The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn by Janis Hallowell
"There is so much happening that we don't get to know about," she hears herself say. "And sometimes you are just touched by grace. All I can tell you is this: You are more than you wish to die. That's all I know. Stay and see how it plays out." -Francesca Dunn
A failed prodigy and child of divorce, Francesca Dunn is an adolescent like any other, trying to find her identity and figure out her place in the world. But when a homeless man falls to his knees before her in adoration, she finds herself in the center of a storm of fervent belief and doubt.
I've decided to read one book per month instead of reading everything that I've got my hands on. So, my feels about the book:
Tranquility, what I felt after finishing the book. I'm not a big religious person, but I have faith. The Annunciation of Francesca Dunn made me somehow strengthen my faith. There are just things in this world that for you in order to see or feel, you first need to believe in it. Yes, the topic of God has been a humongous discussion not only within religions but for every single person. And I do believe in Him. My belief and faith in Him defines me. It is my basis for life. The book tells us that people believe what they want to believe and by believing it gives them hope. It gives them reason to wake up everyday and keep on believing, to keep on living. Since it is written in different POVs, we can see how these people use their beliefs in order for them to explain to themselves what are they seeing, like if miracles are true or not. Two people in the book have diseases and they believed that Francesca is the Virgin, and when she gave them her blessings they were suddenly healed. But later, it is revealed that Francesca is not pregnant with the Savior and she's just another random teenager.
To wrap it all up, faith is something not debatable. Faith is on our own. It is us,humans, who gives meaning to it. We should use it, not fight over it, to guide us in life to spread kindness.
YTNF