Classic editor History Talk (0) Share ← S1: The OC Season 2: S3 → #01 "The Distance" #09 "The Ex-Factor" #17 "The Brothers Grim" #02 "The Way We Were" #10 "The Accomplice" #18 "The Risky Business" #03 "The New Kids on the Block" #11 "The Second Chance" #19 The Great Migration was the movement of six million African Americans out of the South to urban areas in the Northeast, Midwest, and West between 1...Charles and Lily, James and Nan. James, the son of an alcoholic father damaged by the war, is a fiery man who wants to change the world. This book was wonderful in that it creeps into your thoughts as you get to know the characters better, it would be easy to dismiss this book due to it’s themes of god and religion but that was the power of this book, the different perspectives and the humanity of the characters making for a real and thought provoking read. It seemed like there were way too many conversations about believing in God and not believing in God. There were times when I liked one character more than the other but that also changed throughout the book. So the end left me a little wanting, but still five stars because I ended reading it so much. However, this novel fell really flat for me.
Charles, whose faith in God is all inclusive and Lily his wife who after the loss of her parents, no longer believes. I found this book to be very emotional but hopeful. Charles, whose faith in God is all inclusive and Lily his wife who after the loss of her parents, no longer believes.
So, instead of an unpopular opinion, like I thought I would have, I'm joining my voice with the chorus. There were times when I liked one character more than the other but that also changed throughout the book. The people are real and flawed and phenomenal. The fact that these characters end up being bound together with all their personal differences individually grappling with ideas of belief and faith all while navigating the complexities of everyday life’s challenges and obstacles made for an unique and interesting read. This is a stunning debut novel taking place in the 1950s and 1960s featuring Charles, who has a steadfast belief in God; his wife Lily, resolute in her non-belief; James, who joins the ministry to do worldly good; and his wife Nan, devout and sweet. The narrator makes all the difference in audio productions.I listened to the Audible production of “Dearly Beloved” narrated by Kathy Keane. They meet in Greenwich Village in 1963 when Charles and James are jointly hired to steward the historic Third Presbyterian Church through turbulent times. By the end of the book, I liked them all.
I would have not finished this but was too far into to give up. All four of the main characters struggled inwardly, consuming the story by mostly the author telling, not showing. Their personal differences however, threaten to tear them apart.This book is wonderful. God answered prayers about being a better friend, or being able to get a good grade on a test. It was well written and I thought all of the characters were complex, with their own unique imperfections and I felt fully invested in their struggles and triumphs. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and The Vietnam War, "The Dearly Beloved" follows two married couples, Charles and Lily, and James and Nan. Overall I enjoyed this well enough. Whether you are a firm believer, still searching or a non-believer you will find this story impossible to turn away from.The Dearly Beloved is a stunningly thoughtful debut about two couples and their journey through life together. I did not feel connected in anyway to the 4 main characters, I thought they were all very flat. Unfortunately, my expectations were dashed as I felt it was unexceptional and uninspiring. Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement and The Vietnam War, "The Dearly Beloved" follows two married couples, Charles and Lily, and James and Nan. Keane’s range of character voices adds to the story, which is important since there are four main characters, each with their own personalities and thereby voice inflections. This is a stunning debut novel taking place in the 1950s and 1960s featuring Charles, who has a steadfast belief in God; his wife Lily, resolute in her non-belief; James, who joins the ministry to do worldly good; and his wife Nan, devout and sweet. This book felt relevant even though the story takes place in the '50s and '60s. THE DEARLY BELOVED By Cara Wall. I am an outlier here, I was frustrated with the rationale of some of the characters. From debut author Cara Wall comes THE DEARLY BELOVED, a heartfelt and poignant novel that asks readers to consider the “what ifs” of faith, love and commitment. Edited to add: Faith by Jennifer Haigh is a book with similar themes (but vastly different plot) that I enjoyed much more.The first 3/4s of this book was extra strong, and then I felt like it just wrapped up really quickly when I could have read another hundred pages about these families. One church, two pastors.A tremendously well done first novel. The Dearly Beloved is a nuanced and fascinating character study - an engrossing, graceful novel about the inner struggles and differences of 4 characters as they try to make a life and create families. Get a FREE e-book by joining our mailing list today! As a Christian, I have and have had doubts and so do these people.