The Looking Glass

By: Richard Paul Evans

Narrated by: Barrett Whitener

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

When I started to write The Looking Glass, I intended to create a story about the healing power of hope and love. But as this story developed, a message began to emerge that I had not foreseen, a message about the distorted mirror in which we view ourselves, binding ourselves with shackles of self-doubt and fear. The Looking Glass is aptly named, for it is about seeing the reality of ourselves: to see a true reflection of who we are.

It is the story of Hunter Bell, a Presbyterian minister turned gambler, and the founder of a gold camp named Bethel. (Which you may remember was Esther's hometown in The Locket.) He is running from the bitter memories of his past, his ministry, and ultimately, from his God.

Venturing into a blizzard to chase away wolves drawn close to his cabin by hunger, Hunter finds a beautiful young woman in the snow, wounded by the wolves and half dead with the cold. Her name is Quaye McGandley, and she is an Irish woman sold into marital slavery to a brutal husband who then brought her to America against her will. As Hunter nurses her back to health, he finds that his tender ministrations to Quaye have opened his heart to his greatest fear - that he might love again.

It is my hope that you, and those with whom you share my audiobook, might through its message better see the divinity within yourself and the reality of who you are worthy of love, gentleness, and grace.

©2010 Richard Paul Evans (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"This 'story of redemption' will undoubtedly find its audience." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Evans whips up the sort of dramatic intensity he has perfected, and which his legions of fans seem to love." ( Booklist)

can't go wrong

you really can't go wrong with a Richard Paul Evans book he never disappoints! the best!

Surprising

I Enjoy Richard Paul Evans Books. This one was set in a different time and place and hooks you from the beginning.

refreshing

I love his books. deeply touching...and does not violate my spiritual foundation and my principals!

Good tale, but violence victims didn't ring true

Richard Paul Evans comes through again using his best writing skill describing physical environments with broad strokes and the minutae of body movement, smells, and weather. The problem I have is how his central character, his alter-ego, reacts to loss of true love, yet his heroines are emotionally and physically brutalized but never lose their strength of character. They don't ever have a single PTS moment, and can even be self-righteous if love isn't delivered true.
I get it faith in God above can carry you through the darkest times, but no true believer ever, ever can be emotionally crippled, unless you're a young widower or a mother whose child died. Any other of lives brutality is just a speed bump with no after affects. And this book has some pretty violent stuff. I fast-forwarded through pages of aggressively mean prose because the senseless acts were too heavy handed and the details of cruelty move the plot line very little.

loved it

kept my interest. the Ending was suprising. Interesting that it took place in Utah! Great!

SO DEPRESSION RICHARD PAUL EVANS

Would you try another book from Richard Paul Evans and/or Barrett Whitener?

I love Richard Paul Evan's books, but this book was so depression I had to stop listening to it. I got several chpt in, but couldn't stomach the pain anymore. It's about the old west, but good gawd Richard, that was horrible. Never would I dream I would say that about one of his books.

What was most disappointing about Richard Paul Evans’s story?

DEPRESSING!!

What does Barrett Whitener bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He was good.

What character would you cut from The Looking Glass?

The whole damn book!

Any additional comments?

Just an extremely depressing story. I kept thinking it would get to something good hearted like Richard always does, but I could hang in there.