The Abbey - by James Martin (Paperback)

About the Book

A novel about how God works in our lives.

A divorced single mother, Anne struggles to make sense of her son's death. A former architect, Mark works as a handyman and wonders how his life got off track. The abbot of the Abbey of Sts. Philip and James, Father Paul sometimes questions how to live a life that secludes him from the world. At a

Book Synopsis

A grieving widow, a wandering young carpenter, and a monastery hiding in plain sight--New York Times bestselling author James Martin's debut novel proves that grace often arrives disguised as an ordinary day.

Set in a quiet suburban neighborhood next to an old monastery, The Abbey follows Anne, a mother still reeling from an unspeakable loss, and Mark, her tenant and a restless young architect searching for direction. As their lives intertwine with the monks next door, both discover that healing--and God--can show up in the most unexpected places.

The novel weaves together:

• A tender, page-turning story of grief, doubt, and unexpected grace
• Warm, witty characters readers instantly recognize and root for
• Gentle wisdom from monastic life, woven into everyday struggles
• Real questions about suffering, faith, and where God is when life falls apart
• A modern parable in the tradition of classic philosophical fiction--accessible, moving, and never preachy

This novel is for anyone who has ever wondered whether God is truly present in life's hardest moments, The Abbey offers a beautifully human answer. Martin brings the same warmth, humor, and spiritual insight that made his nonfiction beloved to a fictional story readers won't want to put down.

This book is for fans of contemporary Christian and inspirational fiction, book clubs seeking meaningful discussion, readers recovering from loss, and anyone drawn to stories of quiet spiritual awakening. If you loved Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist or Wm. Paul Young's The Shack, The Abbey belongs on your shelf--a story of discovery that trusts fiction to do what sermons sometimes can't: open a door to grace.

From the Back Cover

A novel about how God works in our lives.

A divorced single mother, Anne struggles to make sense of her son's death. A former architect, Mark works as a handyman and wonders how his life got off track. The abbot of the Abbey of Sts. Philip and James, Father Paul sometimes questions how to live a life that secludes him from the world. At a Pennsylvania abbey, this unlikely trio will discover the answers they seek--a miracle of hope and healing that bears witness to the surprising power of God to bring healing and wholeness to our lives.

Review Quotes

"A sheer delight--funny, engaging, deep and moving." - Ron Hansen, author of Mariette in Ecstasy

"More than a vivid portrait of a grieving mother; this tender novel shows us how, with simple words and acts, we ordinary, flawed human beings can help each other find our way to God." - Kathleen Norris, author of The Cloister Walk

With wit, wisdom and elegant prose, Martin has written a powerfully moving novel about (among other things) how an unbeliever can journey from suffering into spiritual practice. How it happens in an eyeblink. Another triumph from one of our best writers working like a master in a new form. - Mary Karr, author of Lit

With this beautiful, touching and utterly believable novel, seekers will be gently invited to encounter the divine and believers be encouraged to deepen their relationships with God. I loved this book and loved the characters! - Richard Rohr, author of Everything Belongs

"What is clear after finishing The Abbey, which this reviewer devoured in one sitting, is just how much Martin truly believes in the often repeated mantra of his nonfiction works, "With God all things are possible"... A splendid novel." - St. Anthony's Messenger

"This is a wonderful story of love, loss and finding one's place in religion lived out. I think we can all find ourselves in one of these characters, relating to their struggles. It's always the mark of a good book when you are sad for it to end...inspirational reading." - The Catholic Newbie

"[A] warmly comforting tale...[Father Martin's] real strength is his pastoral sensibility-his compassion shines through the character of Father Paul. Like his fellow Jesuit Pope Francis, Martin is a persuasive evangelizer for a God, and church, of mercy." - Publishers Weekly

"Touching, funny and beautiful. A top pick!" - RT Book Reviews

"Compassionate, engaging...with tender wit and wisdom, Martin offers an in-depth glimpse into committed religious life and how lay people can practice a devout faith amid doubt, anger and questioning." - Shelf Awareness

"This is a wonderful story of love, loss and finding one's place in religion lived out. . . . Inspirational reading." - The Catholic Newbie

"Martin applies his trademark charm, wit, and intelligence. . . . The result is a delightful and thought-provoking allegory of faith in the modern world." - BookMark from WPSU

"Martin's debut novel might be compared to Paulo Coehlo's popular fiction...Martin's great achievement here is that the shows how [his characters are] able to have a mystical experience of God as a result of imaginative contemplation, and he succeeds in making it seem entirely natural." - The Tablet

"Father Martin's richly written tale gives us insight into the workings of a modern monastery and shows how God uses our worries, anger and doubts to help bring us to Him." - Simple Grace Magazine

"Martin brings his characteristic ease of personality into both the characters and the prose, quickly bringing readers comfortably into the story. He handles the most delicate and painful themes with a pastoral compassion that invites readers to find hope in their own struggles." - The Huffington Post

"Unputdownable" - Brendan Walsh, The Tablet

"A new and improved version of those 18th-century philosophical tales such as Voltaire's Candide or Dr. Johnson's Rasselas. . . . What makes it an improvement is that the characters are not literary types, but recognizable persons." - Philly Inquirer