Reviewed by Linda on
The Confessions is filled with tidbits of both Søren's and Nora's lives, and I loved the priest Ballard... so amazing!
Reisz knows how to tell a story, and even the short stories that are shared in The Confessions are amazing! Of course, these would not be for those who haven't read The Original Sinners series, because nothing would make sense. However, because I have read and loved that series, it was truly a joy to spend a little time with Søren and Ballard, then with Nora and Ballard. I loved how heartfelt their confessions were, and how open they both seemed to be - at two completely different times of their lives.
The writing is beautiful and very moving, and it did feel like I was privy to just a few more secrets from two of my favorite characters. If you're a fan of these sinners, you should pick up The Confessions, it's a quick read, but still very satisfying (heh, see what I did there?) It was as if I was a fly on the wall - or an eavesdropper - to some very personal conversations, and I absolutely loved it!
Past and present, black and white, north and south, sinner and savior, all united in worship. Now if the choir would just break into a verse or two of "Sweet Child O'Mine" Father Ballard could die happy and smile all the way to Heaven.
Of course, even when Marcus wore street clothes he got looks both curious and hungry from women and men. The faces that stared at Marcus all war the same expression, said the same thing... What a waste.
Ballard required all the Jesuits he counseled to wear a cassock in his presence. Marcus had called him a sadist for that reason. Because he knew Marcus so well, Ballard took it as a compliment.
The simple life is a mirage. It's like a perfectly clean and polished wine glass. and you want that pristine chalice, but the second you reach out and pick it up, it's covered in your fingerprints. It's only clean until it's ours, then it's dirty.
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 22 March, 2016: Finished reading
- 22 March, 2016: Reviewed