Well written and absorbing. One of very few books that give an ambiguous take on religious fanatacism. Where most books treat the subject with disdain and condemnation and stereotyping, this book makes one want to spend a week with the poignant members of the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Gods Almighty Baptizing Wind and live their kind of life - as long as one stays out of trouble.

Fabulous writing - will make you scream with injustice at all the "good" work (that is truly so ugly) being accomplished in the name of someone so holy. This book may make you reconsider for just a moment what it means to live the spiritual life. Don't be surprised if you find yourself more forgiving of the sins of others after you read this. Above all else, it makes you realize we're all human.

Not worth my time. I did not at all enjoy this book. I had to finish it because I thought I needed to know how it ended. It didn't matter I was confused thru the entire book and never really caught on to what the story line was. I would not suggest this to anyone who is new in faith/religion, because it has a lot of "cultish" type suggestions.

An amazing author who knows how to weave words into a story that you can't put down. It is a tragic story - yet encouraging to anyone who has ever felt the burden of following his or her own heart. This story is, in the end, about one young girl staying true - against all odds - to her own heart and that of the child she loves.

The Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind! Thats the name of the church these two teens belong to. Growing up in a very rigid church community where grandpa is the Preacher can be a bit difficult especially when.......I'll have to stop there ;) READ THE BOOK!!

Excellent book. I appreciated the point of view. You really had sympathy for her and her choices. One of my favorites.

Heavy duty. Thought provoking. Heartbreaking and challenging.

Very interesting tale about extreme religious fundamentalism in America. Grandpa is in charge of the compound where these folks, mostly kin, live and worship together. What he says is gospel truth, even though it's mostly about his power over the others and not the grace, mercy and love that are really part of the true Gospel.

Told through the eyes of a young girl who finds herself in an impossible situation, it's interesting how many in the church really don't buy totally into the ways of Grandpa, but for some reason they are compelled to put up with the extreme punishment, constant fear and twisted sermons.

I really enjoyed this book. Unfortunately, these kinds of groups do exist in our society today, and can make those who really do try to pattern their lives after Christ look bad to those who lump all Christians into one fanatical mold.

This is the story of a girl who has to contend with her grandpa who is a preacher at the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Gods Almighty Baptizing Wind. Do I need to say more? This was heartfelt and I am shocked by what Nina has to go through but at the same time compelled by her honesty. Nina's voice is very similar to that of Caliope in the book Middlesex by Euginides. Definitely Recommended!

Like Reynolds' other stories-this book of the SOuth captures the hear nd soul of family, loyalties and love. Ninah's brave choices, and courage to see beyond the closed ways of a patriacharal system bring this story's best into sublime. There is more to life than Grandpa Herman's Truths.

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At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Gods Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. Try as she might, Ninah can't resist her prayer partner, James, and finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the congregation and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman understands.

I think it MIGHT have been an Oprah's book club selection--I can't recall.

Best Fiction book I have read in a long time. Here is the discription from the back of the book:

At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. But even in this isolated community where it seems nearly everything is forbidden, temtation occasionally touches the congregation...and for Ninah, temptation comes in the form of her prayer partner, James. Ninah is determined not to sin with James-so determined that she's willing to fill her shoes with shells to keep her mind on Jesus' pain. Nevertheless, she soon finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members, and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman can understand.

"At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Go'd's Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. But even in this isolated community where it seems nearly everything is forbidden, temptation occasionally touches the congregation . . . and for Ninah, temptation comes in the form of her prayer partner, James. Ninah is determined not to sin with James--so determined that she's willing to fill her shoes with shells to keep her mind on Jesus' pain. Nevertheless, she soon finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members, and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman can understand . . .

"At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. But even in this isolated community where it seems nearly everything is forbidden, temptation comes in the form of her prayer partner, James. Ninah is determined not to sin with James - so determined that she's willing to fill her shoes with shells to keep her mind on Jesus' pain. Nevertheless, she soon finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members, and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman can understand..."

"The story compels...Reynolds has an imagination that takes the reader into what feels like the world of a teen-age girl trying to make her peace with the world and with God." Highly recomend

Rapture of Canaan

ANNOTATION
This "assured, devastating" novel (Booklist), the story of a teenage girl growing up in an isolated religious community and daring to indulge a forbidden love, is "gracefully written" and "a worthy successor" to Sheri Reynolds' bestselling debut. From the author of Bitterroot Landing. A choice of the LG.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Gods Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. Try as she might, Ninah can't resist her prayer partner, James, and finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the congregation and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman understands.

Editorial Review Amazon.com
Oprah Book Club® Selection, April 1997: Members of the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God's Almighty Baptizing Wind spend their days and nights serving the Lord and waiting for the Rapture--that moment just before the Second Coming of Christ when the saved will be lifted bodily to heaven...The Rapture of Canaan is a book about miracles, and in writing it, Reynolds has performed something of a miracle herself.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and Gods Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obeys, or else. Try as she might, Ninah can't resist her prayer partner, James, and finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the congregation and God Himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God's ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman understands.

At the Church of Fire and Brimstone and God\'s Almighty Baptizing Wind, Grandpa Herman makes the rules for everyone, and everyone obey\'s, or else. But even in this isolated community where it seems nearly everything is forbidden, temptation occasionally touches the congregation...and for Ninah, temptation comes in the form of her prayer partner, James. Ninah is determined not to sin with James-so determined that she\'s willing to fill her shoes with shells to keep her mind on Jesus pain. Nevertheless, she soon finds herself pregnant. She fears the wrath of Grandpa Herman, the church members, and God himself. But the events that follow show Ninah that God\'s ways are more mysterious than even Grandpa Herman can understand...

Read All Book Reviews of "The Rapture of Canaan"