[.ca] The Last Sin Eater (ISBN 0842335706)

One Sitting:
I didn't know who Francine Rivers was but while looking at the library this title got my attention so I checked it out. I started reading it early in the day, and didn't lay it down until I had finished it late at night! (I have never done this before) I am a die-hard Francine Rivers fan now. I have read many more of her books and although none have grabbed me like this one, I am NEVER disappointed...BUY IT AND SEE!!

Humbling and Heartwarming:
Like other reviewers, I had never read Francine Rivers. If this book had not been given to me as a gift I never would have read it. I am so thankful I received it! I plan on reading more of her work. This is the story of a girl's journey to find forgiveness. Her pain is deep and believable, and if you've ever needed forgiveness you will identify with her immediately. All of the characters in The Last Sin Eater have depth. After finishing the book, I found myself thinking of them, something very few authors have made me do. Although this is an easy read, it is suspenseful,humbling, heartwarming, and very well written. Definitely not one-dimensional. I laughed and I cried. I had to force myself to put it down at 3:30 a.m., (and it was difficult). I highly recommend it.

Moving, Charming, Bittersweet,:
This is a charming, touching, bittersweet, yet ultimately triumphant, book about intriguing archaic beliefs from past centuries: the idea that one person in a community be designated to "take on" the sins of the village, damning his soul to hell. Beautifully written, I was captured from the first paragraph and my interest was sustained throughout the book. I found the book's redemptive ending very satisfying.

I just can't keep a copy of this book!:
This is an exceptional work by Ms. Rivers, easily one of the most powerful and unforgettable books I've ever read (and that's saying something). The themes of guilt, shame, and redemption have universal appeal, though I must admit that lifelong familiarity with the people of eastern Tennessee and Kentucky gave this book added poignancy for me. I found the book's portrait of grace so clear and vivid that I keep "lending" it out. The books never seem to find their way home because the recipients invariably think of someone else who "must" read the book! A worthwhile investment, even if I do have to keep buying a new copy.

Another Beautiful Work:
Francine Rivers brings to life with power and authenticity the language and feel of mid-1800's Appalachia. The Last Sin Eater is the story of 10-year-old Cadi Forbes whose family is wracked with grief over a terrible tragedy for which Cadi blames herself. Because of this tragedy, she has lost her mother's love and is the object of scorn in her small community. The only way for Cadi to redeem herself is to find the "sin eater" and confess her role in the tragedy. What follows is a beautifully drawn story of discovery, redemption, and grace. The characters are authentic and believable. The reader can empathize with Cadi's feelings of failure and inadequacy, experience her mother's pain and loss, and understand the resistance of the community to relinguish its old ways. Miss Rivers has done a beautiful job of creating parallels between the "sin eater" and Jesus Christ, the only true way to the throne, without making a mockery of the people she protrays.