Patrick - My take on it...

[flammie]

Hello everyone! I just joined these forums today and noticed that there hasn't been a post on this particular thread in quite a while, but i thought i would post my comments as well. I just finished reading Patrick the other day and totally loved it! To be honest, i don't/didn't know any of the back story of Patrick or his rise into sainthood, so this whole book was new material to me. I agree that the end seemed a little bit quick, and some of the parts in the middle were a little drawn out (in my opinion) i think it all came together nicely at the end. I strongly agree with Tegid that a 2nd novel continuing this story would be absolutely awesome! We can hope that someday it may happen?!?! Finally, i do not want to turn this into too much of a religious debate/discussion (even though that is mostly what Patrick was pointing towards) but i think the element that struck me the most about the whole book was the final few chapters or so. Patrick hits rock bottom in his life with all that had happened and then he gets a "calling" to return his life to the place it once was. I likened this to the parable of the prodigal son in the Holy Bible. For me, this was something that i could very much relate to in my own personal life. I have made choices and decisions that have set the course of my life a certain way, and when my choices have not worked out and i am at a low place God has been there to meet me where i am. I'm not trying to say that i am the most religious person or super spiritual, but i guess i am just saying (in my own round about way hehe) that this book kind out touched me and reminded me of these principles at a point in my life that i really needed it. If anyone has any comments or questions, i would certainly love to hear them. In the meantime, i am moving on to The Skin Map.

[CynanMachae]

I love your comments, flammie. Completely agree (oh, and welcome to the forum!).

I must respectfully disagree with those who, earlier in this discussion, said that the main problem they had with Patrick was Succat's character and how unrealistic it was. As you alluded to in your comments, Patrick is a man who tries everything within his power to be his own god, to accomplish things through his own strength. And, as the story progresses (especially as Patrick loses his family in the plague), God slowly but surely breaks his hardened heart and shows him that it is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can find strength. And if that's not realistic I don't know what is.

Further, it is accurate to St. Patrick's own description of his life. I don't necessarily think there are any drastic changes in his personality from the beginning of the book to the end, EXCEPT where God changes his heart. And that, as you said, is the point of the book.

On top of that, I think Patrick was Lawhead's best writing at work. I've said that I think he is god-like in writing first-person narrative, and the way he immerses the reader in the world that Patrick saw with his own eyes is staggering.

Just my thoughts!