My bedside book is truly a fine one. I have a great affection for Howatch. Given her remarkable ability to craft a captivating plot while also maintaining a certain didacticism that doesn't come across as offensive, I will most likely read the entire series.

This book, similar to Glittering Images, revolves around the redemption of the true self from the ashes of the false self. In this book, Darrow loses his shine. However, in true Howatch style, he doesn't end up glittering, but rather he becomes more true and refined, which gives off a warm glow.

There are still elements such as sex, healings, exorcisms, and fractured relationships. So, if Glittering Images hooked you with those themes, you should definitely enjoy Glamorous Powers. It is not as chaotic or exhausting as Glittering Images, which is a refreshing change. A rating of 3 1/2 - 4 stars seems quite appropriate. :)

While reading the beginning of the book,

I found my ability to concentrate was impacted by my irritation with the conversations.

To me, the book truly began when the female character arrived in all her mystery.

In my opinion, the book up to that point seems to be a kind of background for the main character, a way of establishing his character.

Once I reached the halfway point of the book, I am finding it's a wonderful read and is hard to put down, as they say.

I am glad I persisted.

What Susan is writing about has profound religious and spiritual messages in the form of questions to ponder.

I will move forward to finish the book and then go on to explore her other works.

I love it when a writer has a wealth of books to discover.

Thank you, Susan Howatch.

I have repeatedly read Susan Howatch's Starbridge series. The reason is that it focuses on topics that are of particular interest to me, namely religion and emotional/spiritual healing.

The characters in the series, despite being dedicated to God and having leadership responsibilities within their religious system, are flawed human beings. They make mistakes and face various challenges in their lives. However, this makes them all the more worthy of our compassion and empathy.

We can see their struggles and growth, and through their experiences, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between religion and human emotions. The series also explores the idea of spiritual healing, showing how faith can help people overcome pain and find inner peace.

Overall, the Starbridge series is a thought-provoking and engaging read that offers valuable insights into the human condition and the power of religion and spirituality.

A harder read than Glittering Image, but still worth it.

In that first book, Jon Darrow is depicted as strong and wise. However, in this one, we are given a peek behind the facade and come to realize that quite often he projects an image by hypnotizing people. Usually, but not always, this is done for their own good.

His visions are indeed intriguing, yet not compelling enough to swiftly guide the reader through a labyrinth of comments about aging, especially when considered in the context of the bedroom.

Darrow's struggle between having "glamorous power" and a huge ego is explored so frequently that it starts to become tiresome.

What did I like about it? Well, there is a character who experiences spiritual growth because it truly holds significance for him. For instance, he evolves from being a sex-starved monk to a man with a good opportunity for a healthy marriage. He stumbles through various expressions of his priestly calling, always earnestly attempting to follow God's direction. Additionally, he is a man who learns to view his past villains with compassion.

This aspect of his character development adds depth and makes the story more engaging despite its flaws.

The original article seems to be rather short and perhaps lacking in detail. Here is an expanded version:

The story began with great promise. There was a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. However, as the events unfolded, something seemed to go wrong. The magic that had initially charmed everyone started to fade away.

The characters, who were once full of life and spirit, now seemed dull and lifeless. The plot, which had been so engaging at the start, became predictable and uninteresting.

The climax, which should have been the most thrilling part of the story, fell flat. There was no real sense of danger or excitement. It was as if all the energy and passion had been drained from the narrative.

In the end, the story lost its magic. It failed to leave a lasting impression on the reader. It was a disappointment, considering how much potential it had shown in the beginning.

The Best of Howatch

I find an uncanny affinity with Jonathan Darrow. His story, filled with one muddle after another, provides comfort even to the most self-unaware clergy person. This character is so complex that he reappears in the Church of England series. He is incredibly skilled and gifted, yet he often finds himself in emotionally negative situations with his family and those who seek him out.

Jonathan's journey is a captivating one. His abilities make him stand out, but his personal struggles humanize him. We see him grappling with the challenges of family relationships and the demands placed on him by others. Despite his flaws, he remains a sympathetic character, and we root for him as he tries to navigate through the chaos.

The Church of England series brings Jonathan's story to life in a vivid and engaging way. Howatch's writing allows us to step into his world and experience his joys and sorrows. Whether you are a fan of religious literature or simply enjoy a well-written character-driven story, the Best of Howatch is sure to captivate you.

I was really looking forward to reading a particular book. I thought it would be an amazing adventure. However, as I started reading, I found that I could not get into it.

The story didn't seem to grip me, and the characters didn't feel real. I tried to push through, but it just wasn't happening.

So, I decided to move on to a new book. I browsed through my collection and found one that looked interesting.

I'm hoping that this new book will be the one that captures my attention and takes me on a wonderful journey.

I'm excited to see where this new adventure will lead me.

Always the most difficult of the six books, this one delves deep into the realms of mysticism, charism, visions, and healing.

I simply can't pretend to fully understand and wrap my head around all of it.

Fortunately, there is a human story that manages to balance out the divine mystery.

Father Jon Darrow has been a monk for 17 years when he experiences a vision.

He firmly believes that it is God's call for him to leave the order and re-enter civilian life in 1940.

Jon has spent years counselling troubled men of faith, yet he has a very narrow and blinkered view of his early years and the family life he led until his wife's untimely death.

I always find that I have to persevere with this book in the series because they all construct a slightly different portrait of the central characters.

Each book adds another layer to the complex tapestry of their lives, making it a captivating and challenging read.

The combination of the spiritual and the human elements creates a unique and engaging narrative that keeps the reader hooked from beginning to end.

I recently went on an absolute binge of Susan Howatch's works and devoured this entire series. It was an incredibly enjoyable and indulgent reading experience. The stories were filled with rich characters, complex relationships, and engaging plots that kept me hooked from start to finish. Each book in the series built upon the others, creating a seamless and immersive world. Howatch's writing is so vivid and detailed that I could easily picture every scene and character in my mind. I found myself completely lost in the pages, forgetting about everything else around me. Whether it was the drama, the romance, or the mystery, there was always something to keep me interested. This series truly is a gem and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

This is the second installment in the captivating Starbridge series. I must say that I thoroughly relished reading this book. Jon Darrow, the protagonist, is an extremely spiritual and intriguing individual. However, he is not without his flaws as he is also proud.

These characteristics, when combined, make him a truly fascinating character. I found myself completely engrossed in his conversations and confessions with Francis. What made it even more interesting was how their interactions evolved as the story progressed throughout the book.

The way the author has crafted this relationship and the development of Jon Darrow's character is truly remarkable. It keeps the readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating what will happen next. I am now eagerly looking forward to the next installment in this wonderful series, hoping to uncover more of the mysteries and adventures that await.

I have no doubt that it will be just as engaging and captivating as this one.

I purchased this book during my vacation as I was in desperate need of a reading material and it was available at a really good discounted price.

At first, it was just an okay book. The beginning was extremely slow-paced, making it quite difficult for me to get engaged with the story. In fact, I wasn't truly interested in the plot until I reached past the first 200 pages. However, after that point, it became interesting enough to capture my attention and I got somewhat absorbed in it.

I felt that the story was wrapped up neatly in the end. Nevertheless, I have no intention of reading the other two books in the series.

One aspect that really bothered me about this book and was hard to get accustomed to, thus being VERY distracting, was the author's use of commas or rather the lack of them. Frequently, I had to reread a sentence that didn't seem to flow smoothly because Howatch seldom used commas to separate different ideas or interjections.

This made the reading experience a bit challenging at times.

This is a well-written character study that presents a rather complex and unlikable lead character.

To be honest, I really didn't have any affection for the protagonist from the very beginning. He was extremely arrogant, always believing that he was superior to others. What's more, he was also selfish, only caring about his own interests and desires without any consideration for those around him. Worst of all, he seemed to have no awareness of his own faults whatsoever, which made it a truly difficult read at times.

However, it has to be said that the author skillfully portrayed this irritating man. Through his endless self-searching, we can see his inner turmoil and the struggle to come to terms with himself. His public downfall was also vividly described, showing the consequences of his actions. And finally, his attempt to atone for his past mistakes added an interesting layer to his character.

In spite of the exasperation that the lead character generated in me, I still felt compelled to finish the book. I just had to know what would happen in the end, how his story would unfold. It was a strange mix of emotions, but that's what made this character study so engaging and thought-provoking.