Customer Reviews

5 reviews

• Dr. Richard Bleecker

  Nazar's Journey is a triumph! The novella is a sensitive, poignant, and spiritual depiction of a period in our recent past that has largely been overlooked. Like the religious and tribal slaughters that have taken place across the world in the last half-century, the innumerable civilian tragedies that occurred during the several Iraq invasions have been forgotten or swept under the rug. The ability of the main characters to work together, as well as to respect and support each other, offers an inspiring contrast to the senselessness of war and bigotry.

• Christian Brugger

  The book’s main character Nazar is almost fourteen years old. I read aloud Nazar’s Journey with my fourteen-year-old, Thomas. We followed Nazar from his initial awakening to the bitter reality of violence and destruction that descended on his serene village by the “evil fighters,” through his meeting of trusted neighbors (who became friends), and along the road to his journey’s end. The book’s gentle prose carried us along, imparting both understanding of the appalling situation of Christians in the Middle East and consolation from the charity and courage of the characters. I heartily recommend this lovely short piece of historical fiction, whether you are young, like my son, Thomas, or, like me, not so young.

• Mary Anne Morse

  Nazar"s Journey is a beautifully written story under the backdrop or true and tragic events. It captivated me from the first page and I couldn't wait to pick it up again to see what happened next. I felt I was traveling in the story with Nazar and inspired by him at the same time. In fact all the characters were thoughtfully brought to life and were so authentic. One of the things I loved was how different religions and cultures were respected and honored by the author. As a lover of historical novels, I could have kept going with the story to see what happened to Nazar next. Maybe the author will consider writing a sequel.

• Maria Masini

  A true adventure: of tragedy and terror, with an undertone of serenity, brought by the protagonists' firm conviction that they would be protected from harm. A lesson of how to turn to faith in times of devastation, and how to cultivate peace around you by having faith in God, rather than to be consumed by the anxiety brought upon by the news and graphic horrors of war. I was unable to put the book down, captivated by the protagonist's supernatural will to live and help those around him. The main characters support each other's faith and positivity, refusing to be overtaken by negativity and despair. Each chapter creates more suspense, and the reader roots for the heroes of the story, who bring goodness, love, and light into the world amidst an evil war. The book represents the distinction of good and evil in sharp contrast, but proves that good can in fact emerge from evil, and the peace that surpasses all understanding can be felt by those who trust and hope in the goodness of God.

• Rachel Padian

  Reading Nazar’s Journey has been a pure gift! It is a superbly crafted story. The vivid description of the setting flow with ease and accuracy. I immediately felt that I was accompanying the characters and sharing their harrowing experiences of the brutality of war. Beyond the fact that the characters find an inner strength and resourcefulness needed for survival, they are rooted in a hope in the providence of God. To me Nazar’s Journey is an important historical fiction which informs about the plight of the citizens of Iraq in 2014, and the religious persecution of the Iraq Christian community which is among one of the oldest Christian populations on Earth. By reading this story, the reader becomes sensitive to the ongoing tragedies that are currently being faced by an incalculable number of refugees and displaced citizens in a myriad of countries on our planet. More so, Nazar’s Journey caused me to be receptive to that Divine Presence which gives hope even in the bleakest of personal circumstances. Since the main character is a 14-year-old boy, this book will be well-suited for young adults, yet because of the important themes of the novella, accuracy of detail and spiritual undertones, this book will be loved by all ages.

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