We Can Bury the Past, But It Never Really Dies

Dear Listener,

I am often asked where my stories come from. I'm not always sure. Sometimes a story just comes to me in waves (or trickles) of inspiration and oftentimes it's not until the very end of the book that I see where my characters are taking me. This is such a tale.

Grace is the story of a young runaway girl and the boy who hides her from a frightening world too large and unfathomable for him to comprehend. It is also about two brothers and the love that binds them together through difficult times.

In some ways this is the most autobiographical of all my novels. When I was eight years old my father lost his job, and we sold our home in beautiful and aptly named Arcadia, California, to move to a poor neighborhood in Utah and into a rundown home like the one I describe in the story. I have no fond memories of that time. Not one. I wanted to go home.

I've found my home now, and it has nothing to do with the place where I live, and everything to do with the family I love.

Sincerely,

Richard Paul Evans

Customer Rating:
Summary: Not my favorite
Comment: "Grace" was an easy read, and it kept my interest, but Richard Paul Evans seemed to have a "dark" side to his writing with this book, especially since I thought it was a Christmas themed book. I understand it's about abuse, too, and a different time and place than where we are at now. I think if the ending were different, it would have made the book a lot more special to me.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story that will touch your heart
Comment: I actually finished this a couple of weeks ago and am sadly now just catching up on reviews. I have to start out by saying that as much as I was anticipating this release by Richard Paul Evans, I was not in the least bit disappointed. This is an author who has such a beautiful way with story telling and bringing words to life. Each year, at the holiday season, the excitement of knowing Mr. Evans will be gracing readers with a new tale, is one of the many high points of the season, for me.

Grace was a bit different, than previous works that I have read by this author, with it's underlying tragedy of unspoken child abuse. The setting is during the Cuban Missile Crisis when the troubles of other's is not openly discussed. Secrets are often hidden and life is a playacting of "all is well".

It is during this time that a young 14 year old boy, Eric, finds a classmate, Grace, rummaging around in the dumpster, where he works at an after school job. Eric kindly brings Grace in and gives her food. After she tells him that she is not going home, he decides that a safe place for her to "hide-out" would be his tree house at home. It is far back from the house and never visited by adults. With slight hesitation, Grace agrees and goes home with Eric.

During the short time that Grace and Eric are together, they form the deepest of bonds. The story of Grace's home life slowly surfaces and Eric is left with a tortured decision.

Grace is a novel of strong friendship, first love, strength and tragedy. Once I opened up this heart gripping book, I was unable to put it down. The emotions that ran through me, as I read, were those of laughter, hope, endurance, sadness, anger and horror. As I turned the final page, my heart ached for the life of this young girl. Grace will make a permanent home on my bookshelf and will be a book that I recommend with my highest enthusiasm. Though centered around the holiday season, Grace would easily be an excellent story any time of the year. Even now, thinking back upon the story, my heart aches and vivid memories rush within my mind.

This is a work of art, not easily forgotten.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Grace: A Novel
Comment: My wife read this in one sitting. She has all of Richard Evans' books and loves all of them.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: no holiday cheer
Comment: I have enjoyed Evan's Christmas novellas for several years now, depending on them for some holiday inspiration. Even though I knew that a plot based on Anderson's "Little Match Girl" was not going to end well, this book was a disappointment. I never did identify closely with Eric--Evans says that this was the most autobiographical of his books, but I felt outside of the characters, more of a watcher than in his other works. Evans did a great job of describing the world of the middle 60s, but it lacked intensity.

Probably 3.5 stars would more closely reflect my opinion--and I look forward to Evan's next offering. I know what he can do to touch my heart.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Ditto with Barb avid reader
Comment: I agree exactly with Barb avid reader's review. Very succiently put.
I too Picked this up hoping for a light uplifting read. The story was sweet, the ending horrible. It made me wish I never read it. Loved The Last Promise. Bought the hard bound edition.

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