Spiritual writer, Judith Ingram (Forgiving Day by Day), has just published a review of my new novel, Bishop Myriel: In His Own Words. I am pleased to share it with you here:
REVIEW by Judith
Ingram
A Stunning Achievement!
Alfred J. Garrotto
has composed a novel that ushers Victor Hugo’s fictional character, Bishop
Myriel, out from the shadows of the Les
Misérables stage play to the front-and-center position to which Hugo’s famous
novel assigns him. Hugo hints in his novel that the bishop was writing a volume
on Christian duty but left it unfinished. Garrotto steps in to cleverly
elaborate on the bishop’s detailed Scriptural outline—thoughtfully provided by
Hugo himself—and composes a work of theological reflections as if penned in the
good bishop’s own hand.
Calling himself
the ghostwriter in this tri-level authorship he shares with Myriel and Hugo,
Garrotto quickly immerses his readers in the voice and heart of Bishop Myriel
through a series of autobiographical vignettes. The charming formality of the
bishop’s narrative and pitch-perfect style befitting an early
nineteenth-century writer render the ghostwriter invisible and magically
transport the reader to the very feet of this humble priest, wise beyond his
years and devoted to Christian service.
After his
introductory vignettes, the bishop presents his “completed” work, Duty. While the stories charm and endear
the bishop to his readers, Duty stuns
with its brilliant, incisive treatment of fundamental truths of Scripture and
their application. The bishop laments his own shortcomings, yet his love for
Christ and passion for giving himself to others in service outweigh his flaws.
The reader is left to wonder whose soul is truly revealed by these deep wells
of compassion, understanding, and purity of heart—is it Myriel’s, Hugo’s, or
the ghostwriter’s? The bishop might answer that all such beauty must ultimately
spring from the Christ Himself, to whom all three authors give first honor.
* * *
Bishop Myriel is now available for presale in e-book format. The paperback edition is due out in early to mid March of this year.
I hope all you Les Miz fans out there will enjoy this most unusual book. Unusual how? It is a fictional story whose protagonist is a fictional character created by the master fiction writer Victor Hugo.
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1003393
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bishop-myriel-alfred-j-garrotto/1136384449?ean=2940163463299
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