Beverly LaHaye (1929–2024)

In my unmarriedness I considered this book more of a joke than anything else. A Christian book on sex? And it's called "the act of marriage"?? Sounds pretty hokey to me. But after reading a majority of it we found that the perspective that it gave and the instruction that it offered was incredibly healthy and useful.

I decided to read this because it's a classic, and I figured it must have some worthwhile things to say. Indeed, I have to admire how groundbreaking and progressive it must've been for the time when it was written--especially in the area of female sexuality. In that regard, it still has plenty of practical relevance for married or engaged Christian couples. There were a couple of things that troubled me, though. For one, the LaHayes place so much emphasis on the importance of sexual show more satisfaction that they almost seem to focus on sexuality in isolation from the larger context of marriage. I know they were countering lots of unnecessary (and unbiblical), pent-up repression, but sometimes they ventured too far in the direction of "your sex life is only fulfilling its God-ordained purpose if it's physically mindblowing"...which I also think is very wrong.

Also, the chapter on birth control bugged me slightly. They emphatically repudiate the rhythm method, but it made me a little sad that they didn't say a word about other "natural" methods (FAM, NFP) that are widely embraced as effective today (especially in Christian circles). I didn't think there was much excuse for the 1998 revised edition to ignore these methods. Instead, they (somewhat uncritically, I thought) advocate use of the pill as if it's the only liberating option for women and couples.

That rant aside, I would recommend the book as a whole to engaged couples, but would suggest that it not be their only resource. show less

Dit boek raakt je of je nu gelovig bent of niet.
Er zijn nog maar weinig mensen die zo zwaar geloven,maar toch geloofd iedereen wel ergens in.
Na al deze delen raak je gewend hoe de personages met de bijbel omgaan en kan ik me dan ook verplaatsten in hun geloof en de vreugde die ze er in vinden.
Dit laatste deel is erg emotioneel geschreven en zal je dan ook niet snel vergeten.

This is a touching story that centers on Tory, pregnant with a Down's Syndrome child, and her husband, Barry, who knows what it takes to raise a Special Needs child. He watched his mother raise his Autistic brother. Tory and Barry have a deep discussion that brought this reader to tears.

Other vital issues are covered in this novel. Cathy keeps a secret from Steve because she fears he won't want to continue to see her if he finds out. Sylvia and Harry face a challenge in their work as show more Nicaraguan missionaries through the after effects of a hurricane. Brenda struggles in her new job with a demanding boss, while she longs to return to homeschooling.

Writing in the third person point of view enables the reader to follow the thoughts and lives of several characters as they interact with one another. Short chapters help keep the plot moving. Characters are quite believable. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.

I did not read the first book in the series, but I had no problem understanding the characters or the plot. show less