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The Castle of Heavenly Bliss
Immediately below is the most recent written comment (by email 20 August 2009) on the first two books of the Winterbine trilogy.
Dear Mr Wilson
Last year I read the first two novels of your Winterbine Trilogy and what remarkable stories they are. I know of no modern Australian novel in which the Catholic side has been presented with such sympathy and understanding. The Fr van Engelens of this world are not usually allowed to defend traditional Catholic teaching in a logical and rational way and the forces of renewal in its many guises is so often justified by an appeal to the ubiquitous Spirit of Vatican II.
The purpose of this email is firstly to congratulate on your fine achievement and to enquire when Part III of the trilogy will be published. The first two volumes generated so many questions for which this reader craves answers.
Yours sincerely,
J. Gerald Wilson (no relation)
Reader comments before the 2008 revision
I
found
The Castle of Heavenly Bliss
absolutely riveting. It touches on all the right political and religious
issues. I read the whole 752 pages in five days. I look forward to the
next book in the trilogy.
Fr Terence Mary Naughtin, Franciscan
Friars, Kellyville NSW
I couldn't put it down.
Pauline McKenna, Caulfield, Victoria
The book is a jolly good thriller. I'm glad a book of this
sort has been written. It was desperately needed. It might be the start
of a movement. The author is to be congratulated on a story that keeps
up the interest despite some challenging passages.
Dr Paul McKenna (retired medical doctor), Caulfield,
Victoria
Despite being a long work, The Castle of Heavenly Bliss
holds the reader's interest. The characters are vividly presented. The
various threads to plot heighten the interest, with the reader wondering
how they fit together. There is a sense of impending danger or distress
threatening a number of people. A good picture is drawn of the clashing
outlooks, and of the trends in society that have developed since that
time. Elements of mystery and intrigue add interest and tension. The author
deserves congratulations for the quality of this book.
John Young, author of The Natural Economy
I thought
The Castle of Heavenly Bliss
was terrific and very much enjoyed reading it. I really did find it
difficult to put it down during the four days I took to read it. I
thought the character development was comprehensive and believable with
the story having me wondering what might happen right up until the
rescue and even past that…This novel has obviously been the author’s
passion. The time and research put into it must be extraordinary. I’m
amazed at the detail relating to the location of the events. I
congratulate the author.
Michael Wilson, Goldsmith & Jewellery
Designer, Eltham Vic
At
last, an Australian author to rival the best of contemporary Catholic
novelists. A tender love story of characters caught up in a gripping
thriller of moral, theological and ideological conflicts
Brian Schaefer, Director of John XXIII Co-operative
The
story really grabbed my attention. The characters were credible and
interesting. As a Dutch person of Protestant background, and now of no
religious belief, I had pleasure
in reading the parts about Holland. The Dutch ambience was accurately
drawn. All in all, it was a really thrilling story.
Corrie Roggeveen, Booval QLD
I took advantage of Mother’s Day unhindered by family duties to read
The Castle of Heavenly Bliss.
I spent the whole day on it. The story kept my attention right to the
end. I especially liked the character of Estella and the interesting
background information about the Catholic Church.
Janet
Mitchell, Librarian, Patterson River Secondary College, Carrum Vic
I thought
The Castle of Heavenly Bliss
was a gem – entirely relevant to the times.
Margaret Condon, Cherrybrook NSW
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