The Oath

A 12-Year-Old Mental Image!

I was introduced to this book when I was 11, and it made a huge first impression on me. It was a book on tape (the one read by Joseph Campanella who's voice can be spooky sometimes.) My family and I were on vacation and the book scared me! Actually, it still scares me. Frank Peretti is very good at making your skin crawl, but he doesn't write just to make you scared. He has points that he wants to get across that are artfully done. And they're done in such a way that one of his mental pictures has stuck in my head for the past 12 years, since I first heard it.

(This may be a spoiler if you haven't read it yet!!!) The whole deal with the black ooze has stuck with me, believe it or not. Over the years, I know I've felt like those people who had black slime oozing all over themselves, yet they didn't know or care. And whenever I feel like I "don't care" about anything, I always think of Steve Benson, slapping his chest to make that spot hurt so that he'll care. Because, really, we're ALL human (and if you're not, I'd like to meet you!) and we all mess up and make mistakes and do things we know we shouldn't. And God knows that too. God sees that. But what He cares about most is our hearts, and as long as we care about what we're doing, and we care about Him, well, I think that makes Him glad.

I woke up today actually, and even though it's been a few years since I last read this book, I woke up today feeling like I just don't care about anything and with a "yes I know I haven't been acting very much like Jesus lately" sigh. And again, that image of Steve making himself care came to my head. Yes I have been acting very, well, not nice, lately. But the fact that I don't care is what concerns me. So I had/have to get my butt in gear every time I feel that way and work my way out of it.

And, this may not be a book review in that I've talked about what's in the book, but the way it's impacted me should count for something. This is a book that does have all the elements (love, action, danger, suspense) mixed with a good plot and a skilled writer who really believes what he's writing. One of my all time favorites! But, you know, my mom read it and heard the book on tape too, and it didn't do anything for her, other than be entertaining. So this may just be me :)

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

amazing masterpiece

Frank is an amazing writer, the Oath is one of his best works. He portrays how sin can emcompass ones life in an amazing way. I couldn't put the book down and since i read it for the first time, I keep rereading it hoping to get even more spiritual messages. Everyone NEEDS to read this book.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommend Frank Peretti's Books!!

I can't wait to read this book since I read "The Darkness, Piercing Of the Darkness, The House" from Frank Peretti. These are books once you open the pages you can't put it down. Love the author great writer.
Defently these books are more for adults then teens.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

a reviewer

To be honest, it was so hard for me not to give this book five stars. But, to avoid being biased, I felt that four stars would be appropriate. 'The Oath' was indeed a good novel but I didn't feel as inspired or captivated in the novel like I did in 'Piercing the Darkness' and 'This Present Darkness'. That was one of the reasons I felt it would have been biased giving this novel five stars. Now, to the more credentials of this book. 'The Oath' had wonderful, realistic characterization that a reader could almost feel that he was the character or could somehow relate to him. That is Perreti's strongpoint. The only problem was that in one point in the book, I felt that Steve Benson was a maniac to even think about going to Charlie's Tavern to talk with Harold Bly when he should have known that Harold's over-protective henchmen would be closeby. I wish that there could have been a way for me to mentally tell Steve to not do it (thus forcing the point that I could relate to him). Perreti also has an astounding way of descripting. One description I particularly liked was something like this, 'The sky rippled as if there was a rat moving underneath it.' Though that is not word-for-word, but you get the point. The book's summary and diction was convincing and Perreti had a very good way of almost parabolically setting the mood of sin as if it were a black ooze that streamed from the heart. He interviewed with someone saying, 'Sin is black and oozes from our hearts it smells, it hurts, and someday it will come to get it's pay,' at this he meant that the dragon was the reaper of sinners. A very strong point. That's what I love about Christian novels. Usually they have a message behind the book, and in this case, 'The Oath' had a wonderful message. It is a testimony that admonishes sin, patronizes the One True God and makes you feel that you're glad you're on the good side. I applaud Perreti for this outstanding novel and I hope that the message would be subtleless and easily percieved to other readers. Thank you and grow strong in your faiths. Follow Jesus. Trust God.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Awesome!

This is by far my favorite book from Frank Peretti. The plot moves fast, and I couldn't put it down! If you're a fan of Peretti, you'll love this story.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Only 11

Im only 11 and this book was kind of scary at night when I read. Its not much compared to the hunger games or harry potter but in all it was pretty good. I wouldnt recommend it to younger people like me but not very many people my age read as big or as much books as I do. I wanted to give it a four and a half but thats not possible. I gave it a four because some of the parts you just think the writer put in to make more pages because they are kind of boring. But ya it was preety good.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Captivating!

Could not put this down, just had to finish it once i started it! Your going to love it!!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Amazing!

Absolutely captivating. My favorite of all time.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Captivating

Have loved this book for a long time and each time i read it even knowing what happens next I cant put it down! A must read!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Awesome

My favorite Frank Peretti book by far!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

My Favorite Book of All Time!!!

I read this several years ago and still think about it. The story was scary to me and I would not read it at night, but couldn't wait to pick it back up the next day! The story itself is great but the greater meaning behind it hits everybody where they are, right now. I have friends who swap books all the time, and who don't usually read Christian novels. They all Loved the book and were surprised that I read it since it was quite scary at times. This book changed forever my view of sin and the way it 'wiggles' into our lives only to invade it and destroy it. But it's not a 'preachy' book. The story is full of love and compassion in the midst of evil. Your heart will hurt for the ones who get caught up and lost in the deception. About to read Illusion. I am hoping it will become my second favorite book as First Place is already taken!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Holy Cow

This book is great

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended

You won't want to put this book down until the last page. I enjoyed the book so much that I decided to read the Visitation next.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very highly recommended

This man writes incredible stories. Keeps you wondering to the end

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Suspenseful but disappointing

I found The Oath to be very interesting and suspensful in the beginning. I am a christian who reads both christian and non- christian books. I was very intrigued by the mystery of the town and its past but once the christian aspect was introduced the story was so predictable it just lost its appeal. If you go into the book knowing its a biblical message then you would probably avoid this let down cuz it is an interesting story with a moral to it. For me i was disappointed with how the secular mystery turned into a predictable biblical ending with unsaved characters suddenly praying for help.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Very enjoyable

The Oath has just enough suspence and mystery, plus leaves the reader with a good lesson on life. This one may have a small bit of gore, but not to the extent of other books I have read. I recommend this and other Peretti books to any reader ages teen and up.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

AMAZINGGGGG!!!!!

If you absolutely love mysterious mystery novels, then you will love The Oath! Even if you just open the book up to read the introduction, it sucks you right in. Frank Peretti is a very popular Christian Fiction author and hasn't let me down yet with his phenomenal ways of writing. This novel starts out written in two different parts but they eventually come together throughout the book forming a very juicy plot. This novel is extremely good at keeping you on your tippy toes. When Isearch for a book, I typically search for the stories that keep me hooked and with this novel, the detail is incredible. They way the author puts things together is even more incredible. The first sentence of the introduction in this novel totally yanked me in at first sight. "Sin is the monster we love to deny." It really feels like anyone could connect to this novel in some sort of way. The first page of the novel brings you into a world with tension and really raises your blood pressure. It completely engulfs you and makes you feel what the characters in this novel are feeling. It's such a wonderful and detailed experience.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent Read!!!

I could not put it down! Keeps you reading because you wonder how some of the characters fit into the overall plot.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Love God

This book is so true! Everybody sins but God can save you from it all because his sinless son died for us. Its so captivating and it made me think about how strong my faith was.

I encourage young readers to give this one a chance

My daughter is13 and she said that it was awesome. She also said a nother good book by ted dekker 'skin' was another awesome book.