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Liked It “In his work The Prophets, Abraham Heschel writes, "None of the prophets seems enamored with being a prophet nor proud of his attainment." Jude Allman, hero of T.L. Hines' Waking Lazarus, can identify with Dr. Heschel's words. |
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“In his work The Prophets, Abraham Heschel writes, "None of the prophets seems enamored with being a prophet nor proud of his attainment." Jude Allman, hero of T.L. Hines' Waking Lazarus, can identify with Dr. Heschel's words.
BruceJ wrote this review Thursday, December 3 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
His gift? Well, it’s unlike any popularly associated with that of a prophet. He writes no book, he preaches no sermon, he calls no fire down from Heaven. Rather, Jude has experienced clinical death no less than three times: once as a young boy, once as a teenager, and once as a young man. Each time, against all medical reason, he returns to life. But these resurrections are not his gift; they are merely preservations of the gift.
The notoriety these miraculous raisings inflict on Jude has a sensation-seeking public breathing down his neck at every turn. Like the Biblical Jonah, he runs from the world and from his calling. Jude’s Tarshish is Red Lodge, a sleepy hamlet in Montana, where he adopts a name change to protect his identity, a comfortable paranoia to protect his sanity, and tucks himself into a cocoon of obscurity.
Enter a series of crimes so heinous it strips away Jude’s protections and he is forced once again to face his calling and the eyes of a prying world. He stubbornly clings to the shreds of his cocoon until events threaten to destroy the one connection to his past—his only son.
Waking Lazarus will evoke a curious mixture of emotion. You’ll find yourself in the awkward situation of fearing the next page turn, but being powerless to resist it. Masterfully written and eerily imaginative, Mr. Hines achieves a quasi-believable surrealism without resorting to excessive paranormality. There are twists and turns, blind alleys and perpetual horizons, and a spiritual element that is quiet, but unmistakable.
Highly recommended for readers who lean toward the Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker edge, but have a greater appreciation for the art of subtlety.”
“This was the second book of Hines I have read. The first was The Unseen, which is his latest. I enjoyed this tome. It is very different from The Unseen. (I am currently reading The Dead Whisper On).
Peter wrote this review Sunday, May 10 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I liked the layout of the story, the characters and their development. I would have liked more of an explanation as to how the effects of his notoriety from coming back from 3 death experiences caused him to become a near recluse, change his name and address and paranoid and untrusting of everyone and everything.
I found the character of Kristina intriguing and almost annoying. However, her true identity is implied at the end of the story and this pleasantly surprised me! I did not pick up the clues at all. Just like I did not pick up the clues as to the "bad guy" until it was revealed. I was convinced it was another character. Some very cleverly placed clues here only resulted in me being thrown off course on that one!!
Despite the pace being a bit slow in parts, Hines includes enough of the plot to keep you going, wondering what is going to happen next and wanting to discover the reason/purpose of his death/resurrection experiences.
A very good first novel and having read his latest, you can see his development as an author/story teller has been all the better for us, his readers.
I look forward to his new novel, Faces in the Fire, being released in July this year, (according to Amazon.com). ”
“Good read! ”
Nick Woodall wrote this review Monday, May 4 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Waking up from death three times and not living to the fullest while ignoring your gift is one thing; but not acknowledging God for it is another.
Beng G wrote this review Friday, January 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I love the twists and turns. The blend of spirituality and thriller is brilliant. See how Jude Allman embraced God and his gift in this novel.”
“Not what I was expecting, but an excellent story of redemption. Very good detective, mystery elements and well-maintained suspense throughout.”
Kat wrote this review Tuesday, November 25 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book was ok. The beginning was kind of slow to me, and seemed to just drag a bit, but the last bit was very surprising. Overall, I would not call it great, but I am glad I read it. ”
Vicki W wrote this review Sunday, August 3 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“T.L. Hines has crafted a stunning debut novel that is not to be missed. Jude Allman has died three times, only to miraculously rise from the dead each time. Doctors have no explanation for Jude's unique ability and he is reluctantly thrust into the spotlight of the public eye. Jude retreats to Red Lodge, Montana and changes his name and identity hoping for a fresh start and escape from celebrity status. As Jude settles into his new life, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of trouble once again. Someone is kidnapping children, and whether Jude likes it or not he is the only who can stop it.
jachism wrote this review Tuesday, February 5 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
T.L. Hines has done what so many authors have failed to: He makes you forget you are actually reading a novel. Waking Lazarus is much more than a book. It is an experience that grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go. The plot is superb and perfectly executed. The characters are engrossing and human, and it is fascinating to observe the growth and transformation each of the main characters undergoes.
Hines doesn't throw spiritual themes in our face, but hope, faith, redemption, and love are cleverly woven throughout the story in a powerful and effective way. This is one of the best novels I've read this year, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys quality faith-based fiction full of mystery and suspense. (From Christian Review of Books)”
“Nice and creepy!”
Richard J wrote this review Saturday, December 8 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A work of Christian Fiction that gets away with breaking many of the constraining rules of the genre.”
JoeIsReading wrote this review Friday, October 5 2007. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
