Reviews

The Lilies of the Field by William Edmund Barrett

sirhe's review against another edition

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5.0

"'Those Spanish have a way with beans,'" he said. 'Make them taste like food.'" And Homer Smith has a way with our hearts and compels us to keep reading the book as God works within him.

guacamolejoe's review against another edition

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fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.0

This was a really neat story that I just grabbed off the shelf at the library. Gonna watch the Sidney Portier movie now. 

mayswartzbwithu's review against another edition

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5.0

If you've seen the award-winning 1963 movie (Sidney Poitier won the Best Actor award for his performance as Homer Smith), you know the story. A black ex-GI, savoring his freedom by traveling the nation, stops to briefly help a group of German nuns and ends up building a chapel for them. The simple plot, though, is filled with symbolism and conflicts - faith vs. reality, freedom vs. authoritarianism, acceptance vs. racism, etc. This 127-page story is well told by William Barrett and can be finished quickly. It took me awhile only because I had more pressing professional and personal issues with which to deal. I heartily recommend "Lillies of the Field," both in book and movie formats.

novelideea's review against another edition

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emotional funny inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

harmonictempest's review against another edition

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5.0

Utterly perfect short story. Completely of its own type, reads like a fairy tale or fable but full of human wisdom and insight. Worth the hour it takes to read.

estherfilbrun's review against another edition

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5.0

I loved the story of Homer Smith—how he just happened to come across a group of four German nuns who badly need help, his coming an answer to prayer. Mother Maria Marthe put him right to work building a chapel for her, but he thinks she’s a bit crazy to ever expect him to be able to do it on his own.

Even though this story is a bit different from the books I usually read, it was a fascinating read.

terrrii's review against another edition

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inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

mgsingfiel_99's review against another edition

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inspiring lighthearted relaxing slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kangokaren's review against another edition

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4.0

Beautiful, faith-reminding novella.

kchiappone's review against another edition

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4.0

Not really into religious literature, but I really enjoyed this one--the film, the play, and the novel. Really great to teach as well.