Review: An excellent, well-written story that stays with you.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 13, 2012
I  finished "Fallen Men", by Brian O'Hare yesterday, and really liked it.Even though it talks about three Catholic Priests, I don't believe it can be simply defined as "religious fiction". It's way more than that.It's more a study of how faith can both save or destroy you. Of how morality and honesty are relative concepts depending on one's point of view or interests at the moment. It's also a study of how depression can lead to unthinkable decisions.Brian O'Hare has talent to describe people and situations without boring the reader. He can also make you enter the characters' thoughts so you are deeply into the situation with them. And he creates real people, defected, sometimes weak, sometimes strong people. Priests, lay people... they are all real in a way you can relate to them here. And about Father McGennity... Boy, I know a Father really similar to him. Well, the truth is, Fathers are men, and men come in all sizes and kinds; O'Hare presented it greatly in this story.I thought the way the forbidden relationship was presented was both tender and disturbing, which was perfect  for the story. The gray areas that can surround even a Father's life were very well described, even with Father Dan, and his black or white view of the world.As a Catholic myself, I must say that I can relate much more to Father Dan than to Father Ray. What Ray did was inexcusable to me and even though the surroundings (internal and external) might help explain in some level his actions, I still believe his mission as a priest was exactly to avoid temptations at all costs. In my Parish we have amazing examples of Fathers so I may be too biased in my opinion... But I still believe he should have been better. I would prefer at all choices to be publicly accused as Father Dan, of following the Church's Laws to the end than as Ray.I may sound too harsh, but the priesthood path is not for the faint of heart. It means an entire life of dedication to others and the Church. The Parish is your family, and God must be in your thoughts at all moments. Sure Priests sin too, but to an extent... Mortal sins in a Father shake the Church's core. I can understand some falls, but Ray fell too much for me.You see, O'Hare's great skills as a writer are still making me think so passionately about Ray's story... All the moral dilemmas stay with you long after finishing the reading. And that's what makes me say this book is a must read. It doesn't matter your religion or even if you believe in anything... Fallen Men is an excellent, well-written story that raises great questions and gives a lot of food for thought.