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The Healer's Heart: A Modern Novel of the Life of St. Luke
A contemporary look at the spiritual journey of a doctor named Luke that thoughtfully brings the Gospel physician into our 21st-century world.
If you have no cause worth dying for, do you have a reason to live?
While sorting through family papers following his father’s massive stroke, Dr. Luke Tayspill, Yale Medical School’s top infectious disease specialist, stumbles across a manuscript written decades earlier by his beloved grandfather. The book bears an ominous title, The Deaths of Lukas Tayspill— not death, but deaths.
A closer inspection reveals that the book is about three characters with the same name. The first two Lucas Tayspills were 19th century Quakers who suffered martyrs’ deaths. The third story—set in the future—ends abruptly with the arrival of a Dr. Lucas Tayspill in a plague-ridden, war torn African land. Was his grandfather foretelling Luke’s own life story—and prophesying his death?
Luke sets out on a deeply personal journey to Sierra Leone. But his pilgrimage to understand death leads to a powerful and unexpected encounter with the essence of life. Will Luke fulfill his grandfather’s vision?
If you have no cause worth dying for, do you have a reason to live?
While sorting through family papers following his father’s massive stroke, Dr. Luke Tayspill, Yale Medical School’s top infectious disease specialist, stumbles across a manuscript written decades earlier by his beloved grandfather. The book bears an ominous title, The Deaths of Lukas Tayspill— not death, but deaths.
A closer inspection reveals that the book is about three characters with the same name. The first two Lucas Tayspills were 19th century Quakers who suffered martyrs’ deaths. The third story—set in the future—ends abruptly with the arrival of a Dr. Lucas Tayspill in a plague-ridden, war torn African land. Was his grandfather foretelling Luke’s own life story—and prophesying his death?
Luke sets out on a deeply personal journey to Sierra Leone. But his pilgrimage to understand death leads to a powerful and unexpected encounter with the essence of life. Will Luke fulfill his grandfather’s vision?
- GenresFiction
342 pages, Paperback
First published February 21, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 7, 2026
This book has been on my shelf for years, but every time the cover enticed me to start reading it, another book would always take its place. Just two days ago, I finally gave it the time it deserved, and wow—I'm really glad I did.
This story moves in spurts in the very beginning, switching from past to present frequently, and it's a bit hard to keep up. However, those glimpses into the past show the foundations of the Tayspill family and, particularly, Luke's close relationship with his Grandpa Giles. Reading those accounts made me think that everyone should be so fortunate to have a Grandpa Giles in their life. His patience, love, and attention to Luke were so very special, especially since Luke's relationship with his father, Martin, is strained.
Luke and his wife Theo are not believers. Their actions and language in the beginning of the book bear that out. Slowly, Luke forms a close bond with a hospital chaplain, Bishop Paul, and once the opportunity presents itself, their wives form their own deep friendship. By using their own lives as a mirror of God and His love, Luke and Theo are slowly drawn closer and closer toward God. It's not until Luke travels to Sierra Leone that he must truly decide whether he believes God is real or not.
Some of my favorite passages from the book:
"If you have no cause worth dying for, do you really have a reason to live?"
"That's the way I feel about praying for healing. I believe it can work miracles, and I've seen some of those miracles for myself. I've also seen cases I can't explain, when God didn't choose to heal a good person of an awful disease. But I can tell you this—I would be committing spiritual malpractice if I didn't pray just because of those cases where it didn't seem to work."
"The peace of Christ isn't the power to control the world with your mind. His peace is a gift he gives to the heart even if our circumstances don't change. Through his Spirit he gives us the power to love people. . ."
This is not an easy read, but it is certainly a profound one. I hardly know what to compare it to since I don't know that I've ever read anything like it, but it's not a book I'll soon forget. Definitely recommend.
**Readers who are sensitive to language (the only word used is h*ll, but it is used in several contexts), consequences of violence, one graphic discussion of female circumcision, the AIDS epidemic, and PTSD should proceed with caution.
This story moves in spurts in the very beginning, switching from past to present frequently, and it's a bit hard to keep up. However, those glimpses into the past show the foundations of the Tayspill family and, particularly, Luke's close relationship with his Grandpa Giles. Reading those accounts made me think that everyone should be so fortunate to have a Grandpa Giles in their life. His patience, love, and attention to Luke were so very special, especially since Luke's relationship with his father, Martin, is strained.
Luke and his wife Theo are not believers. Their actions and language in the beginning of the book bear that out. Slowly, Luke forms a close bond with a hospital chaplain, Bishop Paul, and once the opportunity presents itself, their wives form their own deep friendship. By using their own lives as a mirror of God and His love, Luke and Theo are slowly drawn closer and closer toward God. It's not until Luke travels to Sierra Leone that he must truly decide whether he believes God is real or not.
Some of my favorite passages from the book:
"If you have no cause worth dying for, do you really have a reason to live?"
"That's the way I feel about praying for healing. I believe it can work miracles, and I've seen some of those miracles for myself. I've also seen cases I can't explain, when God didn't choose to heal a good person of an awful disease. But I can tell you this—I would be committing spiritual malpractice if I didn't pray just because of those cases where it didn't seem to work."
"The peace of Christ isn't the power to control the world with your mind. His peace is a gift he gives to the heart even if our circumstances don't change. Through his Spirit he gives us the power to love people. . ."
This is not an easy read, but it is certainly a profound one. I hardly know what to compare it to since I don't know that I've ever read anything like it, but it's not a book I'll soon forget. Definitely recommend.
**Readers who are sensitive to language (the only word used is h*ll, but it is used in several contexts), consequences of violence, one graphic discussion of female circumcision, the AIDS epidemic, and PTSD should proceed with caution.
December 20, 2019
Maybe I was not in the right frame of mind to read this book but it never really pulled me in. There were many interesting characters that were promising but never got fleshed out, the action felt choppy and random, almost like there were pages missing, and the day after I finished it I realized I already couldn't remember how it ended. I did appreciate the author's use of dialect, which provided some color and depth.
September 19, 2018
Interesting spiritual book.....I could not read the translation of the cover before starting to read the new chapter. Part 1 through part Vll. I did need a English dictionary to read this book. This book is a page turner though.
December 6, 2021
I like it when stories from the Bible are retold in modern times when it's done right
January 25, 2015
"A Modern Novel of the Life of St. Luke"
Picked it up at the 1/2 price store.
Hmmm. Not really. Started off with an interesting premise but needed an editor big time.
Dr. Luke has strained relationship with father (an atheist), fond memories of grandpa Giles (where he find the family history manuscript Deaths of Lucas Tayspil, separated but now in love with wife Theo who'd been to Sarajevo was crazy and got better after 1 African dance with Preacher Paul's wife (midwife).
Crazy story lines with unbelievable "fixes" to crappy relationships.
Turns out he was adopted even though his crazy, atheist, stroke, hateful father says "I love you" because there was a black side of the family tree.
Luke and Paul and others go to Africa Sierra Leone and in 3 weeks build a house for boy rebel soldiers, heal 1000s get kidnapped. Silly. The Gullah dialect Bible was interesting.
Picked it up at the 1/2 price store.
Hmmm. Not really. Started off with an interesting premise but needed an editor big time.
Dr. Luke has strained relationship with father (an atheist), fond memories of grandpa Giles (where he find the family history manuscript Deaths of Lucas Tayspil, separated but now in love with wife Theo who'd been to Sarajevo was crazy and got better after 1 African dance with Preacher Paul's wife (midwife).
Crazy story lines with unbelievable "fixes" to crappy relationships.
Turns out he was adopted even though his crazy, atheist, stroke, hateful father says "I love you" because there was a black side of the family tree.
Luke and Paul and others go to Africa Sierra Leone and in 3 weeks build a house for boy rebel soldiers, heal 1000s get kidnapped. Silly. The Gullah dialect Bible was interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2014
It seems harsh to say "it was OK" when someone has undertaken to write a book with such a complex plot, but the fact is, I didn't enjoy it that much. I found myself frequently saying, "What?? Did that just happen?? Where did that come from??" and it seemed like everything but the kitchen sink was thrown in. I felt like there were so many events in the plot, but that everything was "flat"--the action didn't rise and fall enough for me to be drawn in emotionally. I didn't grasp any deep spiritual truths from my reading, although I had the feeling that I was supposed to. Did Luke change in this book? How? Perhaps I will think and feel differently after I discuss with my book club. Hope so.
June 3, 2012
Well, I didn’t know what to think about this book when I picked it up beyond that it was on my to-read list. It was a great book. Quite engrossing yet thought provoking. It was even more poignant as I only have a month before my second year of medical school starts. I highly recommend this book.
July 11, 2009
Usally when I fall in love with a book, I can't put it down till I'm done. But this time I am savoring ever page. When I'm done reading The Healer's Heart, I want to read it again.
LOVED IT!!!
LOVED IT!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews