Eddy Foster has the ability to heal people by touching them. However, when Eddy heals he momentarily glimpses the inner recesses of a person's soul, exposing their darkest secrets.
Excerpt
"Eddy Foster came into my life on one of those special days the mind treasured and kept forever. If I were able to go back into the past I doubt whether I would want to change a single moment of those magical events. Perhaps the joy and sorrow were meant to be just as they happened."
Professional Reviews
One of the finest pieces of fiction I have ever read
A drifter came into Sam Johnson's garage and his life would never be the same again. Sam humbly tells the drifter Eddy's story.
It was an ordinary day, if there is such a thing, when Sam meets Eddy. Eddy reminded him of a hippie as he walked down the road with a large dog by his side. The stranger warmed Sam's heart. Sam offered Eddy and his dog Mica a place to stay, food and work. That evening he introduced Eddy to Mary. Mary was bedridden and had only a short time to live; cancer was eating her body. When Eddy touched her, she felt a strange warmth. Sam noticed that afterward Eddy seems extremely tired. The next morning Sam awoke to Mary cooking breakfast, at first he thought he was dreaming but it wasn't a dream; Mary had been healed. Their doctor confirms the fact that Mary no longer has any sign of cancer. Her healing was an answer to prayer. Later Eddy touched others that are also healed. Eddy has a gift but sometimes it seems a curse. Some are frightened by his gift for when he touches them he can see their secrets and almost everyone has secrets. Eddy has been running from one town for several years. Some call him a witch; few offer him love and support. Sam and Mary suggest that, it's time to stop running.
"The Vagabond Healer" by James R. Olson is one of the most touching books I've ever read. Mr. Olson is an extremely talented author. The plot is heartwarming and kept me on the edge of my seat. Olson manages to convey emotion in a way that few authors can. I was drawn into the plot and brought to tears on several occasions. Sam and Mary Johnson are the kind of people we all want to be, Sam has a few rough edges and came across as being very human. Eddy is a very vulnerable character. He displays selfless love and yet has a fear of having those he loves being hurt. Eddy would willingly sacrifice his life for others. Ernest is the perfect antagonist for this story. He is ruthless and arrogant; he's the worst of humanity. The cover is beautifully done with the profile of a young man where the air around him appears to have a mystery. I truly enjoyed this book and read it at one sitting; I literally could not put it down. I highly recommend this book to those that enjoy Christian fiction. Well done Mr. Olson.
Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views
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Reviews for "The Vagabond Healer"
Reviewed by Shannon Evans
9/18/2007
The Vagabond Healer, James Olson’s fictional commentary on goodness and the angels among us leads the reader to consider how we might receive Christ and His healing miracles today. Would the scientific and medical community question his authenticity or just his motives? Would they recognize and embrace His unique gifts or would they ostracize him?
Eddy Foster walks into the life of Sam and Mary Johnson. Grieving for a long dead son and coming to grips with Mary’s approaching mortality due to cancer, Sam goes through his daily routine preparing for his loneliness. Eddy and his dog Mica are wanderers who by chance arrive at the Johnson’s garage. Eddy asks to give Sam a few hours hard work in exchange for enough money to buy supper for himself and the dog. A unique relationship is forged and a bond is firmly formed between Sam and the young man. Eddy has healing powers in his hands but possibly his most powerful gift is the message he carries to those who will listen, “Don’t be afraid to let people see your true self.” Eddy’s ability to heal and to see inside a person is both a gift and a curse. His healing powers bring great relief to the ill. Eddy’s ability to “see” a person’s inner soul; however, can reveal dreaded dark secrets. Those sick in character fear Eddy and wish to run him out of town or completely eliminate him. The timeless battle between good and bad continues as Eddy and the Johnson’s struggle to take on the faceless and the nameless sources of evil that come only in the darkest hours of night.
Olson’s ability to weave a good story keeps the reader moving quickly through the pages of this book. Authentic dialogue and warm, rich characters make the book a surprisingly comfortable and inviting to read. While the characters are not unique or particularly memorable, they are comfortable and feel like people you have known for years. The reader will instantly recognize the characters as everyday people you meet on the street the characters have a real world context.
While the book tells much about human relationships and Eddy’s ability to heal, what is not clear is how Eddy deals with the knowledge. How do each person’s secrets get catalogued in Eddy’s mind? How does he muddle through the negative to remain so positive and upbeat? If he can cure physical illness by touch, why can’t he heal spiritual illness? Is Eddy alone in this ability? Are there others? What is the source of his power? He does not appear to be a religious person rather he seems to be a reluctant philosopher who has the ability to heal others. Why?
Distinctive, well written, and moving, this book leaves the reader deeply moved by its simple message of love, honesty, and service to others. This serene story’s makes the reader want to shall all they love their true self. Sweetly told, this earnest story is masterfully presented and leaves a positive lasting impression on the reader.
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