A disappointing read, and not a Christian book.
Independent and menopausal, Josie Brooks is a business consultant whose job is to streamline companies, recommending deep employee cuts among other things. Her encounters with a true friend, a bleeding-heart man, people who care about each other, a mystical snow-globe, and a series of coincidences change how she sees herself and those around her.
Divine Appointments was a bit disjointed at the beginning, although it did improve as the book went on. As for the spiritual implications, there weren’t any. One secondary character was presented as a believer. And the faith of one minor character was mentioned in passing. However, that character married a self-proclaimed non-Christian, with a “maybe-he’ll-get-religion” attitude. Not the kind of Biblical response one generally expects from Christian fiction.
It would be a stretch, but the mystical snow-globe with a running river quenching Josie’s thirst could be used to illustrate the Living Water and our thirst for Christ. But that certainly was not made clear in this novel.
And just to be aware of potentially controversial inclusions, wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages were consumed throughout the book, though in a wine-with-dinner, grab-a-beer-after-work way. Also, a figurine of a nude couple embracing was a focal point for the main character who longs for that kind of intimacy. It did specify that it was a nonsexual embrace, however, the nudity was completely unnecessary and potentially offensive.
All in all, a relatively clean story with an emphasis on the importance of relationships and encouraging each other. But I wouldn’t recommend it.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
