Gary Allan Books
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A great introduction to the pre-Dark-Ages paradigm!Review Date: 2009-06-24
Hell is no more.Review Date: 2009-03-20
The fear of death is the mother of all phobias (Greek for fear) according to Dr. Irvin D. Yalom, professor of psychiatry Emeritus at Stanford University. He believes all other phobias have their origins in the fear of death. Perhaps the greatest manifestation of that root fear is the fear a mother has for the eternal fate of her children. What happens to them in the after-life, especially if her children have not lived a "good" life according to the moral standards she has been taught society and religion.
Whatever Became of Melanie? Is a story of Alice, a middle-aged, single mother, who loses her oldest child, Melanie, to a tragic death. Alice is a conservative Christian; Melanie, a trouble, rebellious teenager who chose to turn away from the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The thought of her beloved daughter being consigned to the flames of everlasting hell has devastated Alice, driving her to the verge of a nervous breakdown. Brenda, a long-lost childhood friend, comes to the funeral and invites Alice to return home with her. She too is a conservative Christian, but with one major difference. Brenda and her husband have discovered Biblical truths and principles that have led them to challenge and eventually reject the doctrine of hell.
Mr. Chevrier presents a thought-provoking and exciting discussion on this pressing and timely issue, and he does so through the unique literary style of a theological novel. The extensive dialogue between the two friends is not the dry disquisitions of professional theologians, but rather, delightfully founded upon the warm, intelligent, and honest experiences of everyday life. In this bold, new genre he appeals to both the serious student and inquisitive novice, challenging both the intellect and emotions with sound, compelling, arguments that are firmly founded upon the Holy Scriptures, reason and the moral intuition of an advancing, empathetic society. Though a novel, the book is not a shallow treatment. Chevrier has been a conservative Christian and avid student for over thirty years of his adult life. As he confessed: "My sole purpose in writing this book is to bless. If it can be used of God to remove the dark veil from the mind of just one of His precious children, then my labor will not have been in vain."
Allan E. Chevrier lives with his family in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada where he has worked as a technical writer and served extensively as a lay minister.
Off with the veil!Review Date: 2008-06-03
"Whatever Became of Melanie? is the story of Alice, a middle aged, single mother, who loses her oldest child, Melanie, to a tragic death. Alice is a conservative Christian; Melanie, a troubled, rebellious teenager who chose to turn away from the church and the gospel of Jesus Christ. The thought of her beloved daughter being consigned to the flames of everlasting hell has devastated Alice, driving her to the verge of a nervous breakdown. Brenda, a long lost childhood friend, comes to the funeral and invites Alice to return home with her. She too is a conservative Christian, but with one major difference. Brenda and her husband have discovered Biblical truths and principles that have lead them to challenge and eventually reject the doctrine of hell.
Mr. Chevrier presents a thought provoking and exciting discussion on this pressing and timely issue, and he does so through the unique literary style of a theological novel. The extensive dialogue between the two friends is not the dry disquisitions of professional theologians, but rather, delightfully founded upon the warm, intelligent, and honest experiences of everyday life. In this bold, new genre he appeals to both the serious student and inquisitive novice, challenging both the intellect and emotions with sound, compelling arguments that are firmly founded upon the Holy Scriptures, reason and the moral intuition of an advancing, empathetic society. Though a novel, the book is not a shallow treatment. Mr. Chevrier has been a conservative Christian and avid student for over thirty years of his adult life. As he has confessed: 'What I write, I have lived!' This next quote so profoundly reveals his heart: 'My sole purpose in writing this book is to bless. If it can be used of God to remove the dark veil from the mind of just one of His precious children, then my labor will not have been in vain.'"
very uplifting and spiritually gratifying.Review Date: 2006-04-05

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I am very satisfied with my book!Review Date: 2009-03-16
The American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Combined Volume, VangoBooks Review Date: 2009-02-21
Good Quality for a good priceReview Date: 2008-10-28
helpfulReview Date: 2008-01-21
An important alternative approach to teaching U.S. historyReview Date: 2006-10-27
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a must read for all parentsReview Date: 2000-09-26
A shocking true crime book- one every parent should read.Review Date: 1999-02-01
Not For The QueasyReview Date: 2002-04-13

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...Review Date: 2008-11-07
Fine High School ReadingReview Date: 2004-06-03
A ClassicReview Date: 2001-11-27
Amazingly EntertainingReview Date: 2002-07-15
First, i like to forget about the words he uses for a minute to explain that, although magnificently written, i take the story for how it was meant to be interpreted. And it was meant to leave you with a chill, and a feeling of despair that was so violently left in my stomach that i had to read it again and again.
I can't wait to be sitting around the camp fire to tell this story.
As far as the literary value, i am not shy in saying i didn't understand many of the words, but that's what a dictionary is for, and with the use of both books i came away thrilled with knowing and understanding what is probably one of the best horror stories ever written.
The story is a macabre tail of two men, both upper classmen mindful of their positions in society. One of them; seemingly distraught over past wrongs done, strives to avenge his house by comitting one brutal act. His prey however, does not know his fate until it has met him alone, and face to face...
Big Cheers to Poe for an amazingly entertaining story.
The Cask of AmontilladoReview Date: 2000-04-14

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Great illustrations but poor reading typographyReview Date: 2007-11-22
E. A. Poe's Tales of Mystery and ImaginationReview Date: 2003-12-15
One of the greatest books ever written!!Review Date: 1998-04-16
Here is where greatness lies!Review Date: 2005-11-26
Truly a masterpiece! Full of horror and graphic imagination.Review Date: 1998-04-16

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prompt shipment great conditionReview Date: 2009-03-02
A good textbookReview Date: 2008-08-14
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Left leaning bookReview Date: 2008-09-21
Very helpfulReview Date: 2008-01-21
Yes, it really is politically correct garbage with some history thrown inReview Date: 2007-12-16
The authors of this book are staunch supporters of conflict theory. They spend an unfairly large portion of each chapter on the plight of the underprivileged, and especially on minorities and women. The authors seem to view all of society's problems as the fault of the social/governmental/economic system. The concept of personal responsibility apparently is a lost cause. The authors seem to not only subscribe to the social belief of equal opportunity, but also equality of outcome.
Almost every chapter has a large amount of text devoted to the plight of minorities and women. Minorities are always blameless in this book, and the big bad white men can never seem to do anything with moral integrity.
The first chapter of this book, "The Union Reconstructed", is intended to tell the history of the Reconstruction Era, or post Civil-War era. It ends up talking more about the plight of blacks than it does on actual Reconstruction. Every single photograph/painting in this chapter, save for one, has to do with the plight of blacks, usually in the form of being exploited by whites. Ridiculous.
While most other chapters are not this bad, it still sets a tone that will last throughout the book. Near the end of the book, the authors even have the audacity to claim that opposition to affirmative action is rooted in racism (page 1087). If that's not an unfair account of history, then I don't know what is. The authors let their bias cloud the truth, and it is a travesty.
I would also like to note that this last chapter (which tells of the history from 1992-2002) spends not even a full three pages talking about the economy, and then goes on for almost five pages talking about the plight of minorities. Actually, let me break down, page by page, what this chapter discusses, just so you can see how people can get the impression that this isn't a history book, but liberal propaganda. 1074-1077 talks about immigration into the US. 1077-1079 talks about the Census of 2000, where it spends much time talking about... you guessed it, women and minorities. 1079-1081 talk about the economy. 1081-1082 talks about the plight of the lower classes. 1082, 1083, and 1086 talks about "Aging and Illness", which deals with the increase in the elderly population, the health concerns and social pressures that come with that, and the AIDS epidemic. (pages 1084 and 1085 are one of the "Recovering The Past" features which serve to break up the pace of the text a little bit) 1086 to 1092 talks about, what else, minorities and women! A paltry two pages is then spent on the revival of the Democrat party with Bill Clinton. 1093-1095 deal with some general political history. 1095-98 deal with the rise of George W. Bush. 1098-1102 deal with foreign policy. And then a paltry two pages are spent on September 11th, the War of Terrorism, the Afghanistan War, and the impending conflict in Iraq. And, that's the end of the chapter. It's almost as if little happened in the 1990s except blacks getting persecuted! Sounds like a fair telling of history, doesn't it?
Other examples of flagrant unfair history telling is in Chapter 17. The Native Americans are portrayed as this collection of nice little idyllic, Utopian societies that was suddenly torn to pieces by the evil white men. The whites slaughtered the Native Americans while the Native Americans were not guilty of any atrocities. Sorry, this isn't how it happened. There were atrocities on BOTH sides, and yet not once does this text mention any atrocities committed by any Native American tribes. I will concede, however, that the white settlers were probably more at fault than the Native Americans, but the Native American tribes were by no means blameless like this book would like you to think.
"But their bravery and skill could not permanentally withstand the power of the well-supplied, well-armed, and determined U.S. Army." (page 592) Their "bravery and skill"? Give me a break. Another quote: "The [buffalo slaughter], which had claimed 13 million animals by 1883, was disgraceful in retrospect. The Indians considered white men demented. " - page 592. A historian should always strive to have a neutral point of view, not call things "disgraceful".
This book is just completely unbalanced history telling. It conveniently neglects any facts which do not corroborate the authors' racist views. Not enough time is spent on what happened outside of the suffering of minorities and women. The history text that is here skips over all sorts of events, trends, people, and dates so it can fit in more diatribes about the persisting ills of society.
Great Overview!Review Date: 2005-09-27
So You Thought You Knew Your HistoryReview Date: 2006-02-24

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Not that badReview Date: 2006-12-05
A College Students Opinion Review Date: 2006-07-15

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Having held the conviction for the last 20 years that the Bible teaches the reconciliation of all things (especially all people) in Christ (Col1:20), I am very aware of the need for a book with popular appeal, that can engage with the average Christian reader's heart and mind long enough for them to start to really come to grips with the many facets of this truth. There is a lot of great material available (e.g. at www.Tentmaker.org) but unless a person is extremely troubled by the doctrine of eternal torment and has already started to reject it, they can be easily overwhelmed by the radically different paradigm of Biblical Universalism. A seeker needs to be able to quickly get an overview of all the facets and implications of the radical understanding (of the Early Church) - as opposed to the currently `orthodox' position - before they are drawn back from following the Spirit of liberation, by the fear and machinations of their cult family. By 'cult family' I mean their church - and I say this only partly tongue-in-cheek!
Any cult depends on it's adherents not only believing the cult's particular doctrines, and on misunderstanding that which might otherwise liberate them, but also on them being controlled by a grave fear that if they even so much as listen to those outside the cult, they risk being damned by God and/or rejected by the group. The 'orthodox' cult of Eternal Torment, which has captured a large majority of the western church over the last 1500 years is no different. Take for example, my fellow church member, an earnest Bible College student, and the book he was reading about Christian Universalism a year ago. Surprise, surprise, it was an unfavourable critique! But it was not the Universalism I know from the Bible -it was a caricature of Biblical Universalism that I too reject! But the book, written by a cult member, served the cult's purpose - to keep that adherent from knowing the truth, and keeping him still too scared to read Biblical Universalism from those who can expound it from their hearts and from the Bible.
So I was very interested to see what potential 'Whatever Happened To Melanie?' might have for quickly and strongly engaging with the heart and mind of someone contemplating life-after-the-cult. My opinion is that Mr Chevrier has done very well, indeed. True, one still has to be very interested in the topic to read a book that so deeply challenges current orthodoxy...but then again, the trials of life still provoke such interest.
Via the vehicle of a 'theological novel' (also wonderfully used by George MacDonald in the nineteenth century), Mr Chevrier engages the heart, through one's sympathy and identification with the main character. Alice is an over-stressed single parent whose 13-year-old child dies 'in a state of rebellion against church and God.' Her long-held belief in eternal torment is suddenly an overwhelmingly awful prison. Her grief, anger and sense of confusion and hopelessness are transformed into faith, hope and love at her daughter's funeral, as the love of God and the God of love touch her through Bible passages and hymns, previously well-known but little comprehended. The rest of the book consists of extended conversations (punctuated with little bits of story) between Alice and her a Biblical Universalist mentor, in which very many of the usual questions and concerns arise and are answered from Scripture.
It's not a story that is gripping in it's own right (as are MacDonald's 'The Curate of Glaston' trilogyCurate of Glaston, The) but the wonderful expounding of Scripture more than made up for it for me. Mr Chevrier deftly weaves and cross-weaves Scripture with Scripture with Scripture into the seamless whole of the good news of our Heavenly Father's love and majesty.
For those unfamiliar with Biblical Universalism, it involves a major reappraisal of such things as: the imaginative(!) interpretations of modern 'prophecy' teaching, the (mis)translations of the Hebrew and Greek terms for 'hell' and 'eternal', the audience relevance of Jesus' warnings of judgement (fulfilled cataclysmically through the Roman-Judeo war, 67-73 AD), the ending of the age of the Old Covenant and the beginning of the age of the New Covenant (which I personally found particularly helpful), and the historical rise (especially through Constantine and Augustine) of (the cult of) Eternal Torment leading to the Dark Ages.
Mr Chevrier has also, in my opinion, managed to present very succinctly and elegantly the major rational arguments for and against the eventual salvation of all in Christ, in a very readable form.
Whilst hellfire preaching is discredited, the fear of hell amongst Christian is alive and well. It is implicit in all those evangelistic calls that say 'Accept Jesus.. while you can...before it's too late..!' But a belief that God would allow anyone (let alone millions) to suffer agony in hell for eternity is perhaps the single greatest doctrinal hindrance to God being able to woo His children to Himself!
I think therefore that this book will be a great evangelistic tool, both for those outside the church who are already relatively free from the Cult of Eternal Torment, as well as for Christians like Alice who grieve with far too little hope after a death of an unbelieving loved one. (Every minister and every funeral director should have it available!) I also recommend it for all who think of Christianity as synonymous with a belief in hell, or who have trouble identifying an Omnipotent and All-loving Being with the God of the Bible.