I have not written about them, but reviews have been coming in for "The Ordinary Sin". Here is a synopsis of recent ones since March.
JJ: 4/5 stars: Great Read About Faith and Family Dynamics : “When Sara finally goes back to home to care for [her] ill mother, she learns more about her family than she bargained for when she finds some of Angelina’s old journals. Through the journals, readers learn about Angelina’s history and “gift”. Sara discovers some family secrets that will change everything, and start to understand why her mother behaved the way she did over the years.”
KM: 5/5 stars: Realism with just a dash of the mystical. “The Ordinary Sin is a compelling, relatable narrative that takes a surprising twist into magical realism. The dual storylines, Sara’s and her mother’s, mirror each other in interesting ways . . . The writing style is not overly descriptive or showy; instead the author favors a direct and simple style that lets the narrative speak for itself. However, the excerpts from Angelina’s diaries do show a noticeable change in writing style, becoming more colorful and intense, which helps distinguish the diaries from the main narrative.”
JW: 5/5: Will not be surprised if Mario Kiefer wins a a Pulitzer Prize: “This is the 4th book in Mario Kiefer’s Ordinary series. I have read all four of them and loved each and every one of them. I love them so much that I highlight segments and use Post-It tabs throughout . . . Kiefer immediately pulls the reader inside the story so that the reader becomes an actual watcher of the events as they unwind. The depth and thought-provoking nature of his writing never cease to amaze me . . . I cannot emphasize enough how beautifully written this book and the others in the series are, how deep into the psyche Kiefer travels and the spiritual hope and unconditional love these authentic stories reveal. I believe that his writing . . . has the potential to become classic literature.”
C: 5/5: Relationships with your Mother “The Ordinary Sin by Mario Kiefer is the story of a mother and daughter. Sara comes home to Texas to take care of her devoutly religious and aging mother, Angelina, for a few days after a hospital stay . . . This is the 3rd book of Mario Kiefer’s that I have read and the characters in the previous books, Junior, Gus, Lucia are once again touched on from a different perspective . . . Kiefer’s books are so easy to read but are so complex at the same time. They are tales of real relationships that most readers can easily identify with. Family dynamics are just that; dynamic. Everyone has issues within their family . . . There is sin in all of us, but how do react to seeing it in your family? . . .This is a wonderful, heartfelt read and I highly recommend it. If you like this one, you should check out Kiefer’s other “Ordinary” books, you won’t be disappointed.”
DF: 5/5 Seven Sins: ““The Ordinary Sin” by Mario Kiefer is the story of a devoted Catholic woman named Angelina and her family. Angelina has the ability to see the shadows of sin that follow others around. She has three daughters, Gabby,Rosita, and her youngest, Sara . . Angelina throws Sara out of her house because Sara gave in to the sin that is following her around. . . Many years later, Sara finds herself back in her childhood home caring for her mother. . . Each chapter begins with a Bible verse about one of the seven sins the chapter is going to relate to. I found this unique and likable. I recommend “The Ordinary Sin” because from the beginning to the end it takes you on a journey that you will enjoy.”
MM 4/5: Raw emotion and family drama: “All families experience some level of disagreement, disappointment, and drama. The story of The Original Sin is definitely one that [sic] follows this pattern. Throughout the book, readers experience a struggling relationship between Sara and her mom, Angelina. Sara’s mother seems somewhat disappointed in Sara because she did not turn out like her sisters. However, it is Sara who comes home to take care of her mother after being in the hospital. . . I recommend this book as it taps into raw emotion, one in which every person can relate, as well as the emotional ups and downs of family.”
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