Cynthia Rylant's, "Heavenly Village" is an idea for a spiritual journey of life after death. In this novel, Rylant has a keen way of vividly describing characters. There are two characters that Ms. Rylant created in this story that I became very interested in as I read about them. Everett, a man of 46 years, who lived a routine and somewhat mundane life as a banker on earth; finds that his new life in the Heavenly Village is full of a peace that he had never known. Then there was simple Violet Rose who had a sad beginning and then a humble ending that is filled with peace. Dear Violet suffered through her circumstance on earth and had found solace in her job as a bread-baker on earth. Luckly, she gets to keep this job in the Heavenly Village and is able to bless others through this service. I felt drawn into the characters circumstances and their place of existance. What a beautiful life in the Heavenly Village! I not only recommend this book- I insist that you read it! ( )