Review : I haven’t read any of Erich Segal’s works ( I am an old-fashioned ’’classic’’ lover’’) and ’’Acts of Faith’’ is the first work by this innovative writer that I have laid my hands on. I am not a believer of religion but my faith in God is staunch . Infact, I do not think I understand any religion besides humanity.
Acts of Faith uses religion as the backdrop to weave the tale of three protagonists- Timothy Hogan, Deborah Luria and Daniel Luria.Timothy Hogan is a Christian while Deborah and Daniel are the children of the respected Rabbi Luria and they are Jews.The story deals with one forbidden love between Timothy and Deborah and one forbidden life which Daniel tries to lead.
Timothy Hogan is an orphan, a paradoxical combination of soft sensitivity and angry strength who is brought up by his unconcerned uncle and aunt but is naturally drawn towards God and goes on to become a pious priest and a true God’s man.
Deborah Luria defies the Jew tradation decided for a woman and revolts against everything to go on to become a female Rabbi but cannot get over her soul-igniting love and desire for Timothy Hogan.Her first step of rebellion begins after her orthodox father separates her from Timothy.They do meet again only to be separated again.
Daniel Luria is destined to break his father’s heart because its not the life of piety and holiness that he wants to lead. He takes a taste of the material world only to realise later that God was always his calling and that’s his destiny.
If I have to point the best thing about this novel, then it is this- SENSITIVITY. ’’Acts Of Faith’’ is extremely sensitive in nature, infact, it tends to tug at your heart-strings at places. Timothy and Deborah’s undying love and yearning for each other, Daniel’s dilemma actually affect you.This book is not about Judaism or Christianity or about conflicts of religions....it’s about relationships and the most basic virtue of humanity, the virtue of love which crosses every barrier, which doesn’t care what religion you come from and which refuses to go even if the laws of the world do not allow it to flourish.
After you have read the book, the character that stays with you is that of the passionate and sadly sensitive Timothy Hogan. He is the strongest and the best-etched character in the novel and his characterization makes him alive.Deborah is also well-sketched but doesn’t shape as well as Timothy. Daniel is a ’’lost sheep’’ and he is adequate as a confused soul and as a witness to Timothy and Deborah’s love story.Rabbi Luria comes across as a towering figure who was right in his own way but grossly wrong if studied objectively.Rest of the characters are also well-sketched and play their roles well.The conclusion of the novel is sensitively heartening and the otherwise tragic novel ends on a positive note.
’’ACTS OF FAITH’’ is a story from the heart and for the heart.It doesn’t scale any great literary heights but ithe reader can connect well with it on the human level. It is not a great book and has its share of faults but the story is beautiful and anyone with a heart will like it, if not love it that is.Give it a try!