See review of Glittering Images.

Glittering Images is a remarkable work that has caught the attention of many.

The review delves into the various aspects of this piece, highlighting its unique features and qualities.

It explores how the author has managed to create a vivid and engaging world through the use of descriptive language and imaginative storytelling.

The characters in Glittering Images are brought to life, each with their own distinct personalities and motives.

The plot is filled with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, eager to discover what will happen next.

Overall, the review of Glittering Images provides valuable insights into this captivating work, making it a must-read for anyone interested in literature.

This is my favourite so far of the Starbridge Chronicles.

The narrator, Venetia, has such a strong voice that it immediately grabs the reader's attention. She tells the story with passion and conviction, making it impossible to put the book down.

The story rattles along at a brisk pace, filled with excitement and adventure. There are twists and turns at every corner, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Ultimately, it's a tragic story of misplaced love. The main character, Venetia, falls in love with the wrong person, and her life is forever changed. The destruction wrought on her young life and soul is heart-wrenching to read about.

Despite the tragedy, there is also hope and redemption in the story. Venetia learns from her mistakes and finds the strength to move on.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good adventure story with a touch of romance and tragedy. It will keep you entertained from beginning to end.

Exceptional.

This word holds a special charm and significance. It represents something that is out of the ordinary, something that stands above the rest. An exceptional person possesses unique qualities and abilities that set them apart from the crowd. They have a remarkable talent, an unwavering determination, or an extraordinary intellect.

Exceptional can also describe an event or a situation that is truly remarkable. It could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a breakthrough discovery, or a moment of great achievement. These exceptional moments leave a lasting impression and inspire us to reach for the extraordinary in our own lives.

In a world where mediocrity often prevails, being exceptional is a rare and precious thing. It requires hard work, dedication, and a willingness to take risks. But the rewards of being exceptional are well worth the effort. Exceptional people have the power to make a difference, to change the world, and to leave a lasting legacy.

So, let us all strive to be exceptional in our own ways. Let us embrace our unique qualities and abilities, and use them to make a positive impact on the world around us. Because in the end, it is the exceptional among us who will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.

Third Reading Summary: Venetia Flaxton attempts to find meaning in her life and instead finds a disastrous romance.

One of the major gripes I have with the Starbridge series is its primary focus on clergy healing and restoration, with not enough attention given to the harm clergy can often inflict. Scandalous Risks both exemplifies this complaint and offers an exception to the idea. As I mentioned in my post on Ultimate Prizes, this is part of a single story arc that commences with the earlier book and largely reaches a conclusion in Scandalous Risks, yet has threads that persist into Mystical Paths, Absolute Truths, and the spinoff trilogy beginning with Wonder Worker.

In writing about the first three books, I mostly steered clear of the plot details. However, this is a book for which I believe I must discuss the plot. If you don't wish to know anything about the plot, you should stop reading here.

Venetia Flaxton is the youngest daughter of Lord Flaxton, a local aristocrat in the Starbridge diocese. Lord Flaxton is an atheist but strongly supports the Church of England as a cultural institution for its upholding of English culture. He is also one of Stephen Aysgarth's closest friends, with Stephen being the main character of Ultimate Prizes. Stephen is old enough to be Venetia's father. He first meets her when Venetia is nine and he is the Archdeacon of Starbridge. At that time, Stephen is a widower with five children.

The book is framed as Venetia retelling the story from 1988, but the tale she tells is set in 1963 when she is 23, unmarried, and directionless. Stephen has been the Dean (head pastor) of the Starbridge Cathedral for six years. The story unfolds as a kind of romantic tragedy. It's evident from the start that Venetia and Stephen will ultimately have a covert affair that will shatter Venetia and harm Stephen.

All the books in the series have a theoretical thread and usually a specific book or author that weaves through the narrative. In this case, it's Honest to God by Bishop John Robinson. That book critiques traditional Christian theology and introduces moral and ethical relativism to a popular English-speaking audience. Aysgarth, as the series' liberal character, wholeheartedly embraces Honest to God. As they draw closer to having an affair, Stephen attempts to justify it using the "Love Ethic" of Honest to God to make the affair more palatable. Stephen and Venetia are attracted to each other, but as the story progresses, they are drawn not just to each other as individuals but because the other can fulfill a need within themselves. Stephen is unaware of the sexual relationship between his mentor, Alex Jardine, and Lyle Christie (she eventually marries Charles Ashworth at the end of the first book). There is a parallelism in Venetia and Stephen's relationship that plays out as Lyle attempts to mentor Venetia.

Part of my frustration with the character of Stephen, as presented in the series, is that it's the liberals who try to justify their illicit affairs theologically. In contrast, the other characters tend to have short-term affairs. All affairs are problematic for clergy and their roles as clergy. Still, as much as Howatch endeavors to illustrate the three-part thread of the Church of England (low church, broad church, Anglo-Catholic or conservative, liberal and mystical, depending on your perspective), I think Howatch fails to maintain those threads evenly.

As a reader, Venetia is harmed more than almost any other main character in the series. And it's not just short-term harm but a level of harm that persists through decades of the series. In my view, one of the issues is historical. In the book, if she had been born about three decades later, she might have been called to ordination. There is definitely a hint in that direction. (Women were first ordained in 1994 in the Church of England.) As with the other books, this one helps set the stage for both the fifth and sixth books because Nick, in book five, continues the story as he becomes Venetia's "Talisman," and Lyle's attempt to assist Venetia leads her to a prayer ministry that is central to the story of book six.

I want to affirm the series' orientation towards grace. Howatch shows how we are all imperfect and how God can redeem our imperfections. But I think it sometimes goes too far and minimizes harm, especially to women. There are instances where the series acknowledges that God is not the cause of sin and doesn't condone or desire people to do evil. But there are also times when that seems less clear. In Mystical Paths, towards the end of the book, there is this dialogue:

“You’ll be a much better priest now than you would have been if all this hadn’t happened. You’ll be a real priest, not a replica-priest, a man experienced in horror and suffering, not a mere boy who’s spent his life wrapped in cotton wool.”

“So you’re saying that out of all that tragedy and death—”

“—will come life and truth. Your life, Nicholas, and your truth. And in your life and in your truth, Christian’s tragedy will be redeemed.”

Nicholas is lamenting his behavior, and in some ways, the affirmation of God redeeming everything can be misinterpreted as specifically permitting sin. Contextually, Nicholas is being told not to wallow in guilt, which is important. But there is a balance where guilt should be appropriately recognized, and an attempt should be made to make things right, even if not all things can be fully rectified.

_________
Short review: This is the fourth in the Church of England Series by Susan Howatch. These books can be read independently and/or out of order, but you'll gain much more from them if you read them all and in sequence. As I'm writing this, I've completed all six. Scandalous Risks is the only one of the six narrated by a woman. It begins approximately 15 years after the conclusion of Ultimate Prizes. Ultimate Prizes was about Neville and his desire to marry Dido, which didn't turn out well, but he did find a semblance of purpose in his marriage and some stability in his faith and calling. However, Neville didn't stop drinking and didn't stop taking the'scandalous risks'. So in this book, Venetia, a young socialite seeking purpose, meaning, and God, happens to encounter Neville. He is one of her father's best friends (and the father of one of her best friends). But she starts to view him in a new light. They fall in love and have an affair. So this book is about the pain (and joys) of the affair.

If I had to briefly describe the focus of the series, it's about how sin separates us from God and detracts from our ability to fulfill our calling as God intends. I've read that others thought this was one of the weaker books in the series. But I think it's more that this is the least hopeful book in the series. Because it doesn't end with redemption in the same way that the others do. Book five starts essentially right at the end of this book. But it didn't bring this book to a satisfying conclusion either. My hope is that Venetia is still in the spin-off series that begins with High Fliers.

My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/scandalous-risks/

As with the other books in the series, while I liked them before, I liked them even more on the second reading.

About here (this book), I began to grow bored with Susan Howatch's formulaic love triangles. These triangles often involve married ministers who find themselves in a "terrible dilemma" regarding some moral issue that is actually quite straightforward. From this perspective, the Starbridge series becomes very predictable. However, it must be said that Susan Howatch is an excellent storyteller. Her ability to weave a narrative and bring the characters to life is truly remarkable. Despite the predictability of the love triangles, it is still interesting to gain an insight into life in the Church of England. The details she provides about the clergy, their relationships, and the inner workings of the church add depth and authenticity to the story. Overall, while the formulaic nature of the love triangles may be a drawback, Howatch's storytelling skills and the interesting look at the C of E make the Starbridge series worth reading.

My second time reading this, but now within the context of the series.

It offers such a captivating exploration of the way we deceive ourselves.

I truly didn't have any affection for Neville Aysgarth in the previous book, Ultimate Prizes, and I disliked him even more in this one. Ultimate Prizes was from his point of view, so although I didn't like him, I could understand his perspective. This book is told from Venetia's POV, and Aysgarth's self-deception harms everyone around him. Venetia's perspective doesn't entirely make sense either, but it's clear how deeply involved she is in the illicit relationship.

What makes this series so interesting is how charming the secondary characters seem, while the main characters are rather unpleasant. And in the next book, we'll discover that the secondary characters also have many of their own flaws.

This is the series that I hate to love. I don't really like most of the characters, but the examination of the motivations in relationships is fascinating.

From my review on Bookcrossing: December 05, 2005.

Intense!

Some random thoughts:

From the moment I started reading this book, I doubted I would finish it. But, having nothing better to do, I persevered... and then I was hooked. The characters suddenly came to life, and I found myself enthralled by their downward spiral as they continued to take scandalous risks. I became frustrated as they became trapped in a situation they couldn't escape.

Although there is one character, through her conversations and letters, I gained a fascinating insight into the perceptions each character has of the others in the book. Each character has its own strengths and weaknesses; though I was sometimes saddened to learn of the weaknesses of characters I admired.

Though there is despair in this book, there is also the possibility of redemption.

There's a lot of theology in this book. Half of the book is a discussion of a theological book written in the 60s, when this book is set.

How is it that everyone in this book is so intelligent, clever, and witty?

An excellent book. However, I didn't rate it too highly because I doubt I would reread such an emotionally draining book.

(One question though: What on earth is Pre-Raphaelite hair? And how does every single character in this book notice it from a distance?)

A study was conducted on a married clergyman's extra-marital relationship with a parishioner.

This relationship had a significant impact, causing havoc in many aspects. It not only shattered the trust within the marriage but also had a profound effect on the parish community.

The process of returning to healing was slow and painful. It required the clergyman to face his actions, take responsibility, and seek forgiveness from his wife and the parish.

Both the clergyman and his wife had to work through their emotions, rebuild trust, and learn to communicate effectively again.

The parish also had to come to terms with the situation and find a way to move forward.

This study serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and commitment in relationships, especially for those in positions of leadership.

It also highlights the need for support and forgiveness during the healing process.

By understanding the consequences of such actions and the steps required for healing, we can all learn from this experience and strive to build stronger, more resilient relationships.

This is the fourth installment in Howatch's captivating series centered around the Church of England. Or perhaps more accurately, it delves into the lives of the individuals who comprise the Church of England.

Venetia, the narrator, is a young socialite of the 1960s, embarking on a quest to discover meaning, purpose, and even God. Instead, she encounters Neville, who was a prominent character in the previous book and is now the dean of the Cathedral. Neville is significantly older than Venetia, yet he becomes irresistibly attractive to her, and vice versa. Despite being a married man, he takes the scandalous risk and becomes deeply involved with Venetia.

This book offers profound insights into the risks we undertake and how we deceive ourselves into believing that such risks are not only necessary but even redemptive. I was truly excited to have a female protagonist in this book who, quite frankly, makes a compelling case for female clergy. There is an abundance to reflect upon, and Howatch does not disappoint with her masterful command of theology and church history. I eagerly anticipate Book 5!!!

I found this woman's situation to be rather tedious. The way the story developed solely through the exchange of letters didn't appeal to me at all.

In all of the excellent Starbridge series that I have read so far, this particular installment was my least favorite.

The lack of direct action and the reliance on written communication made it feel somewhat stagnant and unengaging.

I prefer stories that have more dynamic plot progressions and a greater sense of movement.

While the concept of using letters to tell a story can be interesting in some cases, it just didn't work for me in this instance.

I was left feeling disappointed and longing for a more exciting and captivating narrative.

Perhaps if the author had incorporated other elements or added more depth to the characters, it might have made a difference.

However, as it stands, this book failed to live up to the high standards set by the rest of the Starbridge series.

I will still look forward to reading future installments, hoping that they will recapture the magic and excitement that I have come to expect from this otherwise wonderful series.

The book I started reading recently was extremely boring. I could barely get past the first chapter. The writing style was dry and unengaging, lacking any sort of excitement or intrigue. The characters seemed flat and one-dimensional, and I had no real interest in what was going to happen to them. The plot, if there even was one, was slow to develop and didn't seem to have any real direction. I found myself constantly losing focus and having to re-read paragraphs just to try and understand what was going on. I'm not sure if I'm going to bother continuing with this book or just move on to something else. It's a shame because I was really looking forward to reading it, but so far it has been a huge disappointment.

This statement implies that although it may not be the most powerful or outstanding in the series, it still manages to hold the audience's attention firmly.

Perhaps it lacks some of the qualities that make other installments stand out, but there is something about it that keeps viewers engaged.

It could be the intriguing plot twists, the well-developed characters, or the unique atmosphere that draws people in.

Even without being the strongest, it has its own charm and appeal that makes it a worthwhile watch.

Sometimes, a story doesn't have to be perfect or the best to be enjoyable.

It can have its flaws and still manage to grip the audience and leave a lasting impression.

This shows that there are many different factors that contribute to the success of a series, and not all of them are related to being the strongest or most impressive.

This series is constructed around an English cathedral community.

Each book within the series zeroes in on one of the key players.

What makes it particularly interesting is that all of the players are present in every single book.

As a result, the reader has the opportunity to witness the same events from a variety of different perspectives.

This unique approach adds a layer of depth and complexity to the story that is truly engrossing.

In my opinion (IMO), this series is Howatch's best work to date.

The way she weaves together the different storylines and characters is masterful, and it keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or just looking for a good read, this series is definitely worth checking out.