Skip to main content

Echoes

Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn


Falling head over heels for someone on the internet, finding it hard to move on after a painful breakup, these are all elements in Robin Gunn’s new book entitled Echoes.  I think the real heart of this book was met in Lauren’s character, her being given the opportunity to step out in faith that although her heart might be crushed again, she was willing to step forward.  To be honest, I had a little trouble getting into the story because I think some of the characters were not fully developed in the way they could’ve been.  For instance, we get a little window in Lauren’s fiancĂ©e Jeff, as one who is on the quick path to success, monetarily, but we don’t get a lot of backstory about why he kept pushing the issue to move to New York and why he acted in such an abrupt manner.   In Lauren there is a tinge of teenage gush mixed in with her driven self, pursuing certification in teaching and being a banker.  Yet, I was hoping for some more engaging details about her family, her dreams and what makes her tick.

As far as the plot moves along, this book carries its focus with Lauren’s connection with an online person named K.C.  After over a year of exchanges through email, they decide to meet.  I won’t disclose everything but what happens turns out to be the opposite of what you might think.  Mindy, Lauren’s married friend at the bank showers her during the novel with spiritual platitudes about God providing the right time for the right person.  Mindy provides someone who is an overseer or guide to help Lauren in her life and the big decisions she faces.  Nosy and downright amusing is Mindy’s character in the book.  As the email exchanges grow more personal between Lauren and K.C., the plot moves toward a climax where the two characters can meet.

On a sidenote, I think the issue of online dating/emailing or chatting could be helpful to discuss as part of reading this book.  In the book, Lauren goes from a sense of trepidation to emotional infatuation with this online presence in a very quick time.  Also, I thought it was odd that you would email someone for over a year and then decide to meet.  Now, I think this time distance providing Gunn with the opportunity to develop the relationship, but I got to admit that after a month or two, you would want to meet someone. 

For a quick read, a developing story of releasing one’s fears in the face of a breakthrough, this novel will reach many hearts, mainly women.  I think it fell short in a lot of ways, but maybe that’s because I’m a man.

Thanks to Waterbrook/Multnomah Blogging for Books for the review copy in exchange for review.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Rise of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

  The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman Navigating the culture that we take up residence in, with its laser focus on sexual identity, tolerance, and an individualism that raises its head at every corner, Christians need a robust account of how we got to this point in our Western culture without retreating to our churches nor morphing with the latest trends.   Carl Trueman, professor of religion and theology at Grove City College, brings his keen historical research to bear on this issue in his new book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.   Part historical survey and philosophical analysis, Dr. Trueman traces the trajectories of key thinkers such as Rousseau, Freud, and Marx, while also incorporating the insights of Charles Taylor and Phillip Rieff to form a cogent argument as to how we got to this point in our history, both in our expressive individualism and sexual freedom outlooks.   The book is surprisingly insightful and yet demands from the reader the pa

The Conditioned Mind

The Conditioned Mind: Overcoming the Crippling Effects of Sin and Guilt by Michael J. Mannia Counselor and author Michael J. Mannia knows firsthand how the spiraling of sin and guilt can eat away at life.  His new book, The Conditioned Mind, is a look into how believers can overcome the effects of sin and guilt and live in the freedom that we have in Christ.  Through a careful look into the patterns that we develop and the mindsets that we get ingrained in, Michael is able to offer ways through guilt that bring freedom and healing.  I think this is not only a timely but a book that aims toward bringing real healing to its readers. In the first chapter Michael looks at two needs that we have: our need for love and our need for security.  Love isn’t something optional for the human race, but something it needs at its core.  “Additionally, we need to reciprocate love.  We need to feel loved as much as we need to love others (8).”  Love is a two-way street that inv

Passover and Jesus

The Messiah in the Passover , Edited by Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser Why should Christians celebrate and remember the Passover?   This is a striking question that needs to be understood as well as the historical and theological context of the Passover.   However obscure we sometimes view the Old Testament, there is some significant reasons why we should reach back and study the Passover.   Mitch Glaser in the Introduction states, “When Christians celebrate the Passover, they grow in their understanding of the Old Testament, affirm the Jewishness of the Gospel, deepen our understanding of the Lord’s Supper, and build community with fellow Christians…” (20).   This book is answer to why celebrate the Passover but even more importantly an answer to what the Passover is and what it signifies to us today.   The various contributors of this book, Messiah in the Passover, bring a wealth of ministry experience in relating the Jewishness of both Jesus and the Old Testament to