pages, several times. Sometimes, the author rambled about God and beliefs and salvation. An example of this is when Marie is talking to Ranald and Ranald gives her a brief religious history of Scotland...in dialect. I skipped over this. Passages like this were boring to me, if I want a brief religious history about Scotland, I'll go to a history book and read about it myself. I don't want to read so much detail about it in a novel.
Over all, this book was a good read and the author is a good writer. I think you should give this book a chance - don't give up too quickly like I almost did. The author did do a great job in showing Marie's spiritual journey. Marie has a strong struggle with her faith - her faith has weakened considerably since her husband's untimely death and as a result, she no longer goes to church. That is, until she meets Iain and her life takes a drastic turn.
December 14, 2010
What a lovely, lovely book...I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Widowed at 40, lonely, wondering what to do now after she had let years pass by since the death of her husband, "Angel" Dawn Marie decided to vacation in Scotland. Her car trip through the Highlands and towns was calming for her. She found the town of Port Scarnose to be magical, and instead of continuing to other places, she decided to remain there for the rest of her vacation. She chose Port Scarnose because of its quaintness and mainly because of a bench overlooking the sea where she first played her harp on Scottish soil...this is where the magic began for her.
All too soon, though, her three-week vacation was coming to a close. She had fallen in love with Scotland and its people, but she had to make a decision about extending her stay or heading back to Canada...what should she do? Should she stay or leave?
Her decision was definitely affected by circumstances and the people she met. Her dinner with Iain Barclay and her new-found friendship with 12-year-old Gwendolyn undeniably made the decision a little easier. She decided she "had" to stay for sweet Gwendolyn's sake....Gwendolyn loved to play the harp and had a natural talent. What she didn't know, though, was that her decision may have been more complicated than she realized because of a connection between Iain, Gwendolyn, and the Duke, who invited her to his castle to play the harp. The secrets of the relationships among these three interesting characters unravel as the story continues.
Marie's adventures continued with these characters and others, and she felt she was finding herself spiritually as well as becoming happy in the midst of the magic of Scotland's people and its landscape. To the extent that Scotland was making her blossom and was good for her, Marie was good for the town of Port Scarnose and its citizens. Everyone she came in contact with became a happier person and found things in themselves they didn't know existed.
If you enjoy Scottish history and listening/reading the written Gaelic brogue, you will fall in love with the book and definitely the characters. The characters were amazing and made you wish you could actually sit with them for the day and enjoy chatting and working along with them. Hearing the author mention different places in Scotland was also a treat knowing that I had been there as well.
The Gaelic brogue used by the town's people was the only, but minor drawback.…it was a little difficult to read and understand, but you could get the gist of the exchange. Nonetheless, it did add an authentic touch to the characters during their conversations with Marie. The religious theme throughout the story will have you examining your own personal beliefs. 5/5
Widowed at 40, lonely, wondering what to do now after she had let years pass by since the death of her husband, "Angel" Dawn Marie decided to vacation in Scotland. Her car trip through the Highlands and towns was calming for her. She found the town of Port Scarnose to be magical, and instead of continuing to other places, she decided to remain there for the rest of her vacation. She chose Port Scarnose because of its quaintness and mainly because of a bench overlooking the sea where she first played her harp on Scottish soil...this is where the magic began for her.
All too soon, though, her three-week vacation was coming to a close. She had fallen in love with Scotland and its people, but she had to make a decision about extending her stay or heading back to Canada...what should she do? Should she stay or leave?
Her decision was definitely affected by circumstances and the people she met. Her dinner with Iain Barclay and her new-found friendship with 12-year-old Gwendolyn undeniably made the decision a little easier. She decided she "had" to stay for sweet Gwendolyn's sake....Gwendolyn loved to play the harp and had a natural talent. What she didn't know, though, was that her decision may have been more complicated than she realized because of a connection between Iain, Gwendolyn, and the Duke, who invited her to his castle to play the harp. The secrets of the relationships among these three interesting characters unravel as the story continues.
Marie's adventures continued with these characters and others, and she felt she was finding herself spiritually as well as becoming happy in the midst of the magic of Scotland's people and its landscape. To the extent that Scotland was making her blossom and was good for her, Marie was good for the town of Port Scarnose and its citizens. Everyone she came in contact with became a happier person and found things in themselves they didn't know existed.
If you enjoy Scottish history and listening/reading the written Gaelic brogue, you will fall in love with the book and definitely the characters. The characters were amazing and made you wish you could actually sit with them for the day and enjoy chatting and working along with them. Hearing the author mention different places in Scotland was also a treat knowing that I had been there as well.
The Gaelic brogue used by the town's people was the only, but minor drawback.…it was a little difficult to read and understand, but you could get the gist of the exchange. Nonetheless, it did add an authentic touch to the characters during their conversations with Marie. The religious theme throughout the story will have you examining your own personal beliefs. 5/5
February 8, 2011
ANGEL HARP written by Michael Phillips
01/11 – FaithWords - Hardcover, 440 pages
All roads lead you to the same path you just have to follow the directions
Angel Dawn Marie was so many other things besides a 40 year-old widow, she was a gifted Harpist. Her fingers were magic on the Harps that she cherished and played believing that they gave her strength and the faith to go on. But did they give her that faith was there a journey she needed to take where she could fully know all the glories that God had bestowed upon her.
Marie decided to fulfill a dream of moving outside the safety of her life in Canada and venture into the lush, green fields of Scotland. When her husband was alive they talked of visiting and now there was nothing but loneliness to keep her company so why not venture elsewhere and be alone. After some sightseeing and wandering about the countryside Marie all too soon Marie finds a small town where it was impossible to be alone because everyone knew her business.
Just as quickly Marie becomes involved in their lives as well and discovers the history and music that has made Scotland strong and proud. Iain the pastor from the local church drew her to faith with his unconventional words of wisdom, the landlady showed her how to care for herself again by reliving the town’s past, the elderly crofter who talks of his losses and still moves on, the Duke that lives in a castle and displays a humility Marie never thought possible from someone so noble and then there is Gwendolyn a young, fragile girl who showed her what unrequited love feels like. When Gwendolyn stumbled onto Marie she teaches the master Harpist what it means to play your instrument with an open heart and let all the joys and dreams that are possible through belief and faith enter your soul and set you truly free. All the people in this town needed Marie to help reconcile them in some small way in their life and they help Marie reconcile the loss of her husband, the questions about her faith and discover everything that life still had to offer. There were so many doubts, dreams unfulfilled and matters to be resolved but at some point Marie let the love of all the people in her life show her how to accept and understand that having a little faith will set you free. The unexpected bonus of finding love again never entered her mind but when you least expect a miracle that is when one appears. Never close your heart or your mind as you will miss out on something important being whispered in your ear.
01/11 – FaithWords - Hardcover, 440 pages
All roads lead you to the same path you just have to follow the directions
Angel Dawn Marie was so many other things besides a 40 year-old widow, she was a gifted Harpist. Her fingers were magic on the Harps that she cherished and played believing that they gave her strength and the faith to go on. But did they give her that faith was there a journey she needed to take where she could fully know all the glories that God had bestowed upon her.
Marie decided to fulfill a dream of moving outside the safety of her life in Canada and venture into the lush, green fields of Scotland. When her husband was alive they talked of visiting and now there was nothing but loneliness to keep her company so why not venture elsewhere and be alone. After some sightseeing and wandering about the countryside Marie all too soon Marie finds a small town where it was impossible to be alone because everyone knew her business.
Just as quickly Marie becomes involved in their lives as well and discovers the history and music that has made Scotland strong and proud. Iain the pastor from the local church drew her to faith with his unconventional words of wisdom, the landlady showed her how to care for herself again by reliving the town’s past, the elderly crofter who talks of his losses and still moves on, the Duke that lives in a castle and displays a humility Marie never thought possible from someone so noble and then there is Gwendolyn a young, fragile girl who showed her what unrequited love feels like. When Gwendolyn stumbled onto Marie she teaches the master Harpist what it means to play your instrument with an open heart and let all the joys and dreams that are possible through belief and faith enter your soul and set you truly free. All the people in this town needed Marie to help reconcile them in some small way in their life and they help Marie reconcile the loss of her husband, the questions about her faith and discover everything that life still had to offer. There were so many doubts, dreams unfulfilled and matters to be resolved but at some point Marie let the love of all the people in her life show her how to accept and understand that having a little faith will set you free. The unexpected bonus of finding love again never entered her mind but when you least expect a miracle that is when one appears. Never close your heart or your mind as you will miss out on something important being whispered in your ear.
October 29, 2013
A modern day fairytale wrapped up in twists and turns of mystery, romance and small town secrets in Scotland! Michael Phillips takes his vast knowledge of Scotland's history and culture and paints a beautiful picture of where an adventure can take you when you let God lead your life.
Marie Buchan is widow who feels she has let her dreams die because her life (she teaches how to play harp) doesn't feel full. One day she remembers how her deceased husband loved Scotland and decides to take a trip there looking for an adventure. Marie takes one of her harps with her and makes new friends as she plays by the sea. One is the local minister and yet another is a young girl who has a musical gift that leaves Marie speechless. When her life becomes entwined with theirs, a third friend comes into the picture, the Duke of Buchan...and his presence will either draw this triangle of friends closer or destroy the connection they have. You will never guess how it ends!
I LOVED this book! And that's saying a lot because I don't read a lot of "contemporary" novels. But I've come to realize that no matter what Michael Phillips pens, I'm going to love it! All of the characters: Marie, Iain, Alastair and Gwendolyn lived lives that you can learn from. Marie's spiritual journey in Scotland, the reconciliation between long-life friends and Gwendolyn's trusting spirit are all elements that can help our own lives if we chose to heed their example.
Two things that made this book 5 stars for me were...
1. The use of "real" sermons in the church scenes. So many books leave out the actual preaching when the characters go to church but when Iain stood behind the pulpit to preach, everything just flowed. When that part of the story came I wanted to read what he had to say and learned just as much as I would from my church service.
2. The history of Scotland that Ranald (a sheep keeper) gives Marie in his stone cottage. Though the Scottish dialect was a challenge I quickly found myself curious of Scotland's wars, kings and famous leaders! I have read other books set in Scotland and have not come across such a concise, well-written history as that one chapter!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Scotland, a good story and a heavy spiritual theme!
Marie Buchan is widow who feels she has let her dreams die because her life (she teaches how to play harp) doesn't feel full. One day she remembers how her deceased husband loved Scotland and decides to take a trip there looking for an adventure. Marie takes one of her harps with her and makes new friends as she plays by the sea. One is the local minister and yet another is a young girl who has a musical gift that leaves Marie speechless. When her life becomes entwined with theirs, a third friend comes into the picture, the Duke of Buchan...and his presence will either draw this triangle of friends closer or destroy the connection they have. You will never guess how it ends!
I LOVED this book! And that's saying a lot because I don't read a lot of "contemporary" novels. But I've come to realize that no matter what Michael Phillips pens, I'm going to love it! All of the characters: Marie, Iain, Alastair and Gwendolyn lived lives that you can learn from. Marie's spiritual journey in Scotland, the reconciliation between long-life friends and Gwendolyn's trusting spirit are all elements that can help our own lives if we chose to heed their example.
Two things that made this book 5 stars for me were...
1. The use of "real" sermons in the church scenes. So many books leave out the actual preaching when the characters go to church but when Iain stood behind the pulpit to preach, everything just flowed. When that part of the story came I wanted to read what he had to say and learned just as much as I would from my church service.
2. The history of Scotland that Ranald (a sheep keeper) gives Marie in his stone cottage. Though the Scottish dialect was a challenge I quickly found myself curious of Scotland's wars, kings and famous leaders! I have read other books set in Scotland and have not come across such a concise, well-written history as that one chapter!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in Scotland, a good story and a heavy spiritual theme!
January 21, 2011
I could easily sum up my review of Angel Harp with one word: masterpiece! I’m not even sure where to start expressing my absolute love for this book.
I guess the setting would be the most obvious place to start. My mother was half Scottish and she was always very proud of her heritage and she loved all things Scottish. She passed that love on to me, so any book that has anything to do with Scotland is fine with me. Michael Phillips divides his time between his home in California and his home in Scotland. The pages of Angel Harp are infused with his obvious love of this place. He makes Scotland sound like a magical place full of beauty and very friendly folks, which I’m sure it is. Every detail, every sound, every scent of the beautiful surroundings found their way into this book. Michael didn’t miss a thing.
I was also completely enchanted by the music in this book. I love music and I have never read a book in which the reader can almost hear the beautiful music. I love Marie’s descriptions of her individual harps that make up her collection, the stories behind them and what they mean to her. The harp adds so much more peace and serenity to this story; you just get swept away by it.
I also liked this book being told in the first person. Marie is a woman who has been grieving and this book would have felt incomplete without knowing the depths of her feelings and her struggles with a faith that has been gone a long time. Knowing and understanding her thoughts made this book a deeply personal book and one of the most relaxing books I have ever read.
Now, if you are looking to rush through this book as fast as possible, you will be missing a lot. I found that this book is a slow read. By slow I don’t mean boring. This book is anything but boring. I mean this is a book to absorb and savor. Take your time, relax and enjoy it. I am going to be adding Angel Harp to my very short list of all-time favorite books. There are just so many things to love about Angel Harp I could be here all day writing about. Just read it, you’ll see what I mean.
I guess the setting would be the most obvious place to start. My mother was half Scottish and she was always very proud of her heritage and she loved all things Scottish. She passed that love on to me, so any book that has anything to do with Scotland is fine with me. Michael Phillips divides his time between his home in California and his home in Scotland. The pages of Angel Harp are infused with his obvious love of this place. He makes Scotland sound like a magical place full of beauty and very friendly folks, which I’m sure it is. Every detail, every sound, every scent of the beautiful surroundings found their way into this book. Michael didn’t miss a thing.
I was also completely enchanted by the music in this book. I love music and I have never read a book in which the reader can almost hear the beautiful music. I love Marie’s descriptions of her individual harps that make up her collection, the stories behind them and what they mean to her. The harp adds so much more peace and serenity to this story; you just get swept away by it.
I also liked this book being told in the first person. Marie is a woman who has been grieving and this book would have felt incomplete without knowing the depths of her feelings and her struggles with a faith that has been gone a long time. Knowing and understanding her thoughts made this book a deeply personal book and one of the most relaxing books I have ever read.
Now, if you are looking to rush through this book as fast as possible, you will be missing a lot. I found that this book is a slow read. By slow I don’t mean boring. This book is anything but boring. I mean this is a book to absorb and savor. Take your time, relax and enjoy it. I am going to be adding Angel Harp to my very short list of all-time favorite books. There are just so many things to love about Angel Harp I could be here all day writing about. Just read it, you’ll see what I mean.
February 20, 2011
If Michael Phillips always writes like this, please sign me up for more! Obviously, this is the first book by him that I've read. I almost put it down, as it has a slow start. I'm so glad that I gave it a chance. It's a mesmerizing masterpiece!
Marie is a 40 year old widow out to change her life. She leaves her homeland of Alberta, Canada and sets out for Port Scarnose, Scotland with a few of her possessions, most notably, her harp. She finds a beautiful spot near the ocean and plays her harp when a beautiful 12 year old girl, Gwendolyn, comes by. She is mesmerized by her harp and before long, Marie is giving her lessons. Or is it Gwen giving the lessons? This is just the start of a beautiful friendship that will also introduce her to the curate Iain Barclay, and the Duke. Will Marie make the changes she was hoping for or is something else in the works like she'd never imagined?
So many things about this book that I love!! First of all, I have always loved harp music. The beginning of each chapter features the words to a Scottish ditty of some sort that Marie plays sometime in the book. I read this book while outside, enjoying nature and my children paying, and I believe that may have added to the beauty of the book! The story (once I got past the first few chapters) grabbed me and I read this fairly quickly. The ways the characters intertwine is mysterious and, at times, unnerving. There is suspense, romance, drama (plenty of that!), and raw emotions.
One thing that other readers such as myself may struggle with is the Scottish dialect. I finally started getting the hang of it and could read through it fairly quickly. I fear that I may have missed some of Ranald's story due to the dialect. I also wonder where he was in the end. He sorta melted into the background and I thought him to be a bit more important than that.
Warning: Kleenex needed for laughter and tears. :) I'm still a bit haunted by it all!
Marie is a 40 year old widow out to change her life. She leaves her homeland of Alberta, Canada and sets out for Port Scarnose, Scotland with a few of her possessions, most notably, her harp. She finds a beautiful spot near the ocean and plays her harp when a beautiful 12 year old girl, Gwendolyn, comes by. She is mesmerized by her harp and before long, Marie is giving her lessons. Or is it Gwen giving the lessons? This is just the start of a beautiful friendship that will also introduce her to the curate Iain Barclay, and the Duke. Will Marie make the changes she was hoping for or is something else in the works like she'd never imagined?
So many things about this book that I love!! First of all, I have always loved harp music. The beginning of each chapter features the words to a Scottish ditty of some sort that Marie plays sometime in the book. I read this book while outside, enjoying nature and my children paying, and I believe that may have added to the beauty of the book! The story (once I got past the first few chapters) grabbed me and I read this fairly quickly. The ways the characters intertwine is mysterious and, at times, unnerving. There is suspense, romance, drama (plenty of that!), and raw emotions.
One thing that other readers such as myself may struggle with is the Scottish dialect. I finally started getting the hang of it and could read through it fairly quickly. I fear that I may have missed some of Ranald's story due to the dialect. I also wonder where he was in the end. He sorta melted into the background and I thought him to be a bit more important than that.
Warning: Kleenex needed for laughter and tears. :) I'm still a bit haunted by it all!
February 24, 2011
Title: ANGEL HARP
Author: Michael Phillips
Publisher: Faithwords
January 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-56771-8
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
Marie Buchan’s husband died when she was in her early thirties. Widowed at such a young age was hard, and Marie pulled herself into a shell rather than to allow herself to get involved with another man. Now, Marie is forty, and she realizes that life is passing her by. It was too late for some dreams—after all, she wouldn’t grow old with her husband by her side, but she couldn’t let other dreams die.
One of the dreams she shared with her husband was a love all Celtic music and books, so Marie books a trip to Scotland, dreaming of playing her harp on some windblown coastal bluff. Marie plans to avoid the cities, visiting instead small villages that catch her interest. But in one of the villages, the music of Marie’s harp catches the residents’ fancy, and she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving a local curate and the duke.
The two men used to be boyhood friends, but they were estranged over the love of another woman. Now it seems history is about to repeat itself, with Marie in the midst of it. Her involvement leads to a controversy over a death—and Marie must decide—what is the truth, and with who will she cast the lot of her future?
Michael Phillips has been a name I’ve been familiar with for most of my life as he rewrote Victorian novelist George MacDonald’s books. But this is the first book I’ve read by him alone. I was fascinated by the concept of a widowed harpist traveling to the United Kingdom in an effort to live her dream.
Written in first person, I instantly grew to know Marie, and I sympathized with her quickly. I wished I could sit down and listen to her play her harp music, and lose myself in the magic. Mr. Phillips is a master at making settings come alive and he drew me into the story. I could almost feel and smell and taste what Marie did. If you like contemporary fiction, you won’t want to miss ANGEL HARP. $16.99. 440 pages.
Author: Michael Phillips
Publisher: Faithwords
January 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-56771-8
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
Marie Buchan’s husband died when she was in her early thirties. Widowed at such a young age was hard, and Marie pulled herself into a shell rather than to allow herself to get involved with another man. Now, Marie is forty, and she realizes that life is passing her by. It was too late for some dreams—after all, she wouldn’t grow old with her husband by her side, but she couldn’t let other dreams die.
One of the dreams she shared with her husband was a love all Celtic music and books, so Marie books a trip to Scotland, dreaming of playing her harp on some windblown coastal bluff. Marie plans to avoid the cities, visiting instead small villages that catch her interest. But in one of the villages, the music of Marie’s harp catches the residents’ fancy, and she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving a local curate and the duke.
The two men used to be boyhood friends, but they were estranged over the love of another woman. Now it seems history is about to repeat itself, with Marie in the midst of it. Her involvement leads to a controversy over a death—and Marie must decide—what is the truth, and with who will she cast the lot of her future?
Michael Phillips has been a name I’ve been familiar with for most of my life as he rewrote Victorian novelist George MacDonald’s books. But this is the first book I’ve read by him alone. I was fascinated by the concept of a widowed harpist traveling to the United Kingdom in an effort to live her dream.
Written in first person, I instantly grew to know Marie, and I sympathized with her quickly. I wished I could sit down and listen to her play her harp music, and lose myself in the magic. Mr. Phillips is a master at making settings come alive and he drew me into the story. I could almost feel and smell and taste what Marie did. If you like contemporary fiction, you won’t want to miss ANGEL HARP. $16.99. 440 pages.
May 12, 2011
Review debuted first on http://acozyreaderscorner.blogspot.com
What am amazing book. The premise of the book is emotional as Marie is a widow at a young age. When she decides to move on, before life passes her by, she heads to Scotland in pursuit of living a dream shared with her husband. She visits small villages along the way and is drawn unexpectedly into a love triangle. This brings her back to the controversy of life and death, which she struggled with after losing her husband, and leaves her with decisions that will affect her future.
Michael is a skilled writer. I have read my favorite series, The Secret of the Rose, by Michael many times. His novels are wonderful to re-read, as each time I gain something new out of the story. This title, in ways, reminded me of that series as I can see myself re-reading this novel multiple time and gaining new insights with each read. I was instantly drawn to the main character, Marie, and could sympathize and emphasize with her along the way. Michael is gifted in writing long novels that pull you further into the story, leaving you unaware that you read four hundred or more pages. This book is no exception. It has heart, soul, intrigue, mystery and a descriptive nature that pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the story.
The story is one of loss and reconciliation, love, life and faith. It was a wonderful read, especially for those who like contemporary fiction. There were very few drawbacks to this book. My biggest hurdle was reading the local dialect of the Scottish town people which was slightly difficult to read until you got used to it. This may be because I am not used to reading this type of dialect. It did make the book feel more authentic, though at the same time took away from the reading for me.
What am amazing book. The premise of the book is emotional as Marie is a widow at a young age. When she decides to move on, before life passes her by, she heads to Scotland in pursuit of living a dream shared with her husband. She visits small villages along the way and is drawn unexpectedly into a love triangle. This brings her back to the controversy of life and death, which she struggled with after losing her husband, and leaves her with decisions that will affect her future.
Michael is a skilled writer. I have read my favorite series, The Secret of the Rose, by Michael many times. His novels are wonderful to re-read, as each time I gain something new out of the story. This title, in ways, reminded me of that series as I can see myself re-reading this novel multiple time and gaining new insights with each read. I was instantly drawn to the main character, Marie, and could sympathize and emphasize with her along the way. Michael is gifted in writing long novels that pull you further into the story, leaving you unaware that you read four hundred or more pages. This book is no exception. It has heart, soul, intrigue, mystery and a descriptive nature that pulls the reader deeper and deeper into the story.
The story is one of loss and reconciliation, love, life and faith. It was a wonderful read, especially for those who like contemporary fiction. There were very few drawbacks to this book. My biggest hurdle was reading the local dialect of the Scottish town people which was slightly difficult to read until you got used to it. This may be because I am not used to reading this type of dialect. It did make the book feel more authentic, though at the same time took away from the reading for me.
April 16, 2014
Widowed at 34, amateur harpist Marie "Angel" Buchan realizes at 40 that her life and dreams are slowly slipping away. A summer in Scotland turns out to offer far more than she ever imagined! Not only does the music of her harp capture the fancy of the small coastal village she visits, she is unexpectedly drawn into a love triangle involving the local curate and the local duke.
The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her decision: with whom will she cast the lot of her future?
My Take: This is a pleasant read that combines the author's love of Scottish history and lore with his passion for the spiritual influence of Scottish novelist, George McDonald. It is a well written piece that illustrates the ideas of God in an "After Calvinism" approach. The character that embodied these ideas is the curate, Iaian Barclay. For the bulk of the Scottish history, the reader relies on the protagonists travels and her visits with Ranald who succinctly describes the historical and religious (which are intertwined) events that lead to today's Scotland.
The story itself is a pleasant diversion from life. I liked it fine but found it incomplete. The ending seemed forced and many questions were left unanswered. I assume there will be a follow-up book to complete the story of Olivia, the diabolical aunt, describe how Ranald's daughter died and why he indicated that Marie be careful around the cliffs, and continue Marie's story in her new setting.
The boyhood friends have been estranged as adults because of their mutual love of another woman (now dead) some years before. History seems destined to repeat itself, with Marie in the thick of it. Her involvement in the lives of the two men, as well as in the community, leads to a range of exciting relationships and lands Marie in the center of the mystery of a long-unsolved local murder. Eventually she must make her decision: with whom will she cast the lot of her future?
My Take: This is a pleasant read that combines the author's love of Scottish history and lore with his passion for the spiritual influence of Scottish novelist, George McDonald. It is a well written piece that illustrates the ideas of God in an "After Calvinism" approach. The character that embodied these ideas is the curate, Iaian Barclay. For the bulk of the Scottish history, the reader relies on the protagonists travels and her visits with Ranald who succinctly describes the historical and religious (which are intertwined) events that lead to today's Scotland.
The story itself is a pleasant diversion from life. I liked it fine but found it incomplete. The ending seemed forced and many questions were left unanswered. I assume there will be a follow-up book to complete the story of Olivia, the diabolical aunt, describe how Ranald's daughter died and why he indicated that Marie be careful around the cliffs, and continue Marie's story in her new setting.
January 22, 2011
I have to say that this is one of the most unique books I have ever read! I cannot even begin to delve into the imagery and the dialect that Phillips infuses into every single page of this book. The kicker for me however was the building emotional complexity of this story!
Marie is a woman that everyone can relate to regardless of your background. She is real and because you are privy to her thoughts, she holds nothing back from you as you journey with her through this part of her life.
Gwendolyn of course was the star of the show. She didn’t even need to say much to cause you to fall deeply in love and want what was best for her as her story progressed. Oh, to hear Gwendolyn play the harp! I’d give anything for that.
Iain who is the local pastor is another one who draws you in. Of course all of the characters pull an emotional response from you. However, Iain becomes someone you wish you could talk to, take a walk with and of course look into his eyes!
Alasdair transforms before your eyes. Actually I don’t know that he transforms or that the mist surrounding him slowly fades away to reveal the true Duke. I’d love to meet him and think he has a story for every father out there.
This is a story of love, of loss, of change, forgiveness, humility, growth and so much more!
This will become part of my permanent collection and I plan to read it again ASAP because with stories as rich as this one, you always miss something!
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes
Marie is a woman that everyone can relate to regardless of your background. She is real and because you are privy to her thoughts, she holds nothing back from you as you journey with her through this part of her life.
Gwendolyn of course was the star of the show. She didn’t even need to say much to cause you to fall deeply in love and want what was best for her as her story progressed. Oh, to hear Gwendolyn play the harp! I’d give anything for that.
Iain who is the local pastor is another one who draws you in. Of course all of the characters pull an emotional response from you. However, Iain becomes someone you wish you could talk to, take a walk with and of course look into his eyes!
Alasdair transforms before your eyes. Actually I don’t know that he transforms or that the mist surrounding him slowly fades away to reveal the true Duke. I’d love to meet him and think he has a story for every father out there.
This is a story of love, of loss, of change, forgiveness, humility, growth and so much more!
This will become part of my permanent collection and I plan to read it again ASAP because with stories as rich as this one, you always miss something!
*A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review purposes
August 31, 2016
This book was unlike anything I've ever read. The main character was very realistic. The story felt like something that could actually happen. At times the realism made it hard to read because grief and loneliness were reoccurring themes.
The story involves a bit of mystery too, which kept me turning the pages. There is a lot of Scottish history and culture woven in, which I found interesting to read about. One of the main characters is a pastor, and his insights about God were thought-provoking and touching at times.
It is definitely a different look at Christianity than is typically found in a novel. Michael Phillips is a scholar of George MacDonald, and this book had a lot of similarities to MacDonald's works.
I found in the characters, and one especially, a powerful picture of love for other people, not romance but true care for others without regard for oneself. It's the kind of the thing that inspires a person to actually live that way.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
The story involves a bit of mystery too, which kept me turning the pages. There is a lot of Scottish history and culture woven in, which I found interesting to read about. One of the main characters is a pastor, and his insights about God were thought-provoking and touching at times.
It is definitely a different look at Christianity than is typically found in a novel. Michael Phillips is a scholar of George MacDonald, and this book had a lot of similarities to MacDonald's works.
I found in the characters, and one especially, a powerful picture of love for other people, not romance but true care for others without regard for oneself. It's the kind of the thing that inspires a person to actually live that way.
I am looking forward to reading the sequel.
March 1, 2011
I really enjoyed Marie Buchan's journey to rediscover herself in Scotland. I found myself looking up and making oat cakes and dreaming of playing the harp again. To me, that means this book really touched me. I did find I skipped quickly through some pages that felt a little slower, but the story itself was wonderful. I think a good book is one that creates some kind of change in our lives. I absolutely loved on page 59 where Marie's character describes a problem in our society. "I was never taught how to live, how to behave, only what I was supposed to believe." This is exactly what I want to help people discover in their own lives and why I write and speak. To find it in Michael Phillips book, Angel Harp, made me realize that other people recognize this issue too. Angel Harp actually encouraged me to continue on my own path. So thank you, Michael Phillips, for a good book that encourages as it entertains.
June 8, 2014
I picked this book only because I had already picked up the sequel to it. I had NO idea what the book was about, but decided to try it anyway. I am trying to read some new, to me, authors. I really loved the book. The Scots brogue was a little hard to read, but once I would say it to myself a time or two I found it coming easier. Marie is a widow who plays the harp, she actually has a collection of them and they all have names. She feels she needs an adventure so decides to take a vacation in Scotland, taking a small harp named Journey with her. All sorts of special things happen as she meets the locals and they hear her music. I am so happy to have tried this book and the story continues in "Heather Song".
There is a Christian theme to the story. I know this is fiction book, but it really made me think about my personal thoughts about my relationship with a loving God.
Try it, you will like it!
There is a Christian theme to the story. I know this is fiction book, but it really made me think about my personal thoughts about my relationship with a loving God.
Try it, you will like it!
September 19, 2014
No complaints regarding Phillips's style. If anything, he's grown as a writer over the past ten or fifteen years (however long it's been since I last read his books). But honestly, I think I would have liked it better if he had written two separate books: a novel to tell a dynamic story and separate non-fiction book for the philosophical agenda that he's so obviously trying to communicate. This is my longtime complain about Christian fic in general, and it seemed especially potent in Angel Harp. (Besides that, the curate's theology confused me. He leads a Presbyterian kirk, yet he talks like a thoroughgoing Unitarian. What gives?)
Still, Phillips is not a hack, and the lush descriptions of the Highlands had me pining to go back to Scotland. So despite the melodramatic heroine (seriously, I know it's an emotional story, but she cries SO MUCH) and a bit too much info-dumping, I would still recommend this to lovers of Christian fic who aren't too picky about agenda pushing.
Still, Phillips is not a hack, and the lush descriptions of the Highlands had me pining to go back to Scotland. So despite the melodramatic heroine (seriously, I know it's an emotional story, but she cries SO MUCH) and a bit too much info-dumping, I would still recommend this to lovers of Christian fic who aren't too picky about agenda pushing.
March 9, 2011
Won this on a goodreads first reads giveaway. As I said when I first started reading this I was having trouble with all the preaching. I did enjoy the story line about a woman who is an amateur harp player, whose husband had died 6 years earlier, who decides she needs to finally get on with her life and pursue some of her dreams. She travels to Scotland and becomes entwined in relationships with a minister, a duke and a young girl. I liked the scottish dialect and the portrayal of the characters and the historical aspects of the book. I was bogged down however, too many times however by the religious aspect, not that it was bad thing, but that it was boring and went on for too many paragraphs. Was easy to skip those parts though though. I would recommend the book for anyone into Christian Literature, otherwise you probably will not enjoy this book.
December 22, 2017
What a lovely, lovely book. This is the kind of novel that I find myself smiling at the end of every chapter. Phillips took me back to my beloved Scotland along with Angel Marie and I was able to join in her adventure. I could smell the air, feel the cool wind on my skin, and visualize Castle Buchan with every turn of the page.
The spiritual truths Phillips presents within the story are timeless. My own heart was spoken to on a deep level because of this. A novel that does that, for me, is the greatest example of the craft.
I laughed and cried along with the characters and was quite sad when I finished the final chapter. Angel Harp is my first Phillips novel, so I am eager to read another of this master novelist's work.
If you haven't already, read Angel Harp. You won't regret it.
The spiritual truths Phillips presents within the story are timeless. My own heart was spoken to on a deep level because of this. A novel that does that, for me, is the greatest example of the craft.
I laughed and cried along with the characters and was quite sad when I finished the final chapter. Angel Harp is my first Phillips novel, so I am eager to read another of this master novelist's work.
If you haven't already, read Angel Harp. You won't regret it.
May 2, 2015
A nice story, if a bit long.
I found the author's characterization of "church people" as nosy, gossipy, critical, shallow, hypocritical, and snobbish to be very off-putting. I don't know what church or churches he may have been exposed to, but the church people I know are loving, eager to learn, spiritual, kind, supportive, curious, sacrificial, peaceful, discreet, and seeking to know the Lord better and serve Him wholly. I'm sorry Mr. Phillips hasn't had a church like this.
His theology seems to be based on a cut-and-paste version of the Bible, but maybe I'm just judging his judging . . .
Either way, I think I'm done with his fiction.
I found the author's characterization of "church people" as nosy, gossipy, critical, shallow, hypocritical, and snobbish to be very off-putting. I don't know what church or churches he may have been exposed to, but the church people I know are loving, eager to learn, spiritual, kind, supportive, curious, sacrificial, peaceful, discreet, and seeking to know the Lord better and serve Him wholly. I'm sorry Mr. Phillips hasn't had a church like this.
His theology seems to be based on a cut-and-paste version of the Bible, but maybe I'm just judging his judging . . .
Either way, I think I'm done with his fiction.
August 15, 2011
I won this a free copy of this book on First Reads. To be honest, I usually read fantasy novels and teen romance, so when I got this book it was definitely something new for me! But I'm happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it! The main character is realistic and lovable, and even though I'm only a 19-year old in the middle of college, there were still quirks and things about the characters I could heavily relate to, making this book that much more enjoyable for me. This is a beautiful, well written story.
May 31, 2011
This was a new author find for me .... and the book was incredible. Loved the main characters, the wonderful setting in Scotland, the struggle of Marie Buchan to find her way ... and the lives, mysteries, and love triangle she gets involved. Her love and feel for music will touch you ... as will the major and minor characters in the book. As a plus ... Phillips gives insightful life philosophies and thoughtful spiritual understandings. ... One of those books you almost want to read again and take notes.
April 10, 2011
Once the sstory got going (after about 100 pages) it was a very cute romance. The language (irish) that they put in there made parts a slower read. Cute story. Ending is great.
Widowed lady and her deseased husbands dream was to go to scoatland and some of those other coiuntries. A few years after he dies she takes the trip they wanted to take. She takes her suitcases and her harp. Her trip changes her life forever. Form happiness to heart ache. Good book. SLow start!
Widowed lady and her deseased husbands dream was to go to scoatland and some of those other coiuntries. A few years after he dies she takes the trip they wanted to take. She takes her suitcases and her harp. Her trip changes her life forever. Form happiness to heart ache. Good book. SLow start!
May 31, 2012
I have never read a Michael Phillips book but I know he is a sensative Christian author, I enjoyed this tale of a 40 year old widow, after a six year marriage who goes to Scotland. Apparently Michael Phillips lives part of each year in Scotland so it is probably a good representation. I like the angel Harp theme and found the ending to be a surprise so the romance kept my interest. I think I will use it as a discussion book, so I will be interested in other peoples opinions.
April 9, 2013
The setting is Canada and Scotland. The main character has experienced a faith crisis. Each chapter begins with a Scottish poem or song. The Scots in the book are quite interesting; the landscape is rough and beautiful. If this is a true portrait of Scotland; sign me up for a visit. Although the plot itself is unlikely, all the details of the area, the people, and the religious views intrigued me. This was a very enjoyable book!
October 14, 2013
Walk don't run to your local bookstore or kindle and get this book. I love the authenticity of Michael Phillips books. His research is par to none; his story lines pull you in and his use of the just the right 'spiritual' food makes you want to draw closer to God. If you haven't ready any of his books, Angel Harp is a great place to start. If you like historical fiction - go to his Secret of the Rose
February 19, 2011
It starts off kind of slow and the main character is basically talking, sharing her thoughts etc with reader. (I didn't like that in the beginning it made it dull like she really didn't have a life and honestly she didn't lol. After that it upgrades but stills go back to that every now and then. Right now I'm in the teen's of the book if I remember right it goes up about 42 chapters I believe.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews