The CFBA tour presents Travis Thrasher’s newest novel Isolation, touted by some as fitting comfortably into the horror genre of Christian fiction. Like many other authors of today, he prefers the category of “an author who is a Christian” instead of the simpler Christian author/writer. His eleventh novel Ghostwriter will be released in the Spring of 2009.
I like the cover of the book, but I don’t think the designer did the house in the story justice because from the description, it’s fairly spectacular and not entirely spooky until the Miller family settles into the hugeness of the various wings.
The story tells us about a missionary family of four on hiatus from Papua, New Guinea. Jim and Stephanie Miller have lost the desire to pursue God. Their weakened faith has created a chasm between them which their sharp eight year old son Zachary grasps better than they do. Their young daughter Ashley is basically a non-entity in the story. To get away from the burn out Jim feels and under the premise of spending more time with his family while he writes a book, he locates an isolated mansion built by a recluse which is now being used to house missionaries. An older couple currently resides there. The house is magnificent in size, up in the mountains of North Carolina, and seems to be the perfect getaway until Stephanie has premonitions about a present evil.
Isolation is my first Travis Thrasher book, and because of the smaller size of others that he’s written, they would not be my first choices. No question he is a storyteller, and I can tell he particularly enjoys this genre. The problem for me in this story: I could not relate to this family except for their son Zachary. He was clearly the most mature one.
Let me clarify something. I understand Christians facing doubts, both insignificant and of disquieting magnitude. I understand Christians who face emotional and spiritual challenges with fear and torment. Some seasons in our lives as Christians cause excruciating journeys through sadness, loss, deception, suffering, pain, panic, and nearly every other debilitating ache known to man. I have been down some of those difficult roads in my walk with Jesus. Having said that, I cannot relate to this couple who have served as missionaries in Papua, New Guinea and who return defeated, resentful, and resistant to things of God. For me, it seemed like they were ill-prepared for the mission field, naïve in their preparation and expectancies. I’ve known too many missionaries, young and old, who went to the field knowing they might only be called to lay the groundwork for those who would follow them and who were well aware of the kinds of spiritual battles which lay ahead.
Therefore, some of this couple’s responses to the occurrences in the field during their hiatus both in their thought patterns and associated actions were far too immature to feel realistic. This couple seesaws in their commitment to God more than a kid on a playground toy. Their inner anger and interaction with one another while demonstrating the isolation they’re feeling reminds me of a brand new Christian who’s never been discipled in the ways the enemy of our souls operates. Then suddenly we’ll see one or the other of these two interject a thought or action which is expected of a seasoned believer.
While Zach displays the maturity his parents lack, just before the family leaves for the house, he gets a terrifying phone call. His actions at the house in light of this activity don’t quite ring true in spite of his being an adventurous young boy with confidence in God.
One thing the parents prove by their actions and thoughts is how self-centered and unreasonable we become when our faith wavers. The focus squares itself on our private needs and wants and eliminates the concept that God works through even the worst of circumstances to produce His purpose.
On page 47 of the novel, we hear the clichéd thoughts of Jim Miller which sound so much like the “emergent church” dialogue for which I have little admiration.
Those of you who know me via this blog also know I don’t trash authors here. Just because I didn’t care for the protagonists in this story doesn’t mean Isolation won’t entertain those who are looking for a scary tale of spooky houses and evil lurking in the shadows and where you least expect to find it. In the end the adults remember who they are.
God, I pray you would continue to lead Travis in all your ways and supply the stories you have for him to tell. Meet his needs as only you can do and let him experience your love on a daily basis. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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