Not my favorite read.

I don't think the bad language is necessary at all. It really detracts from the overall quality of the book. I keep wondering why I am still reading it.

But, as you read more, you do get intrigued with the characters. Their stories and personalities start to draw you in.

However, it seems a little too descriptive. The author goes into so much detail that it almost becomes boring.

There are times when I feel like skimming through the pages just to get to the next interesting part.

Overall, it's an okay read, but not one that I would highly recommend.

I think there are other books out there that are much more engaging and well-written.

Maybe if the author had toned down the bad language and focused more on the plot and character development, it would have been a better book.

As it is, it's just an average read that I'll probably forget about once I'm done with it.

Susan Howatch is a remarkable writer. When you read her works, you can sense that she is a writer who is dedicated to telling the truth, even within the realm of fiction.

She has a lot to convey through her books. You often find yourself underlining passages because you have learned valuable lessons from them and want to revisit them to keep that knowledge fresh in your mind.

Her characters are relatable. They are people who are striving to live effectively, seeking deeper meaning in life, whether they are on a spiritual journey or not. You won't encounter any absurd or far-fetched scenarios like serial killers lurking in ventilation ducts in her stories.

Susan Howatch has a profound understanding of people and life. While no one can claim to understand everything completely, she knows enough to make you sit up and take notice, and say, "Yeah, that's right. That's how it is."

In "The Wonder Worker," she writes, "We all have our religions...We all have our ways of grappling with reality in order to make sense of our world." Her characters indeed struggle to make sense of their worlds. Nicholas Darrow, a clergyman, discovers that he has been blessed with the gift of healing. However, this gift does not prevent him from dealing with the temptations of the flesh when Alice Fletcher, a young and deeply neurotic woman, enters Darrow's church and is both awed by the spiritual power on display and by Darrow himself.

The plot twists and deepens, but, as in all of Howatch's novels, it never fails to educate, edify, and provide deep insights into the human experience. She writes, "I tell her she should take more time to think over this magnificently generous decision, but she says she's got no doubts because she's sure it's God's will." She continues in the next paragraph, "It always makes me very nervous when people talk like that. Reminds me of the patients at Barwick, the ones with all manner of inflated delusions."

Have you ever wondered about celibacy? Having considered becoming a priest, I certainly have. How about these real-world observations from Howatch: "Repression means refusing to think of sex, locking up one's sex-drive and always feeling exhausted--not to mention neurotic--because it takes such an enormous amount of mental energy to convince yourself nobody has any genitals. Sublimation means facing up to sex, standing eyeball to eyeball with one's sex-drive and, by the grace of God, figuring out how to expend all that energy creatively and productively in some way outside the bedroom."

The story could have had a stronger resolution, but since this is the first book of a trilogy, that is understandable. This may not be the best book I've read by Howatch, but it is, like all her books, reliably edifying without sacrificing entertainment value. One thing Howatch never holds back on is the truth. She writes, "You must face the truth and accept it in order to overcome this damage and be healed. Always pursue the unvarnished truth..."

Overall, Susan Howatch's works are a must-read for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and engaging literature that offers deep insights into the human condition.

Probably more of a 3.5 but quite an intriguing story. It is a long book, yet one that managed to keep my attention firmly throughout. The plot unfolds in a series of captivating events that draw the reader in and make them eager to discover what lies ahead. The characters are well-developed, each with their own unique personalities and motives. The author has done a great job of creating a vivid and immersive world that feels real and engaging. Despite its length, the book never feels拖沓 or boring. There are always new twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Overall, it is a very enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for an interesting and engaging story.

I really loved this one. It was an engaging and captivating read that held my attention from start to finish. The story had a unique charm that drew me in and made me eager to see what would happen next.

I'll probably read more by the author. Based on this particular work, I have a great deal of confidence in the author's abilities. I'm looking forward to exploring more of their literary creations and seeing what other wonderful stories they have to offer.

It was a little Jesusy at points, but that didn't detract from the overall quality of the book. In fact, it added an interesting layer to the narrative. The characters were deep and well done, each with their own distinct personalities and motives. Their development throughout the story was believable and made me care about what happened to them.

It has been quite a while since I've delved into a Susan Howatch novel. She's a writer I chanced upon by accident in a BORDERS bookstore long ago, several years before the Kindle era. I purchased one of her novels from her Church of England series - Absolute Truths. This novel explored the inner turmoil of a respected, high-ranking (albeit controversial) Anglican priest after the unexpected death in 1965 of his beloved wife, who had been his rock and ever-faithful helpmate. I read and relished it. It was a novel with real, relatable characters in a story that was both captivating and fascinating. And so, I went on to read the other novels in the Church of England series. Howatch proved herself to be a writer with a sure hand for telling rich, well-crafted stories with complex characters whose own tales made for rewarding reading.

A Question of Integrity showcases Howatch in top form. It revolves around a healing center in the City of London - the Church of St. Benet's - led by an Anglican priest (Nicholas Darrow, who featured prominently in one of the novels of the Church of England series) known for his psychic gifts and ability to assist its parishioners and anyone else who entered the center in need of help.

One rainy day in March 1988, Alice Fletcher, a plain, shy, dumpy woman in her 30s who has been caring for a dying, cantankerous aunt who helped raise her, comes to London during her lunch break. She is stressed, frustrated, and in despair after a pointless job interview earlier that day with a personnel officer she described as behaving like "a sadist." Alice's life has been one of unremitting struggle, feeling unloved by the wider world. Only the support and guidance of her aunt - a woman with granite views of life and people, which fueled her with a resoluteness that defined her character and approach to living - who took on Alice after her parents abandoned her as a child, gave Alice a sense of purpose. Indeed, it was her aunt who helped get Alice into a culinary school, where she proved to be an apt pupil and graduated to become a superb cook.

The rain poured down in sheets. Alice, seeking a place to offer her some temporary relief from the elements, stepped into a church and, in the process, "stumbled into a situation that will revolutionize her life. She discovers [in the Church of St. Benet] a modern but mysterious healing centre and is inexorably drawn into the lives of the people who work there."

The novel, as structured by Howatch, is tightly woven, consisting of stories told not only by Alice but also by Nicholas Darrow, his wife (who appears glamorous and successful from building a thriving business and reveals her growing frustration and unhappiness from a 20-year marriage in which she has been neglected by a husband wholly dedicated to his priestly vocation), and the Reverend Lewis Hall, an "irascible traditionalist" [a widower in his late 60s] working with Nicholas at the healing center who is a bit of a misogynist and also a homophobe at odds with the liberal spirit then sweeping through the Church of England. Added to all this is Francie, a woman working at the healing center as a 'Befriender' (i.e. a layperson employed by the Church who is qualified and highly capable of meeting the needs of people who enter Reverend Darrow's church seeking a way to sort out their lives and address their spiritual needs). Though on the surface Francie shows herself to be a superb Befriender, she is later revealed as someone with deep, unresolved needs and desires that causes a major upheaval affecting Darrow and the healing center itself throughout most of 1988.

I absolutely adored this novel, whose reading for me was like watching a captivating PBS TV mystery drama from the UK. Frankly, why A Question of Integrity was never, to the best of my knowledge, adapted for either the small or large screen, is beyond comprehension.

The original article is not provided, so I can't rewrite and expand it specifically. However, I can give you a general example to show you how it might be done.

Let's assume the original article is: "The cat is sitting on the mat. It looks very cute."

The rewritten and expanded version could be:

The adorable cat is peacefully sitting on the soft mat.

It has a sleek fur coat that glistens in the light.

Its big, round eyes are full of curiosity and playfulness.

As it sits there, it seems to be enjoying the moment, completely relaxed.

The cat's cute appearance is simply irresistible, and it brings a smile to anyone who sees it.

Whether it's the way it twitches its tail or the gentle purring sound it makes, everything about this cat is charming.

It truly is a delightful sight to behold.

Please provide the original article so that I can rewrite and expand it according to your specific requirements.

Engrossing from page one.

It’s the first of a trilogy and I see I read part 2 eight years ago and only gave it 3 ⭐️. Understandable now that I’ve read the first.

I think I’ll reread #2. It’ll probably make more sense now!

I really enjoy Howatch’s religious books (though I’m not religious at all

This book is rather dull when compared to other works by Howatch.

While some of her other novels are filled with complex characters, intense emotions, and thrilling storylines, this particular one seems to lack that certain spark.

The plot development is slow-paced, and it takes a while for the story to really get going.

The characters, although well-described, don't seem to have the same depth and complexity as those in her other books.

As a result, it's difficult to become fully invested in their lives and experiences.

However, it's important to note that everyone's reading preferences are different, and some may still enjoy this book for its own unique qualities.

But for those who are used to the excitement and drama of Howatch's other novels, this one may come as a bit of a disappointment.

I read most of Howatch's books decades ago.

However, during a recent visit to the library, I discovered two that I had somehow overlooked.

Howatch has once again worked her magic in this thick volume.

Her characters are vivid and her understanding of the intricacies of human nature, as well as the concepts of good and evil, is profound.

I am glad to encounter Nicholas Darrow once more.

I really missed that guy!

It's been a long time since I delved into Howatch's world, and this rediscovery has been a wonderful treat.

The story unfolds with a captivating plot that keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Howatch's writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy for me to lose myself in the story.

I can't wait to see what other surprises this book has in store for me.

This was a summer re-read for me.

I have a deep affection for all of Howatch's Starbridge series. In this particular installment, it delves into the intricate details of the break-up of Anglican priest Nick Darrow's marriage. Alongside this central theme, it also explores the issues that arise when healing energies go awry.

The novel is told in 5 parts, through 4 different first-person accounts. Normally, I would despise such a narrative structure, especially when one of the accounts is in the present tense. However, Howatch manages to pull it off with great success. The result is a novel that reads like an intelligent mystery, with the added layer of church-related character insecurities intertwined.

It keeps the reader engaged from start to finish, as they try to piece together the various perspectives and understand the complex web of relationships and events. Howatch's writing is masterful, creating a vivid and immersive world that draws the reader in and makes them reluctant to put the book down.

Overall, this is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that is well worth a read, whether it's for the first time or as a re-read.

Why are these books so good?

Well, the reason lies in my personal penchant for vintage trashy novels and religious themes.

The denouement of these books had a distinct touch of Scooby-Doo, but with a unique twist. It was as if Scooby and the gang had transformed into a team of groovy exorcists.

To be honest, I wasn't entirely certain about the ending. It left me with a bit of a mixed feeling.

However, despite this, the books were absolute page-turners. I found myself unable to put them down, constantly eager to see what would happen next.

The combination of the engaging storylines, the elements of mystery and the unexpected twists made these books truly captivating.

They managed to draw me in and keep me hooked from start to finish, making them a great read for anyone with a similar interest in these particular genres.

I've always had a great enjoyment for Howatch's works.

Her books frequently change narrators, which allows you to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the characters. Just like many of her other stories, this particular one involves individuals within the Church of England.

Alice, a gourmet chef, is hired by a Rectory that is led by a charismatic priest, renowned as a Wonder Worker.

We are then drawn into the stories of Alice, Nicholas (the Wonder Worker), his wife Rosalind, Lewis, an older priest, and Stacy, a younger priest who seems unable to "fit in."

The ending of this story is truly quite astonishing, leaving readers with a sense of shock and wonder.

It makes you reflect on the complex relationships and the unexpected turns that life can take within the context of the Church and the lives of these diverse characters.

Howatch's ability to create such engaging and multi-faceted stories is truly remarkable.