Safely Home by Randy Alcorn

Genre: Christian Fiction, General


Book Summary: I don't terribly often reread books, but considering this one is in my top-ten, and the fact that I've been needing some eternal perspective on suffering, I decided to pick this one up again. I was not disappointed. This book follows two friends, old college roommates who are worlds apart. Ben Fielding is an American Harvard graduate and businessman, on a fast track to be CEO of a successful international company. His roommate and friend, Li Quan (pronounced Chuan, the book helpfully explains), is also a brilliant Harvard graduate, but has moved back to his homeland of China and lives a humble existence as a locksmith apprentice and fights for his life and family in the underground Church. When Ben travels to China to do research for his company, he stays with Quan, and his life is never the same again.

Indulgent Book Talk: This book never fails to bring me to tears multiple times in a reading. The writing isn't terribly remarkable (though definitely skilled and readable), nor is it groundbreaking in style, and therefore probably would not find its way into any sort of literature canon (except my own personal one), but the themes, story, and characters are heart-wrenching. Though a work of fiction, Alcorn did research, and many of the events of the novel are pieces of real things that happened, in one way or another. With a focus on and a poignant portrayal of the persecuted Christian church, specifically in China, but also throughout the world, no Christian can read this novel without catching a glimpse of God's heart for His Bride, especially those who suffer joyfully for the sake of His name. When I first read it, it was the book that developed in me a heart for the persecuted church (a passion probably second only to my heart for the unborn), and this second rereading still had a strong effect. Our Western suffering is so small in comparison to what others go through, and we have to struggle, I think, to follow the charge of Hebrews 13:3 to "remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you are also in the body." This book, for me at least, helps me do that.

Glorifying Elements: This book has almost everything going for it: great characters, Biblical themes and even teaching (especially teaching that is helpfully apologetic in nature). It has a very real conversion story in it that doesn't strike the reader as contrived, nor is the character's life suddenly easy; it in fact gets harder. This is a theme that is sadly missing from many Christian novels, that coming to Christ can make life more difficult, not easier, so it's refreshing to see it so expertly portrayed in this novel.

Worldly Elements: There are none, really. There is violence portrayed, but it is not graphic or overdone, just realistic for the subject matter. Randy Alcorn speculates about Heaven and what it is like, which has Biblical basis.No doubt though Alcorn would readily admit the portrayal has to be taken with a grain of salt, since the Bible is not super clear on many of the specifics of Heaven.

General Recommendation: If the fact that this book easily makes it to my list of top ten isn't enough for you, I don't know what more I could say would be! Except maybe the knowledge that if you purchase the book, all royalties go to efforts to help the persecuted church around the world.