Rating: 
Summary: A brilliant end to a brilliant series of books
Review: 1965. Charles Ashworth is now Bishop of Starbridge with a cosy well structured life. Then his wife dies suddenly, his bad relationship with the Dean of Starbridge Cathederal takes a turn for the worse, one of his Curates gets beaten up and pornographic material is found at his home, his sons problems get worse. In all this Ashworth realises that his belief in absolute truths, laudable though they are, must never come at the expense of compassion and the humility that a clergyman, particually a Bishop, needs. I strongly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely satisfying
Review: Although this is the last book in the Starbridge series it is actually set in time before its immediate prequel, Mystical Paths. Howatch obviously had good reasons for doing this; no other book could have rounded up the series so perfectly, and certainly it was a delight to return to Chares Ashworh as narrator, who began the whole series. This time Charles is at the evening of his life. He has been the Bishop of Salisbury for some years.. Some of those nearest and dearest to him have passed away and he has to come to terms not only with the sense of loss, doubt and lack of direction, but also with his wayward Dean, Neville Ayesgarth, who still insists on going off on a tangent in affairs of the Cathedral. As in Scandalous Risks, scandal seems only around the corner and Charles has to develop very strong spiritual muscles in order to bring matters to an outcome worthy of a Christian.
I must not forget to mention that in this novel Starbridge Cathedral itself - in the other books merely a background stat - becomes a major character, and a star player during the Grande Finale The climax of this book is not only deeply moving, it is also absolutely perfect. As is the entire series.
Rating:
Summary: I'd give it six stars if I could!
Review: Everyone looking for depth, entertainment and a real spirituality boost should read this book. Everyone looking for an intellectual challenge should read this book. I just have to say it - everyone should read this book! Absolute Truths is actually the sixth book in a series, but like the other five stands fine on its own. It deals with the Church of England and in particular a few specific members of the church, in the 1960's. It deals with what is going on in society, what is going on with "regular" people and what is going on inside the Church of England and with its members. It focuses on one particular Bishop, Charles Ashworth, and shows him faults and all as a regular human being as he deals with the ups and downs in his personal, professional and spiritual life. There are terrific discussions of religious, spiritual, artistic and socio-economic ideals. This book will stretch your mind into thinking things you never thought would enter your grey matter. It's highly recommended by most of the people I know that have read it. And it's also recommended that you read the other books in this series. This book will change your life.
Rating:
Summary: It's a Wonder!
Review: I am prompted to write this in reading the review from the previous reader who started a woman's prayer group as a result. I too have read this book more than once, just finished a few days ago and am still deeply moved. Susan Howatch is a wonder! Thank you dear author for these transporting/transforming works.
Rating:
Summary: the best view we can get of absolute truths
Review: I listened to what I wanted from a work called "Absolute Truths"-I who am desperately conservative in Christianity and most things. After Charles Ashworth's triumph in "Glittering Images," and his overall positive portrayal in the books between that and this, I didn't want to find out that the truth I thought he had found, and that Howatch suggested he had found, was a lie, another of the tragic misconceptions that Howatch regularly and regretfully demolishes in her characters ("Anti-Sex Ashworth" toppled by doubt and lust stronger than his convictions-what a depressing concept). It wasn't. But in the interim between "Glittering Images" and "Absolute Truths," Ashworth's grip on the truth had shifted until he had become a false man holding a true thing, or, to put it another way, Ashworth had grown as much as he could during "Glittering Images," but he still had far to grow, and "Absolute Truths" pushed him farther. Thus Howatch, as in the rest of this Starbridge series, follows a plot sequence of strength debilitating into weakness, then supernaturally resolved into strength (or truth to lies to truth, or any number of other ways may describe this spiritual falling and rising pattern). We cannot however assume that the characters will live happily ever after, that their lives are "solved," or even that the weakness resolved in the novel will never return in later years. Howatch's cruces do not involve perfect or perfectible people, but perfect moments of grace that make the rest of lives better or in some way bearable. In a sort of backhanded optimism, Ashworth writes in the midst of his revelations, "Dimly I realised that this state of companionable hell could be classified as a form of survival." At the end of "Absolute Truths," Howatch permits Ashworth an idyllically happy old age and a platform for reminiscence, a sort of sop to him and to her for six dramatically painful novels in the series, but we must not forget that after "Glittering Images" Ashworth needed "Absolute Truths" to correct him further. After receiving revelation that revolutionised his life, he needed more revelation. As such, these novels are some of the most true-to-life of any fiction I've read portraying the Christian way of living. They give hope, not for all things to turn out alright, but for all things to "intermingle," as Ashworth insists, for good-and for there to be moments, rising above the doubt and pain, in which we may see God and absolute truths as clearly as our eyes can function. We may live a long time, decades, in the strength vouchsafed by these moments. Then we may need another, as Ashworth did.
Rating:
Summary: the best view we can get of absolute truths
Review: I listened to what I wanted from a work called "Absolute Truths"-I who am desperately conservative in Christianity and most things. After Charles Ashworth's triumph in "Glittering Images," and his overall positive portrayal in the books between that and this, I didn't want to find out that the truth I thought he had found, and that Howatch suggested he had found, was a lie, another of the tragic misconceptions that Howatch regularly and regretfully demolishes in her characters ("Anti-Sex Ashworth" toppled by doubt and lust stronger than his convictions-what a depressing concept). It wasn't. But in the interim between "Glittering Images" and "Absolute Truths," Ashworth's grip on the truth had shifted until he had become a false man holding a true thing, or, to put it another way, Ashworth had grown as much as he could during "Glittering Images," but he still had far to grow, and "Absolute Truths" pushed him farther. Thus Howatch, as in the rest of this Starbridge series, follows a plot sequence of strength debilitating into weakness, then supernaturally resolved into strength (or truth to lies to truth, or any number of other ways may describe this spiritual falling and rising pattern). We cannot however assume that the characters will live happily ever after, that their lives are "solved," or even that the weakness resolved in the novel will never return in later years. Howatch's cruces do not involve perfect or perfectible people, but perfect moments of grace that make the rest of lives better or in some way bearable. In a sort of backhanded optimism, Ashworth writes in the midst of his revelations, "Dimly I realised that this state of companionable hell could be classified as a form of survival." At the end of "Absolute Truths," Howatch permits Ashworth an idyllically happy old age and a platform for reminiscence, a sort of sop to him and to her for six dramatically painful novels in the series, but we must not forget that after "Glittering Images" Ashworth needed "Absolute Truths" to correct him further. After receiving revelation that revolutionised his life, he needed more revelation. As such, these novels are some of the most true-to-life of any fiction I've read portraying the Christian way of living. They give hope, not for all things to turn out alright, but for all things to "intermingle," as Ashworth insists, for good-and for there to be moments, rising above the doubt and pain, in which we may see God and absolute truths as clearly as our eyes can function. We may live a long time, decades, in the strength vouchsafed by these moments. Then we may need another, as Ashworth did.
Rating:
Summary: 10
Review: I simply cannot think of another author who so deftly weaves an entertaining plot line with a strong moral tone. The result
is wondrous. This is a story of a man who must grapple with modern challenges to the faith he has upheld all his life. Written with grace and elegance, this
novel accurately captures the essence of human nature. As heroes of fiction
are perenially discovering, the world and its inhabitants cannot be neatly
divided into catagories of black and white. And although this theme has been explored since the beginning of literature, no author in recent memory has been
able to do so with such an able grasp of language, pathos, and humor. This book
illuminates answers to the eternal questions of existence, God, and the
capacity of the human heart.
Rating:
Summary: When I read this book, I'm deeply moved--usually to tears!
Review: I too have read all of Susan Howatch's novels about the Church of England, including a seventh, The Wonder Worker, an unexpected and wonderful gift from the author to her fans. But it is Absolute Truths to which I keep returning at least once a year. What a beautifully and deeply moving story--of a character, Charles Ashworth, who wasn't my favorite throughout the other five novels. I always have a great cry when I read this novel and this time I've been moved to do something more--to begin a ladies prayer group. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Susan Howatch. Yes, you can read this book simply for entertainment or distraction. But it will reach deep into your soul anyway!
Rating:
Summary: More, Susan, Please!
Review: I'm moved to write my own high praise of this Starbridge novel, the last and finest. I've reread the entire series at least three times, and a couple of the books more times than that. Susan Howatch is the _most_ wonderful writer! I have read all her early Gothic novels, and her middle period epic novels, and I loved them, too. But, when she started on her Church of England, Starbridge series, she really had something profound to say. I disagree with one of the reviewers of this one, though. I'm probably in the minority about this, but I was never very fond of Loretta and rather dismayed about what happened. However, Charles deserved the very best and I like to think they were happy together. What a marvelous series!! I also loved the next two novels which sort of continued the series. Thank you, Susan Howatch. Please give us more!
Rating:
Summary: The real "ultimate prize"
Review: I, too, have been fortunate to have read all six books in this series. Each one a masterpiece. And the final chapter is Susan's crowning achievement. This is no syrupy faith in "faith". This is the real thing- faith in God. But it is not a religious book; it's a secular novel whose characters are real people- warts and all. I wonder if other readers are reminded of Margaret, Taylor and Rosamunde? What do they all have in common; they are sensitive, consummate, WOMEN authors. The best. Keep writing, sisters, and help keep us all from going over the brink!
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