The Third Miracle: A Novel

By Richard Vetere

Book Overview

A statue of the Virgin Mary is crying tears of blood. A young girl has been cured of a terrible disease.When word of these wonders spreads, and the local priest attributes them to a woman named Helen Stephenson, the Cardinal asks Father Frank Moore to determine whether the events are truly signs of God's work. Following the steps that may lead to Helen's canonization, Frank begins by interviewing her daughter, Roxanna. Still angry that her mother abandoned her for the Church, Roxanna at first refuses to see Frank. But the two are inexorably drawn to one another, and as they confront their private fears and doubts, they each find the redemption they so ardently seek.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743200349
• ISBN13: 9780743200349
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Touchstone
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.8" x 4.5"

Customer Reviews

not bad

I picked up this book cause I felt like getting wrapped up in a new book that wasn't too long a book. I immediatly got wrapped up in this book and couldn't put it down. I am usually an Anne Rice type of reader and love thrillers and mysteries but this was different. I ended up finishing the book in 3 days and wished that I had preserved it a little longer. I still reread some pages that did not entirely make sense to me. There was one part that the book did not fully explain and I counted about 2 typos, no biggy. I guess I should see the movie but not sure if its the same title as the book. To break it down, its a great read reguardless if you are catholic or not. There is alot of religeous catholic talk and some of it is a side of catholicism that is overly exaggerated in this book but afterall, it is FICTION. I did fall in love with the characters tho =).

A priest in crisis and a search for faith; compelling story

This book was selected as a Library Journal Best Book of the year and eventually made into a movie starring Ed Harris (who recently starred in the much-acclaimed movie/bio of artist Jackson Pollack). I've read the book and I've seen the movie. The book has its flaws, as many reader reviewers below have noted, but I found it an extremely powerful book. Perhaps this is because my religious background is Judaism and so the Catholic church and the beliefs of its members were fresh and new to me - as they might not be to some readers. Beyond that, however, I found the story of a man's search for faith to be quite moving and believable - and his desire to find out if a true miracle had occurred or not was also compelling. No matter one's religious tradition or beliefs, the desire to find spiritual truths is a universal one and the book is worthy of being put on anyone's reading list. Now, as to the movie - Ed Harris is one of my favorite actors and I found his portrayal of a priest in crisis to be a poignant one. This movie is NOT, however, for those who are easily offended by priests who act in less than ideal ways - and who has some very human failings. Be forewarned. I'd suggest you read the book and then see the movie. The is available on VHS and you can come across pre-viewed copies fairly regularly.

Read the Book; don't see the movie

I've read this book 3 years ago. I enjoyed it because I come from the neighborhood in which it takes place. The story was charming. My heart went out to the priest and the struggle with his faith. God wins! I just saw the movie which was good but stick to the book version!

Very Well-Written Book

The first two reviews listed in this section are extremely harsh and, in my opinion, unfounded. It's interesting to note that in one review, a typo exists in the very sentence criticizing the book for typos! The Third Miracle is a novel. It was most likely not intended to be a long essay on the Roman Catholic church. I didn't find the characters cliched, and I thought the author did an excellent job providing background on church interworkings. I was drawn to this book because it appeared to offer a more human picture of priests and the feelings/issues they have to deal with. I was certainly not let down and would recommend this work to anyone who has shares this interest.