Blessing is a BellaNaijarian Reading Francine Rivers’ The Masterpiece

Someone, I think it was James Baldwin, once said we read so we can live other lives. (Don’t quote me on that.) Reading exposes us to other experiences, experiences we might never know otherwise in our own little lives.

What’s even better is when, after living that other life, after enjoying that life, one gets to share it with others. That’s the idea behind A BellaNaijarian Reading, where we ask you guys to share your reading experience with us. Read our other entries here.

Blessing, an auditor who describes herself as a Christian and a mother, is a BellaNaijarian reading Francine Rivers‘ The Masterpiece.

The absence of a television while growing is what we’re thank for her love for reading. She started with Bible stories, and now she’s a huge fan of fiction, especially France Rivers, watching out for her every book.

On how she came to start reading The Masterpiece

So I started documenting on books I read in 2017. The total came to 135 in that year, and 137 in the year that followed. This year I’ve done 17, and lucky number 17 (does that exist) was Francine Rivers’ The Masterpiece.

I love fiction, and I buy books and borrow from friends, even lookout for providers who give access to many books for a monthly or annual fee. But The Masterpiece? Finding it was easy. I’m always searching for new Francine Rivers books. I’ve read most, if not all Francine Rivers books including Redeeming Love, And the Shofar Blew, The Mark of the Lion Series, A Bridge to Haven. I’d even read this one last year, but decided to read it again as it was the book of the month of a book club I belong to.

On reading The Masterpiece

I read the book in a week. I know, I’m a very fast reader. I usually even read a fiction and at least a non-fiction at the same time. It helps with my drive to read more non-fiction. Currently, I’m reading Growing up, Spiritually by Kenneth Hagin and Did God Really Say by Esther Longe (PhD).

Anyway, The Masterpiece is a Christian romance. It’s about a successful but emotionally troubled artist and his Christian personal assistant who has a past riddled with mistakes. Two people with different backgrounds and personalities but similar hurts and struggles meet, sparks fly and then they learn and grow in the grace of God. Romance without the sex scenes is always a win for me, plus there are a lot of spiritual lessons. I really loved the book.

And other books?

I read Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor and Adenike by Adenike Oyetunde before The Masterpiece and just started reading After You by Jojo Moyes (the sequel to Me Before You)

In 2018, I really enjoyed Birthing the Miraculous by Heidi Baker. It was very impactful. The Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo, whose storyline and writing I loved. I also loved Crazy Rich Asians (plus the other 2 in the trilogy) by Kevin Kwan because it was really fun.

I’d definitely recommend The Masterpiece and The Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, Adenike by Adenike Oyetunde, Stay With Me by Ayobami Adebayo, and Becoming by Michelle Obama.

****

If you want to share what you’re reading on A BellaNaijarian Reading, just send us a mail on features(at)bellanaija(dot)com and tell us about what you’re reading.