The Suncatchers

The small town of Derby, S.C., is the fictional setting for this inspirational novel, Turner's debut. Writer Perry Warren has come there to record a year in the life of a fundamentalist church. Recently separated from his wife, Perry is befriended by his new neighbors, the widowed Jewel Blanchard, her son and her eccentric stepmother Eldeen Rafferty--all of whom are members of the Church of the Open Door and are happy to include Perry in their activities. Instead of the hypocrites and bigots he expects to find, Perry discovers that these are people of simple kindness and compassion, whose unquestioning love of God includes acceptance of His will. The writer learns much about himself from his observations of the congregation and, especially, from the happy marriage of Brother Hawthorne, the minister. By putting aside his preconceptions, Perry finds his own meaningful, life-changing relationship with God. The story line here is as unsophisticated as the characters. The cultural and social center of Derby is the local Walmart; every event in the day, no matter how good or bad, is looked upon as a message from the Lord. Eldeen, in particular, is able to greet the worst news with a positive attitude; she makes Pollyanna look like a daughter of doom. C.S. Lewis proved that Christian fiction needn't be simpleminded; it's too bad that this book relies on superficial characterization and predictable cliches. (Sept.)