2 out of 4 stars
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To Fall From Bliss is a short fictional story about the wonders of the universe. Also known as Oblivion, Bliss is a beautiful planet home to myriads of happy angels created in pairs. Bella and Bill are one such pair. Bella, however, is not oblivious. She wonders why the planet Urantia, or Earth, is so dark and full of worries. Realizing she would never find answers on Bliss she decides to go to Urantia. While trying to stop her from leaving, Bill ends up following her to this dark planet. After their arrival, events on Urantia reveal that this path was indeed their fate, Bella and Bill are the chosen ones to defeat Daarcum, the vile agent of darkness. To do this, they also have to complete what is called the Five Stages of the Sages. Will these two little cherubs prove equal to the task?
One thing I like about this book is the plot. The author, Christopher Card, gives a good analysis of the root of most problems on earth and how these problems can be solved. He also includes some characters I found amusing for the roles they represent. An example is Mr. Edison, the sage in custody of the Accolade of Light. I know of a Thomas Edison who invented the light bulb.
Another outstanding point is the descriptive style used in this book. These detailed descriptions awaken the imagination, allowing the reader to visualize the colorful scenes in the book, from the different planets and outer space to tornadoes and black holes. I felt like I was with Bella and Bill on their perilous journey.
A sore point for me, however, is that although this story has a great plot and vivid descriptions, it is rather hurried. I found it difficult to understand how a naïve cherub full of questions suddenly has in-depth, technical answers within minutes of gazing at mundane objects like a bubbling pot of molten metal. The sages were more like puzzles that needed to be solved. In many places, this book felt more like a textbook disguised as a novel to teach young adults who would otherwise never pick up a textbook. I also think the ending was abrupt.
In addition, I found several grammar errors here and there. For these reasons, I rate this book 2 out of 4 stars. I believe this story can be rewritten to appeal to a wider audience, but right now it’s more like a book for people who are totally immersed in science. I did not really enjoy this book, but if you love science and are fascinated by physics, you might want to give it a go.
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To Fall From Bliss
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