The Fisherman: A Novel - Softcover

Larry Huntsperger

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0800758447 ISBN 13: 9780800758448

Publisher: Revell, 2003

Synopsis

Few New Testament characters are as fascinating as Simon Barjona, the man called Peter-a reluctant disciple who changed the face of Christianity. For more than twenty-five years, author and pastor Larry Huntsperger has spent hundreds of hours studying New Testament documents in preparation for writing this fictional first-person account of the life of this enigmatic disciple.
The result is a novel that faithfully follows Scripture while offering a powerful, fresh narration of the story of one of Christianity's greatest men. In the fast-paced chapters of The Fisherman, readers will relive Peter's initial resistance to the pull he feels toward Jesus and his ministry. They'll walk with Peter alongside Jesus through the events of the Gospels and catch intimate glimpses of the disciples' personalities. They'll even "feel" the dust on the roads as familiar stories are transformed into original, spellbinding accounts from Peter's life.
This fascinating novel will help readers "to see the Master as a man. For, if we cannot see him correctly as man, we have no hope of understanding him correctly as our God."

About this title

About the Author

Larry Huntsperger and his wife, Sandee, live in Alaska where he writes and pastors at Peninsula Bible Fellowship. He is a graduate of Seattle Pacific University and has studied with Francis A. Schaeffer at the L'Abri Fellowship in Switzerland.

From the Back Cover

He was a fisherman. An ordinary man providing for his family and dreaming of how to expand his business.

Until Jesus entered his life.

Here, in a spellbinding first-person account of the life of Simon Peter, Larry Huntsperger shows the gritty spiritual journey of one of Christianity's greatest men. When Peter met Jesus, his life turned upside down as he left everything to follow the Savior. Through Peter's eyes, you'll experience the miracles Jesus performed. You'll laugh as Peter contemplates launching a thriving business with Jesus' ability to turn water into wine. You'll agonize with Peter as he stands on Golgotha and witnesses the crucifixion of the one he loves the most. Watch the events of the Gospels unfold as Peter makes choices that will change the world for all time.

Reviews

Retelling Bible stories through the eyes of a well-known character from scripture is a time-honored tradition in faith-based novels, but although this book offers a serviceable overview of the life of Jesus, it doesn't always make for compelling fiction. Peter, a "grumpy" disciple of Jesus with small dreams and lots of bluster, narrates the tale in the first person, speaking earnestly to contemporary readers with the understanding that they already know how the events will unfold. Through Peter's running conversations with himself, Jesus, his brothers and the reader, Huntsperger fleshes out the original Gospel accounts and analyzes the motivations of Jesus and his followers. "We were just ordinary people who somehow ended up standing next to the most extraordinary man who ever lived," muses Peter. The author uses plenty of scripture throughout the novel (even to the point of having Peter quote himself!), but the paragraphs can be long and preachy. In one of the best and most honest moments, Peter witnesses Jesus turning water into wine and plots a get-rich scheme. Less impressive scenes include humor that falls flat, slow pacing and forced or unnatural dialogue. The writing feels almost like revival oratory, with consecutive sentences using the same phrases repeatedly to drive the points home. Readers who are familiar with the life of Jesus will find few fresh insights or information; those unfamiliar with the Gospels may enjoy having events strung together as one continuous story.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Revell
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0800758447
• ISBN 13: 9780800758448
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256