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All Things Bright and Strange

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Member Reviews

Um, definitely not what I was expecting from this book at all. All Things Bright and Strange feels like it has a thousand characters and about the same number of elaborated back-stories. That is why I feel this book was struggling to reach cohesion and well-rounded message. Is it a mystery? A thriller? A religious, mythical satire? I don't know and I really didn't care in the end. I didn't feel like there was any point to the story and don't get me started on the ending.

People of a little town, conveniently called Bellhaven, discover a chapel in the woods. This “little piece of heaven” is healing and bringing peace to everyone who goes there, but at a price. They are losing control over themselves and they become addicted to this serene feeling of happiness and connection to their lost ones. I went into this book expecting a meaningful tale about the power and deception of religion, how dangerous it can be and so on. I got an action-packed disconnected plot.

Our main character Ellsworth Newberry, was depicted as a dominant and guiding figure, unofficial sheriff of Bellhaven, and he was the one who discovered the bad ways of church-goers. He lost a leg in the war, his wife passed away, so it's no wonder he is grumpy and negative. But there is a difference between a likeable grumpy old man (like Ove from now popular The Man Called Ove and just plane Mr. Know-it-all who is rude and unkind. I didn't really buy his savior figure.

Looking back over the time I spent reading this book, I get an intense feeling of dissatisfaction. Unimportant plot points; many long, slow parts where nothing happens, and even the more action-filled parts were not particularly interesting. Also, there was a confusing, probably symbolic-like number of birds that were mentioned, but I didn't feel like thinking about it.

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This book has had such a slow and uninspiring start that I have not been compelled to finish the story....I will give it three stars because maybe it could have gotten better but I do not know because I haven't finished it.

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This book got off to a slow start. A really slow one. So slow I almost forgot to keep reading. But then things start happening and being a bit strange. The relationships get deeper. The dialog becomes more real. And before you know it they are battling for not only their safety but their souls.

Parts near the end were a bit of a stretch and many times the plot felt very heavy handed. However, this period book gave more than enough chills and creepy thoughts to finish it.

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All Things Bright and Strange by James Markert was exactly what the title says, all things bright and strange. When first reading I didn't expect to come to love the residents of Bellhaven as much as I did. There were so many broken characters I was sure I wouldn't get to see each of their journeys. I was sure I was going to be depressed and bogged down with so much detail. That wasn't the case, at all. I loved this book so much.

After the first few chapters the pacing picked up, Ellsworth gets off his butt and the strange comes in to play. There is a chapel in the middle of the woods with magical qualities. But we all know the saying, "Magic comes with a price". What a price this town pays.

Weaved throughout the entire story are elements of race, coming together and overcoming differences that I found relevant to today's world. Seeing it in a historical setting and how these characters/town work together and to find a solution and the error in their ways, that left me feeling right as the novel wrapped up.

Ellsworth became my absolute favorite character. As the town went to pieces, he stepped up, even though he was a one-legged, PTSD ridden, and one hundred percent lost with where his life was going to go.

There were scenes that had me laughing so hard. There were parts of this book the stomped on my heart and the entire time I was reading I wanted other people to read it as well.

Would I recommend All Things Bright and Strange to others? Oh yes.

I did receive an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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“This town is different. You’ll be welcomed here.”

Black and white alike, side by side, dancing together- can it be? Can Bellhaven truly be real? Ellsworth is prepared to die, ravaged by the war, broken by the loss of his wife, why shouldn’t he end things with his Smith & Wesson? Anne Belle Roper won’t let him, it seems, bringing him breakfast and the care he needs. Ellsworth is too young to feel and look so old. He will never be a professional baseball player, never be a father, never again know Eliza’s love. He puts the blame on the strange boy with no last name. There is something special about a little boy named Raphael, aside from his gifted piano playing skills. The beautiful soul has kept Anna Belle sane while the men were away at war. Cardinals are hanging around, strange things are happening, but Ellsworth can only remember the misery of his stillborn son Erik and his wife Eliza. The town is changing and if he can stop himself from committing suicide, he just might have to get to the bottom of things.

Why is everything blooming? What does the once hidden chapel have to do with everything that is happening? Is the healing floor good or evil? This magical place, can it be trusted? Just who or what do you pray to there, beautiful or not, is it safe? “Beautiful don’t always mean safe, is all.” Ellsworth remembers his mother’s words. How are they talking to the dead, is it possible?

The people of Bellhaven are turning to the chapel far more than they should. Ellsworth has woken from his depressed state, but can he save the people as they turn against each other? What are the secrets of the chapel? Who is more consumed by evil thoughts than Ellsworth, wanting nothing more than to kill himself after all his dreams turned to ash? What is going on with the preachers?

This is a strange supernatural tale dusted with the wounds war leaves behind, it is about faith and evil. Will Ellsworth be able to save them all with the help of his dear friend and Raphael? Should he trust in Raphael? Eerie and maybe not so beautiful a place, or is it?

Publication Date: January 30, 2018

Thomas Nelson Fiction

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This book is a fabulous story of loss and hope that starts as a post war telling of how the first world war affected a group of returning soldiers from the American South. However as it unfolds the mystical nature of what lies behind the yellow painted trees is revealed. It is complex and heartbreaking with characters that develop until the tragic conclusion. a five star read and the best book I have read so far. If you enjoyed the Essex Serpent you will enjoy this too.

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I've only read half of the book so far, but damn its amazing!! IT HAS GOT ME HOOOOKED AND I NEED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE TO DISCUSS IT

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Did you read Needful Things and feel like it was good, but just not quite all it could have been? This may just be for you.

The town of Bellhaven is a small one - though it contains a really large number of churches, it turns out - and in 1920's America, surprisingly progressive. There's even a black sherrif; that is, until the night the Klan come to town. That's actually not the main focus of the plot, though it's the pivot that pulls the plot around it throughout the rest of the book. And the undercurrent of the racial tensions of the time whispers through the main storyline too - and echoes of the even earlier "racial tensions" with the Native American tribes of the area also appear in places.

The story itself isn't a new one - as I mentioned above, "small town starts turning on itself when people find something they really, deeply, truly need" may have been touched on before. But it's beautifully written, and the characters themselves provide a strength and depth missing from other variations on the tale.

Plus - it's a fun read! The story clips along at a decent pace, without crossing into that frenzied rush that horror novels so easily fall into in their last halves.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in return for an honest review.

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Bellhaven is a small town with more religious denominations than most cities contain. But why are all the religious leaders fighting and why are Reverend Cane, Father Timothy, Rabbi Blumenthal, Reverend Beaver, Reverend Moses Yarney, Reverend Hofhamm, and Brother Bannerman all sneaking into that chapel in the woods? Who is America Ma and why are all the people in town going to that chapel in the woods on a daily basis?

This is a story blending faith and the possibilities of the supernatural, inclusion and exclusion, good and bad, possible and improbable and the importance of forgiveness. There is a large cast of characters but Michael Ellsworth Newberry stands at the center. His resilience from many personal losses including the death of his parents, his wife and the amputation of a limb as a result of his part in World War I repeat throughout the book. Heavy in symbolism and strong in conviction this was a well written book. The reader would do well to set aside mundane belief and allow for creative thought and imagination. After all, who is got say what is real and probable?

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an ARC

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Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the beautiful story telling in this historical fiction combined with the supernatural. We meet the citizens of Bellhaven, several of whom have returned to America from world war one with physical and psychological scars and injuries. The seemingly idyllic town has a hidden and troubling mystery lying in the depth of the woods. The characters were quirky and varied, I found myself egging on Ellsworth as the story builds. As much as I enjoyed the story, I did find the couple of chapters in the middle a little tedious trying to keep up with all the religious leaders and their churches in the town, however, the story all comes together following this and you just know that it's all coming together. I was fascinated and intrigued by the blurb and cover and was not disappointed.. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review an advance copy.

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I tried. I loved the writing, and I picked it because it came up in my historical queue, but I didn't see that it was also Christian/Inspirational. About a quarter of the way through I was struggling, but decided the story seemed worth it, but I've got to the middle where all the various church leaders are turning vengeful and murderous and I don't think I'll pick the story up again, I loved the writing, the characters, and the setting, but I just can't go on. My apologies, as I did not thoroughly research all the genres it covered.

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"All Things Bright and Strange" blends post WWI historical fiction, Christian mythology, and mystery for a fantastic read. There is a chapel in the woods where the residents of Bellhaven can talk to the deceased. How did it get there? Is this a blessing or a curse? And why is Ellsworth, who is suffering from war-induced PTSD and grief at the loss of his wife, being pulled into the middle of the town's obsession with this strange discovery? Fans of Neil Gaiman's "American Gods" will particularly enjoy this novel.

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What a great story!

Richly descripted characters and settings.

The chapel in the woods and the 'healing floor' seem like a slice of heaven to the townspeople of Bellhaven...but slowly turns the people malicious. The turn in the story reminds me of Stephen Kings needful things! If you've read it you know what I mean :)

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