Review of Finding Noel by Richard Paul Evan

Is there a secret to being a mainstay on the New York Time's bestseller list? If there is one, Richard Paul Evans must know it. After reading Finding Noel,perhaps the answer is simpler than the critics could venture to guess.

True to Life Plot

Could it be the secret is found in a good story? The critics dissect style, form, usage, and everything but what we, the reader, finds important. They will hound good authors with literary theories instead of respecting the practice of writing. In Richard Paul Evans case critics will scoff at his use of sentimentality. Finding Noel is a page-turner precisely because its emotion is near to our hearts and at the core of our understanding life. Casually it draws you in to a normal story with everyday kinds of action against difficult but possible tragedies that can exist in people's lives. The story is all too real, as we acknowledge broken homes and shattered childhoods. The beauty of the story is that crippled life histories can be mended. Imperfect individuals can overcome broken pasts. Through relying on one another the weakened can come back stronger than ever before, and hope for a brighter future than ever could be expected or imagined can be ours. Richard Paul Evans has a way of making what could be an all too common story through life's struggles into an adventure to be surmounted. Finding Noel is an inspiring story. It lifts us with its ascent of its characters to greater strengths. It gives a positive approach among the reality of life's roadblocks. The plot is crisp and unfettered by the inconsequential. It is a story you can pick up and read clear through.

Enjoyable Characters

The main character is fairly average, which may be why you find yourself rooting for him. When he meets a girl with an extraordinary background things are put in perspective for him. I like how the story unfolds following these characters in a journey that brings them closer together. I think the characters are well rounded, showing the versatility of their emotions given various experiences and circumstances. I especially like how we discover what makes up the main female character in this story, because when a person faces challenges they can either become better or worse for it; in this situation we get a glimpse of what can be rare to find in actual life, but how refreshing it is when a character excels despite of and because of the circumstances thrown her way instead of making excuses for them. Her wounds draw out compassion, not bitterness. Self-pity is discarded for concern for others, even those who could be enemies. The transfer of these charitable qualities of love our evident in all characters touched by it, but to a reasonable degree. Drama unfolds in a realistic way as initial responses are sometimes from hardened positions of typical kinds of people dealing with diverse obstacles in their own lives.

Excellent Read!

Overall, it is hard to imagine why such a well-rounded approach to overcoming real life intricacies and tragedies could be treated as nothing but sentimental. If that is the case than may we all be less critical and more sentimental. It won't be hard for me to settle on whether I like reading Richard Paul Evan's books; it will rather be difficult for me to decide which book I like best. I thought I would only read a couple of his books, but now that Finding Noel may even be more endearing to me than The Christmas Box, which I really liked a lot by the way (My second favorite Christmas story)-I decided, since it can be hard to find a good read, maybe I will continue reading his books until I find one that I don't like.