Real good book. Review on Acts Of Faith - Erich Segal

Erich Segal's Acts of faith is a compelling novel that revolves around two religions: Christianity and Judaism and three protagonists. The shear fact that the author has succeeded in smiting the inner cords of many readers like me, who have never seen a jew in flesh and bones and have known little or nothing about Judaism speaks volumes about the author's success, the efficacy of this book and the impact that it brings on the readers.

The protagonists of this tale are two jewish siblings Daniel and Deborah born to a jewish rabbi, a religious hardliner. Timothy Hagon, an extremely well drawn characater is the third protagonist, a devout Catholic, who reaches great eccelesiastical heights. Deborah is depicted as a brave woman, who from her early days, resented the prejudice her religion imposed against the fair sex. Her only love in life was Timothy Hagen(Tim) whose childhood days were troubled and maimed by neglect and indifference. Deborah's father exiles his daughter for the sin of liking a gentile. Deborah walks through the difficult phases of her life with great fortitude and becomes a women rabi.

Tim applies himself in religion and God to douse the sorrow of their separation without much success. Both abstain from promiscuity, not because of their commitment to religion, but out of their divine love and yearning for each other.

Daniel is an interesting character, smart and undecisive, who vacilates between the religious realms and material pleasures. Much to his father's displeasure, he renounces the rich rabbi lineage of his family and needless to say, he too is ostracized by his family. All his desperate attempts to reconcile with his father remain feckless. Daniel plays an extremely supportive role to his sister during her difficult times.

The climax, which strikes the reader so suddenly, unwinds a quirk of fate, that bring interesting turns in the lives of these protagonists.

Various religious aspects have been nicely elaborated, to make the tale interesting. Much to the author's credit, great attention has been paid to religious nuances to make the fiction look very genuine. The author also succeeds in making his readers ruminate and reflect on issues like sexual abstinence of holy men and politics in religion. Except for the climax, the story is well paced and the characters well sketched. This gripping ''must read'' from Erich Segal is his another master piece but hardly qualifies to be his best. I would be more than glad to recommend this book, but if you have'nt read Segal before, start with Doctors or Love story or Man women and child (preferably in the same order)