HEARTLAND — A PARABLE
Charles Fivaz
Bookpal
I enjoyed Heartland. It sets the reader to wondering and pondering and so leaves a deep and lasting impression. The plot was interesting, filled with fascinating characters, set in an era that requires imagination. I related to Hannah’s frustration as she moved from place to place, discovering that people are basically arrogant and fixed in their ways.
The unexpected ending leaves the reader pondering long after they have put the book down. It is nearly 2 months since I read this book and yet the parable stays with me, and—as did the people who listened to Jesus—I’m not sure I understand it yet.
JW
HEARTLAND: A PARABLE
Charles Fivaz
In the foreword the author notes that the purpose of a powerful vision can be to impel a person to “reflect more deeply on a living circumstance that needs attention or resolution.” He sees parables as serving a similar purpose. In what seems to be a simple narrative the reader is thrust far into the 21st century and taken on a quest with the main protagonist Hannah. But the open structure of the story allows the reader to both follow the plot and contemplate its underlying meanings. The author’s pen pictures cleverly create the minimalistic atmospherics of a self-sufficient futuristic society, an array of unique landscapes, a realistic traditional aboriginal culture, and a questioning mindset amongst the travellers. For such a short story, there is much for the reader to ponder. At the end of this compelling, high-impact tale I could not help comparing it to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince. Highly recommended! NS
HEARTLAND: A PARABLE
Charles Fivaz
Book Pal Publishers
This is a parable, which looks at the different ‘cultures’ and ‘belief systems’ that keep us separated, yet should unite us. It is a message to the different Christian denominations that we all follow the same Lord and are empowered by the same Source, the Holy Spirit. It’s simply yet beautifully told, and is a story that lingers long after the book is closed. WN
Heartland
Charles Fivaz
Book Pal
Heartland is fantasy set in the future when we live a simple farming lifestyle. Charles Fivaz uses parable and analogy in ways that are both challenging and experiential. Hannah is on the verge of young adulthood and wrestling with what she sees as contradiction. Her spirit becomes both troubled and disturbed and she is compelled to recover for herself her mother’s unknown and hidden heritage. We journey with Hannah as she sets out on a pilgrimage of discovery with many unpredictable twists and turns. Each of the communities she visits reveals beauty and unexpected treasure that surprise her.
Like all parables Heartland tells a profound truth and I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who has felt the deep pain of religious separation or the scandal of denominational bias.
DS