Heart of a Pagan

Rating:
Summary: A Thrilling Story
Review: Andrew Bernstein's Heart of a Pagan is the most gripping story I've read in years. The conflict between Swoop and his religious enemies builds so suspensfully to its climax, that I couldn't put the book down. Further, the impact that Swoop has on the story's crippled narrator, Duggan Claveen, was extremely moving.
Although I am a lifelong committed Christian, the way in which this book challenged my faith was not offensive; rather, it caused me to think, to wonder how I could incorporate its many insights into a life of Christian faith. For this I thank the author gratefully.
But this book should be read mainly for its exciting story. Whether religious or not, anyone who loves a gripping plot will love this well-written book.

Rating:
Summary: Heroism, pagan virtues or Christian virtues?
Review: Book review: _Heart of a Pagan_ by Andrew Bernstein

_Heart of a Pagan_ is a remarkable story that depicts the primary conflict of our time -- reason versus faith -- in the setting of a basketball court. The theme is: Heroism, specifically does being a hero require pagan virtues or Christian virtues? The plot-theme is: Paganism is introduced to a small Christian town. The plot is: A young, upstart basketball player decides to turn a losing team into a champion team.

When Swoop, the hero of the story, first shows up at Hoppo Valley State College, Iowa, declaring that he is going to take the team to the top, no one believes that it can be done -- including his girlfriend in New York City, who hero-worships him. He comes across as an empty braggart to most, including "Digs" the limping team trainer, who is a philosophy major. Over time, Swoop and "Digs" develop a friendship that is both broad in values and deep in thought, centering on their mutual respect for Pagan heroism as depicted in Homer's "Iliad" and "The Odyssey" and as encouraged in the works of Aristotle.

There are several drawbacks to the novel. Primarily, if the reader is not familiar with all of the references to great pagan literature or writings, then the full impact of the character of "Digs" and Swoop may be difficult to grasp, though their characterization is done well. Secondarily, if the reader is not a basketball fan, then the details of the games may not come across as inspiring; however, if one liked the movies "Chariots of Fire" and "Rocky" then one will love this story.

The story climaxes in four or five different sets of thematic dramas occurring during the final game of the novel, which took great skill at plot development to come across clearly.

I highly recommend reading it, as the story is inspiring.

To the TOP!

Rating:
Summary: The Most Important Part of Heart of a Pagan is Special
Review: Friends of mine told me that this was a very good story and that they couldn't put it down. One woman said she found it so compelling that she read it in one sitting. Having read it, I now see why. The core of the book is the relationship between the hero -- a superstar athlete -- and the narrator -- a brilliant philosophy student but crippled trainer of the basketball team. To put it briefly, the relationship between them is powerful, moving and very special.
There may be a few problems with this book, but its strong points so outweigh them that I consider it a must read. You will be inspired, and may never look at your life the same way again.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable, sports-action packed, inspiring fiction
Review: I just finished Dr. Andrew Bernstein's thoroughly enjoyable *Heart of a Pagan*. I see the theme of the book as hero- and personal achievement-worship vs. traditional altruistic religion. This is presented through the heroic character of Swoop, a basketball player of incredible skill who arrives in a little college-town in Iowa called Hoppo Valley. There he begins to affect the success of the basketball team he joins and also the moral and religious character of the town he moved into. Of course, he encounters numerous difficult obstacles along the way. Basketball fans will enjoy the detailed play-by-play accounts of Swoop's games. The book is also filled with inspiring substories of various other characters. During the climactic penultimate chapter you will be unable to put the book down. The book is told from the perpective of Duggan Claveen a crippled philosophy student at Hoppo Valley College whose life is completely transformed by his encounter with Swoop. Highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational Book
Review: This book is amazing. It reveals that people aren't getting what they are pursuing only because they either don't try hard enough, or because they refuse to face reality. I've already heard someone say that this book was unrealistic in that the goals achieved by the main characters were "too" great, but that is only because they haven't understood the point; try your very hardest in pursuing important goals, and you will be rewarded most phenomenally. True, the book is "only a story" and it portrays the ideal, but that is not reason to put the book away as a mere fairy tale. It is reason to get off your ass and do something with yourself and make the ideal a reality, whether others like it or not, whether others say you can do it or not, whether others think you're right or not.

Nice work Dr. Bernstein. I was very inspired.

Rating:
Summary: An exaltation of man
Review: To keep this short and sweet, the story of this book is comparable to Rand novels. There is never a dull moment, and Dr. Bernsteins ability to derive emotion from a reader is only paralleled by Rand as well. The characters in this book seem as real as Dagny and Roark, and are inspirational in every step of their lives. This book is just like Dr. Bernstein himself in that he will make you laugh with jubilation, and cry with happiness in his stories of heroism.

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Hero and Story
Review: To start with, the book has flaws, such as too much narration instead of dramatization, as well as others.
But these are minor compared to the book's strong points. I grew up in Dallas, the daughter of a man who was fanatical about the Cowboys, and I don't even like sports, but this book transcends that. Swoop is much more than an athlete; he is a man on a mission who experiences profound meaning in life. He inspires the narrator, the members of the Swoop Troop and, ultimately, the reader.
I have an M.A. in Literature, am a former high school English teacher, and a lover of Ayn Rand's novels, but reading this book made me appreciate fully for the first time my lack of physical fitness. I am exercising now, developing my body, as well as my mind, just like Digs and Swoop.
Swoop's intoxiaction with life is exhilarating. It makes you realize how much is possible to human beings. It makes me wish I were still teaching English, because this is a book that could reach students and change their lives.
I would give it 4 1/2 stars if that were an option, reserving 5 stars only for Ayn Rand, Hugo, Dostoyevsky and the elite writers. This is a book you should read immediately and savor perpetually. Its combination of riveting story and positive theme makes it unique among contemporary novels.

Rating:
Summary: Odysseus in Iowa
Review: Yes, Swoop rules, but would never rule you!

This is a great novel, whose first hero is Swoop, a supremely gifted basketball player; but the book is really about being the hero of our own lives - and the work it takes to maintain the gifts we have been given and to attain the ones we have not. I would say to anyone that if you value your life, read this book, but if you only read this review, do not forget, and hold as holy, the words from the novel's second hero, who has learned from Swoop: "Never -- not for anything or anyone --betray the things you love".