Almost Heaven

Billy Allman is an extraordinarily ordinary man, a man who has lived through heartbreaking crises that would test the faith of any man, but then Billy Allman is much more than any man, he’s one in a million.
Chris Fabry takes his readers through the life of his incredible protagonist Billy, a simple man with a true faith, but it’s how the author tells the story that’s the true gift. He uses his whole heart to take his readers through Billy’s trials, his triumphs and his defeats and in doing so he brings out all the emotions in his readers as well, so you’ll find yourself laughing in one instant and wiping dry your tears in the next. He uses dialogue that’s easy to understand as he takes his audience on this journey. His star show more character Billy is the epitome of what it means to be a decent humble human being, one who sees beyond what his eyes tell him to what his heart tells him. And then we have the other main character Malachi, Billy’s guardian angel who’s decreed by God to watch over the life of this one man, the consequences that come of that decree and the evil that seeps in when the devil finds a tear in the armor. The other characters in the novel all play their parts very well too as they lay the foundation or build the walls of the tale. There is a love story besides Billy’s love of God and it’s sweet and innocent even though it seems the couple has to go through endless pain to find it and each other.
Any human being could love this piece of literature, you don’t have to be a person of faith to read it, but be prepared to get some faith by the time it’s over. It shows the human factor and just how resilient we are in the face of obstacles, it shows that while one man is not an island, one man can change the world or at least his little part of it. I encourage you to read this book, to meet these people and make them your friends and just maybe you’ll learn a little in the process. Chris thank you for taking me on this journey. I can’t wait to read your next one. show less

First sentence: Becky Putnam stepped onto Billy Allman's front porch, a camera strung over one shoulder and a reporter's notebook in the other hand.

This was my favorite book during the week that I read it. For those of you who shy away from Christian fiction (too preachy, too sappy, too ... whatever ....), this one will make you think twice. Yes, God is in here, and Billy has a deep reservoir of quiet faith (he has to; he goes through some very difficult and trying times), and there is an angel, a questioning angel named Malachi, who watches over Billy as well.

Malachi is called away from Billy during what we (and he) later find is a particularly rough spot in his teenage life, and he mentally battles with devils who try to work on his show more doubts. He finds himself questioning why God would call him away during a period of great crisis in the life of the one he is looking out for, and even why so many trials happen in Billy's life.

Billy loses his older and much-loved brother Harless to the war, making him an only child. On Billy's 10th birthday, he and his family go through a terrible flood, the Buffalo Creek disaster, where the dams gave out, causing "a wall of water that deposited bodies in trees". While trying to outrun the flood, they realize that their neighbor and her children have no way to get out. Alexander, Billy's father, parks the car on a hill and runs down to the neighbor's trailer, where his family sees him snatched away by flood waters while exiting with children in his arms.

Billy ends up in Dogwood, West Virginia. Billy has great electrical skill and a natural ability. He is also a musical prodigy of sorts, having managed to grab his father's mandolin while escaping the flood, although he keeps his talents under wraps until a teacher at the high school catches him playing. Another family tragedy makes him rather friendless, but one girl, Heather Blanch, who lives in a nice house and wears nice clothes, is the only one that talks to him. This rather sad, one-sided friendship circles through the novel.

After some time, and a stint playing with a traveling gospel band, Billy returns home to care for his aging mother. Here we have a finely-drawn chronicle of dementia/Alheimers, the sadness, craziness and loss that it brings.

We also find Billy working towards his dream, as he feels called to start a bluegrass radio station out of his home. With lots of begged, borrowed, inexpensive, and salvaged parts, and a whole lot of sweat, he makes his dream a reality. The audience is small, and the station doesn't have a distant range, but Billy pours himself into it, running it by himself with small stretches of sleep and only his dog for company.

With the disappearance of his friend Callie, a postal carrier who carries an unrequited torch for him, Billy uses the radio station to broadcast for help. He gets a clue from a little girl named Natalie, and what follows is a harrowing. heartbreaking, edge-of-your-seat tale.

Excellent writing, teamed with so many losses and trials, will keep you turning the pages. This is an extraordinary story about an ordinary man with exceptional gifts. I absolutely loved it.

QUOTES

I believe every life has hidden songs that hang by twin threads of music and memory.

I don't know if the death of my father triggered it, or if it was going to happen all along, but somewhere in the long trail of her DNA, something came loose like laundry from the clothesline.

Some people think that when you begin telling the stories, it's like a dam breaking and everything behind it just spills out and keeps flowing until the lake of memory is dry. It's not that way at all. It's more like poking and prodding at a backup along a creek. You have to pull at some sticks here and a jumble of leaves and trash over there and get the water flowing, and pretty soon there's something else that stick and you have to work on that awhile. show less

Billy Allman is a gentle soul. Unassuming, steadfast, loyal, and humble, he is also a sort of “hillbilly genius.” He’s a stellar musician, making the old mandolin he got from his father simply sing, and touching the hearts of all who hear his music. Additionally, from a young age he could build almost any kind of electronic or mechanical device, and now in his mid-forties he runs a radio station right out of his home. It’s as small outfit; he’s the only employee and the range isn’t much farther than the valley he calls home. But in his quiet way, Billy has made a significant contribution to the residents of Dogwood, West Virginia, and he’s had an impact far beyond his little world.

There is a pretty good story in this show more novel. I was interested in reading about a man with an unusual gift, who found success right at home. And Fabry definitely gives us that story. Unfortunately, it is nearly suffocated by heavy-handed preaching. The introduction of the angel Malachi as a sort of omniscient narrator caught me off guard. That’s my own fault for not reading more reviews before I picked up the book. Still, I felt somehow compelled by Billy’s story to continue reading. At the end I couldn’t help but think how much better this book might have been had Fabry trusted his readers to get the message without hitting us over the head with it. show less

When I review books, once in awhile, I come across a book that is so amazingly good that I just have to sit and stare at it when I'm done. Almost Heaven is one of those such books. I have Chris Fabry's first two books, Junebug and Dogwood sitting on my shelves to be read but haven't gotten to them yet, even though I've heard RAVING reviews of them both! Now, after reading Almost Heaven, I'm kicking myself for not reading Fabry's books sooner!

This is one book that I just didn't want to end. As I read Billy's story, I felt myself being pulled into the story, walking beside Billy in his little backwoods town of Dogwood, WV. Reading this story was so inspiring to me, because no matter what happened to Billy, good or bad, he stayed strong in show more his faith and lived, albeit hillbilly-ish, his entire life with a purpose for pleasing God, no matter what anyone else thought or said about him, including the angel Malachi, sent to protect him. It was certainly a reminder that every life on earth has a purpose but that it should be to serve God and stay strong in your faith. WOW! I definitely am changing my attitude about life!

One of the many things I loved about this breathtaking novel is that it is told by Chris Fabry in two points of view...Billy's and his protecting angel, Malachi. Chris did it in a way that, unlike some other authors, doesn't "bore" the reader. It was touching and heartwarming, and really opened my eyes to a lot of things. I could feel the emotions that both Billy and Malachi felt as if I was the one that Chris was writing about. It really moved me.

Please, if you've never read a Chris Fabry novel, start right now, right here with this 5,000 star worthy, 5 star book. When you read it, it's title will ring true, surrounding you in almost heaven, leaving you smiling, and probably even crying a little....I know I did. This life-changing novel will be forever on my shelf and when I can't understand why God has let something happen in my life, I'll go sit down and pull out this gripping novel and take a trip to Dogwood and meet Billy all over again. Then I won't question life so much and I'll rejoice in living my life for Him. Well done, Chris! show less

I was immediately drawn to this book because it takes place in West Virginia. Chris Fabry is a new to me author that captures the voice and flavor of our region beautifully. He writes his characters in such a way that you feel like you know them, people you would invite on your porch to sit a spell. In Almost Heaven he tells the story of Billy Allman, a man from the town of Dogwood WV.

Billy's big dream was to run a radio station, and with hard work and the help of God he accomplishes just that. He builds a radio station in his home. Things never went smoothly for Billy, with his share of heartache and tragedy, but with what I would call a child like faith he never lets life get him down and he never loses faith in God. There is also show more another side to this story, the story that is told by the guardian angel Malachi, who is sent to protect Billy throughout his life.

This is a story that will make you laugh and cry, you will also experience the power of God's love throughout this book. The author does an amazing job of taking an ordinary persons life and turning it into an extraordinary story of how everyone matters, how God will take the most humble, often ignored of his followers and do amazing things with their life.

I really enjoyed reading this story, I feel like my life is richer for having read it, I now feel compelled to read the other works by this talented author show less

Almost Heaven


Almost Heaven
Chris Fabry
2010
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
ISBN +78-1-4143-1957-5

There are books that we enjoy. And books that we read for fun. For pleasure. For information. For inspiration.

And then... there are books destined to change our lives. Books that reach deep down inside of us and change our very core. That touch our heart. That touch our soul. And we are never the same.

Such can easily be said about Almost Heaven.

First, just setting the story in my home state touched a chord in me. So few books are set accurately in the Mountain State! They often portray our simple country people as stupid and ignorant.

But Billy Allman is an exception! Fabry's character is a simple man. A simple man who loves the Lord with all show more his heart and soul!

Billy Allman could have been my neighbor. Or the man across town. Fabry is so in tune with the people of this state that I could easily put faces with each of his characters!

Billy's story moves from the terrors of his childhood through his struggles as a young man. Heartache and grief like none other, and yet like everyone we have ever known. Fabry gives us a peek into this very special, yet ordinary life, and how it touched those around him.

Billy gives his all to the Lord. Not in money, which he never had, but with his heart and soul. He loves people and offers himself up time and time again.

Is it any wonder that I picked this book up and couldn't put it down until I had finished it?

Almost Heaven gives us a unique insight into the role of the guardian angel as well. Malachi, the warrior angel, is sent to be guardian over Billy. During the one time he is ordered away from his charge, a tragic occurrence happens that forever changes the young boy, Billy.

You'll laugh through the humor found in this book. And you'll cry. Alot. [Keep a box of tissues close by!]

But most important of all, you will find messages of the love of our Lord and Saviour interspersed throughout the entire book. Always giving us hope. Reminding us that no matter what it is, God can forgive and put the past behind us. Always shedding the light of His love for us upon us.

I can give this book nothing less than five stars

and my thumbs up award.

I highly recommend this book for every household, and find it suitable for teens and older.

****DISCLOSURE: I received this book from Tyndale House Publishers for review. show less

This is the story of a plain, simple man, Billy Allman and the angel Malachi who is assigned to watch over Billy throughout his life. Though Billy's life was shaped by hard, life-changing events, he served God with all his heart and was a blessing to others. Throughout his time with Billy, Malachi comes to a deeper knowledge of and gratitude for the magnificent plans of the Almighty in a person's life.

Fabry crafts a smooth blend of everyday life as we know it with a glimpse at what goes on in the heavenly realms. He weaves in Scripture and the Gospel in a way that lays out the truth without beating the reader over the head. From the medium amount I've studied regarding angels, demons, and spiritual warfare, I think he also did a show more scripturally sound job with this aspect of the story. Though, there was one scene close to the end that I"m not sure about. Fabry brought to light the fascinating world of radio for me and also shed a new light on some of the darker aspects of life in this world. At times it wasn't an easy read, but the themes of forgiveness, redemption, and God's love resounded beautifully and made this a worthwhile read.

This is the third novel (I believe) that has its roots in the fictional town of Dogwood, West Virginia. It was time well spent revisiting the good folks in this town. I recommend this to fans of Frank Peretti's "This Present Darkness" and "Piercing the Darkness" as well as those who like books about small town life, spiritual warfare, and those looking for ways to serve God with their gifts and talents. show less