Redeeming Love is the book that everyone loves (And by “everyone,” I mean anyone who has ever at any point read any bit of Christian fiction at all, regardless of what their steady reading diet is). Whether they read 5 or 10 books a year, or have managed to read one in the last five years, they proclaim their undying love of this story.
Francine Rivers is an undisputed master of Christian fiction, whether she’s writing historical fiction or Biblical fiction. Redeeming Love is sort of a combination of each of these. It’s set in California during the gold rush of 1850. But it’s supposed to be a “contemporary” retelling of the Biblical story of Hosea, in which Hosea seeks after, loves, and forgives the prostitute Gomer, as a metaphor of God’s love for us.
Because of so many accolades, I of course had it on the never-to-be-conquered lifetime “to-be-read” list. When I saw it available on NetGalley last summer (as in — the summer of 2011), in relation to its 20th anniversary, I believe, I didn’t waste any time clicking on it (even though it apparently took me almost a year and a half to actually read it).
And here’s the truth of the matter: I liked the story. I’m glad I finally read it. Did I love it with an unwavering passion? Has it earned a place on my top-ten of all time list? Will I be recommending it as the one book that my friends must read? No to all three.
I think that part of it has to do with the build-up. What book can live up to the high expectations that have been set for the ten years that I’ve been hearing about it? The other part is my own admitted negative bias towards historical fiction (and in particular Christian historical fiction) that was written 20 years ago. I tried not to judge the cheese factor, but I couldn’t help it.
Cheesiness aside, the story is a beautiful one. Michael Hosea is drawn to a woman he sees on the street. He finds out she’s a prostitute, but she’s convinced that God is telling him to make her his wife. She resists, but he persists. When he finally takes her home, she resists his love, keeps herself walled off, and even runs away. Michael doesn’t give up on her, even though it’s hard for him. I think this element of the story and of his character stood out to me most. Yes, it reminded me quite clearly that God won’t give up on me, but even more than that, I was reminded about how important it is for both sides to keep the marriage covenant. My husband has forgiven me of much, just as I have forgiven him, and though it’s not always easy to do, it’s what we have to strive to do. I appreciated the struggles that Michael went through, and the pain, in order to be obedient to God and to have a God-honoring marriage.
So let’s talk about it. Am I truly the last person in the world to read this book? Did it live up to the high expectations when you read it? Are there other works by Francine Rivers that you prefer?
Fonda says
No, Jennifer, I must be the last person on the planet not to have read it…and for many of the same reasons you listed above. Who knows if I will ever get to it. BUT this is the second time it has been placed in front of me in the past few weeks so ‘never say never’.
Jennifer says
I’m glad I read it. I’d keep it on your list, and you might get to it as well 🙂
Clair says
I have read it…it isn’t her best book and if I remember correctly a bit too graphic. I think I liked her book called Leota’s Garden MUCH MUCH better or even The Scarlet Thread.
Jennifer says
She did have a note in it at the end about her struggle about how much to include. I’m not sure if that was new to the updated edition or not. I do think it’s one of the first books she wrote.
Rea says
There are actually 2 different versions. This was far from her first book, she was already an established writer in the general romance market. When she became a Christian in the mid-80’s she wrote this book as a statement of faith, and it marked her ‘crossover’ to the religious market. In the mid-90’s a much more sanitized version was released.
Carrie, Reading to Know says
😀 So you AREN’T the last (but close)!
I can’t even remember what I thought of it directly after reading it. I know that over time my opinion of it has dimmed – partly for hype, partly because I’ve read more of her books now (not many more, but more) and I’m also not a big fan of Christian fiction in general, as you know. But I still do think of Rivers as being one of the greater Christian fiction authors.
It was funny to see this post pop-up because another friend of mine was just asking my intown book club who among us REALLY loved Redeeming Love. Turns out that none of us were quite over the moon about it.
Jennifer says
I think there might be a certain type of person — maybe those who don’t read quite as much — who are over the moon about it. But maybe it’s just those who the story really grabs. I can see it reaching certain people in a powerful way.
Shonya says
Awwww, sadness! I really, really like Francine Rivers and Redeeming Love is number two in her books imo (The Mark of the Lion trilogy being number one). I thought it was easy to relate to and increase our understanding of both Hosea and the Lord’s love for us (adulterous though we are). Then again, I’m not a fan of Christian fiction in general and think Francine Rivers is at the top of a very short list of talented authors in this genre. shrug
Jennifer says
I have heard that the Mark of the Lion trilogy is wonderful. I read a few of her novellas — about Rahab and I think Mary. I enjoyed them as well, but get tripped up with Biblical fiction because I begin seeing the facts the way they are presented as truth, not fiction.
Pam Moore says
I just started reading this with my book club. I’m not even through the first chapter, yet, though. I’ve never read anything by Francine Rivers, but I have to confess that I’m a lover of historical fiction. The reason my book club picked it is because of so many people saying that it was the best book EVER. We shall see…
edj says
I was one of the last–I read it a few years ago. I always feel I’m going to like Rivers and then she goes too far, adds in too much drama, and she loses me. However, she’s a good writer and I did like “Redeeming Love” much better than I expected to, given the hype and the fact that I\’m not a big fan of that genre.I liked a lot of her \”Mark of the Lion\” series but again–just too much drama! Please, everything possible doesn\’t have to happen.I didn\’t like her Women of the Line of Jesus series because I started the one on Tamar and she was reluctant to get married at 14 and was dreading it. I was living in a place at the time where girls did marry at that age, and far from dreading it they loved it! It meant they were desirable! So I couldn\’t even finish the book because it was too rooted in contemporary Western culture.
Amy says
I liked it when I read it, but I was already a Rivers fan, so I read it through that lens. I like many of her other novels better, but I have to say that I didn’t like her last couple.