"the opposite of art" by athol dickson

About the book: When artist Sheridan Ridler disappears into the Harlem River, the victim of a hit-and-run, his heart stops, and he sees something beyond description, something he comes to call "Glory." He doesn't know what "Glory" is; he only knows he must paint it. His quest for "Glory" takes him all over the world as he tries to find it in various religions.

The world believes Ridler committed suicide, and for 25 years, Ridler does nothing to contradict that belief. But when he comes to realize he needs to apologize for his past, those in the art world are tipped off to his existence. Two people become desperate to find him--the daughter he never knew he had and the hit-and-run driver.

My take: The Opposite of Art is unlike much of today's Christian fiction. A far cry from the fluffy fiction I normally read, The Opposite of Art is, for lack of a better word, literary. Dickson is a master of magical realism, and I found myself swept into his world. And when the story ended, I sighed in supreme satisfaction. The ending is perfect, and Dickson so beautifully led up to it, though I had no idea that was where he was taking me. The Opposite of Art is truly art in words.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars. If you like reading "real" literature, you'll enjoy this book!

About the author: Athol Dickson is the publisher of the popular news website, DailyCristo.com, and the author of seven novels and the bestselling memoir, The Gospel according to Moses. His novels of suspense and magical realism have been honored with three Christy Awards and an Audie Award, and compared to the work of Octavia Butler (by Publisher's Weekly) and Flannery O'Connor (by The New York Times). He and his wife live in Southern California.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Glass Road Public Relations. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."