Executive Reviews

Now, I’ve come across several other books here in ReadersMagnet that talk about what heaven is like. A lot of them claim they are visions of the afterlife from near-death experiences. They have always been so fascinating to read!

However, this one, Magnolia: A View of Heaven, is a little bit different. It is a work of fiction that shares the author’s really beautiful vision of what he might see when he passes on.

Before we go on, though, here’s the background of the book’s author, Thomas Fargnoli. He has quite the work history! He is a retired systems engineer, but he’s also a stage magician and has even served as a Catholic deacon. His way of writing is very much influenced by his talent for “making the complex, less complex.”

So, I definitely went into this book with that in mind. On the other hand, I still found a lot of pleasant surprises when I read along.

A Visual Road Trip to the Devine

The lead character in the book is named Lou, and it's told from his first-person perspective. The book opens with a view of a very beautiful yard. I was really impressed by Thomas’s style of imagery. It is very vivid, and the image that comes to mind really echoes a lot of moves about people who are passing on.

Now, the yard is apparently some vision of Lou’s childhood home in Magnolia before he is suddenly thrust back into reality. He is lying in a hospital bed, and it’s revealed that he’s already over 90. His adult son is by his side, and the atmosphere is definitely far from cheerful.

The writing comes across as very personal, and it has added more color to the story’s imagery. The same goes for the dialogue. As I read along, I’m gradually learning a little more about Lou. In contrast to the opening of the book, it doesn’t sound like he has had the happiest life. There has been a lot of tragedy in his family. It has affected his marriage as well as his relationships with his kids.

And, unsurprisingly, he has held a lot of bitterness in him.

Still, I can also see he is trying his best to sort it all out. Without spoiling too much of the whole book, I can tell our dear readers that Lou passes on and meets his guardian angel.

And again, we see Thomas’ skill with descriptive imagery. It really echoes a lot of similar stories where the person who dies starts going to heaven by revisiting places they have been to in their past. When I see other books or films that talk about the afterlife, they always try too hard to be like Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Fortunately, Thomas Fargnoli doesn’t make that mistake. He really carries that personal tone in describing Lou’s journey to see heaven alongside his angel.

Speaking of which, the name of the angel in the book is Micah, who is also a prophet in the Bible. It is just one of the many things in this book that truly cement it as a work of Christian fiction.

And on that note, I think it really presents its intentions very well. Rather than focus on a lot of flashy golden gates and cities, Lou’s journey focuses on his own history in his hometown of Magnolia. Here, you can see how the story is something of a device for talking about personal spirituality and one’s relationship with God.

Of course, Lou’s relationship is far from perfect. And throughout the course of the story, I got the strong sense of spiritual transformation even as he and Micah journey to heaven itself. This is a bit different from other stories about the afterlife, wherein the person traveling there isn’t really changing. I think that’s because those other books teach that you are already set when you die.

It’s very interesting that Thomas, in writing this book, presents something that is more nuanced. (And I admit, it’s made it more exciting to read.)

Some might think this makes the book sound less supernatural. But as I read further along, I’m reminded of a really powerful religious term: beatific. I think that is a very good description of what readers will see as they go through this book (without me giving too much away).

A Few More Touching Details

At this point, I think it’s worth mentioning that each chapter also has either a quote or a passage from the Bible. I always found these to be very good touches because they help center on the theme.

And when I look at the cover, I find that it also has that same, spiritually uplifting effect. The atmosphere of a peaceful yard by the lake, with a large tree and the sun shining through its branches, is a vibe that’s felt throughout the book. In fact, even that lion lying there near the tables is not there by accident.

Overall, I think this is a great book for Christian readers who always love stories about what heaven may be like. Yet at the same time, it will appeal more to those looking for an afterlife story that is just a little bit different, yet still has that strong sense of what it means to be in a relationship with God.