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Ragman: And Other Cries of Faith (Wangerin, Walter) Kindle Edition

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

The expanded Twentieth Anniversary edition of stories, parables, and prayers from the National Book Award-winning author of The Book of the Dun Cow.

Updated with eleven new stories and meditations, this Gold Medallion-winning classic interweaves vivid stories, deep meditations, and provocative allegories that together explore the power and meaning of love within an often inhumane urban landscape. The opening chapter, “Ragman,” remains one of Walter Wangerin Jr.’s most beloved works and leads the reader to thirty-three other writings, all bearing the author’s trademark poignancy and lyricism. Ranging from gentle reflections to heartrending invocations, these selections are powerful, thought-provoking explorations of the meaning of faith, the person of Christ, and the communion of believers. Again and again, Wangerin’s cries of faith touch our deepest pains with rays of joyful healing.

“This diverse, polished collection . . . attests not only to Wangerin’s skill as a writer, but to the earnestness and warmth with which he enacts his vocation as a ‘servant of faith.’” —Christianity Today

“This is a book of stories, stories of all sorts—of fear and pride and death and pain and forgiveness and laughter and tears and hope and many shades of glory.” —Robert McAfee Brown, author of Unexpected News

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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A treasure trove of twenty-six eloquent and deeply moving stories by the award-winning author whose works Toni Morrison has proclaimed as "stunning . . . subtly, magically wonderful and complex."

From the Back Cover

An all new updated, definitive edition of this Christian classic. Ragman and Other Cries of Faith helped establish Wangerin's reputation as one of the most cutting-edge Christian writers on the market. This edition adds eleven new pieces written in a variety of styles ranging from gently reflective to incantatory.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B003YCOP8O
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Revised, Updated, Subsequent edition (October 12, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 12, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 237 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

About the author

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Walter Wangerin Jr.
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Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Starting with the renowned Book of the Dun Cow, Wangerin's writing career has encompassed most every genre: fiction, essay, short story, children's story, meditation, and biblical exposition. His writing voice is immediately recognizable, and his fans number in the millions. The author of over forty books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and several Gold Medallions, including best-fiction awards for both The Book of God and Paul: A Novel. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University.

Author's Website: www.walterwangerinjr.org

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
150 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's spiritual content inspiring and insightful. They praise the stories as well-written, impressive, and wonderful. The writing is described as beautiful, descriptive, and easy to read. Readers appreciate the fantastic imagery and symbolism that depict characters and circumstances clearly. Overall, customers describe the book as heartwarming and moving.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Spiritual content"15 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's spiritual content meaningful, inspirational, and insightful. They appreciate the author's ability to create spiritual material in layperson's language. Readers enjoy the author's unique ability to bring feelings into words and the short stories that capture their imagination.

"Many well written stories that offer different perspectives on the practice of Christianity...." Read more

"...I can’t say enough good things about his ability to create meaningful spiritual guidance. ❤️" Read more

"I thorougly enjoyed reading this inspiring book of Christian faith...." Read more

"...first chapter, they all have the authors brilliant touch and profound spiritual insight. Please read it. You will be blessed." Read more

12 customers mention "Story quality"12 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the stories in the book. They find the stories meaningful and authentic, with a collection of spiritually inspiring short stories and poems. The poems and stories encourage service and have symbolism. Readers describe the book as a treasure.

"Many well written stories that offer different perspectives on the practice of Christianity...." Read more

"I enjoyed the symbolism in the stories and the stories. Some of them read like stories you might find sent around on mass email lists...." Read more

"...A treasure book, to be sure!" Read more

"Stories worth Reading, creative, clever, smart" Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story Ragman good, but some of the other short stories did not meet their needs.

"The rag man is wonderful story. I haven’t read all of this book but what I have read I I have enjoyed." Read more

"Oh, be prepared to weep! Walter Wangerin is awesome~ I have read a few of his books, and love them...." Read more

"...Highly recommend this worthwhile read!" Read more

"...Ragman was very good, but the other short stories did not fulfill our need for devotions." Read more

6 customers mention "Writing quality"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They find it beautifully written, with a brilliant touch and profound spiritual insight. The language is descriptive, making it easy to read and hard to forget.

"...Though none matches the first chapter, they all have the authors brilliant touch and profound spiritual insight. Please read it...." Read more

"Loved the short stories which captured my imagination. Easy to read but hard to get out of my mind. recommend it." Read more

"I really like the depth and perception of Wangerin' s writing. He has a way of bringing ideas alive- something I hope to achieve in my own writing." Read more

"Wangerin seems to capture the essence of The Word with such descriptive language that you enter into each account and picture with clarity each..." Read more

5 customers mention "Image quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the vivid imagery and symbolism in the book. They find the writing engaging and insightful.

"...The imagery and symbolism especially appealed to me; however, if you are a person who wants everything explained in a forthright manner, you will..." Read more

"...See also the "Cries of the Congregation". Beautiful!" Read more

"...language that you enter into each account and picture with clarity each character and circumstance. Highly recommend this worthwhile read!" Read more

"Beautiful, insightful, writing." Read more

3 customers mention "Heartwarming"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and inspiring. They mention that it has joy, not sadness.

"...Heart warming & deeply moving." Read more

"...and soul......have a handkerchief ready......yet there is such joy, not sadness." Read more

"Heart warming, inspiring Lutheran theology...." Read more

3 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing engaging.

"The color scheme Wangerin displays in the vividly moving and pulling book, not only draws lines to your own life but also paints the difficult and..." Read more

"Very moving and insightful. One man's journey into faith and his growth, you can experience through his journey with his Church and his family...." Read more

"...Heart warming & deeply moving." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2023
    Many well written stories that offer different perspectives on the practice of Christianity. I very highly recommend this book as excellent material to read and understand that real forever love is available to those seeking it.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024
    I had a new pastoral friend who took on a dying church, who in the midst of concerted attempts at fostering forgiveness, unity, and reconstruction in the community, became very ill herself. The elderly were dying, the proud and offended were leaving, and floods were rising threatening to carry off the homes of those left in the church. I called her one day far from understanding her desperation and hopelessness. She voiced her doubts about why God was allowing her to be bedridden throughout the week or regularly sent to the emergency room. She wondered if I believed in geographic demonic oppression, for why would she keep getting sicker the longer she ministered in this hopeless place?
    I do actually believe in demonic phenomenons, but I asked her if she'd ever heard of this book, Ragman. She, an avid reader, hadn't. So, I told her the story of Jesus taking on the sins, the woundedness, the ailments, the brokenness of all those He encountered and touched along the way. The ministry of the Ragman was to associate with, and to take on these horrors of the inidviduals he meets, in such a way as the curse falls upon himself and the others are healed. My friend wept with renewed purpose and blessing for all she had endured in the past year. God, in fact did heal her body, and the church became healthier enough to pass it along to a younger pastor who would be good for ministering to the younger community. But, God had used my friend to turn the hearts of the elders back to Him, and they expressed deep reservations at her resignation. The message of this book not only helps us see the shameful transition of our sins and illnesses onto a perfectly healthy, gloriously divine rescuer, but for some of us who sacrifice our lives for identification with a poor, suffering community, it relieves us from fear and doubt and replaces those negative energies with a special blessing of identifying with the sufferings of Christ, picking up our cross, and finding purpose, honor, and hope.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2013
    The color scheme Wangerin displays in the vividly moving and pulling book, not only draws lines to your own life but also paints the difficult and more than likely self-abasing canvas of his own wanderings and in no way applauds himself for the slight victory before the fall back into confusion that God so faithfully pulls us all out of eventually. Follow Walter through his young married life and the struggles of parenthood, into a better understanding of our Father who continually pushes us through adversity into perfection. An organic and honest read to say the least, 10/10.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2013
    I enjoyed the symbolism in the stories and the stories. Some of them read like stories you might find sent around on mass email lists. The stories challenge you by thinking through tough issues and encourages you to live out what you believe. The poems and stories encourage you to serve. I first heard about this through a sermon on Truth for Life and it's well worth your time to dig into this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
    The Ragman is the story I go to when I need to get my spiritual wheels back on the track. And in 2023 that has been very often. He is a master at creating spiritual material in layperson’s language. I can’t say enough good things about his ability to create meaningful spiritual guidance. ❤️
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021
    The rag man is wonderful story. I haven’t read all of this book but what I have read I I have enjoyed.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2012
    I thorougly enjoyed reading this inspiring book of Christian faith. The imagery and symbolism especially appealed to me; however, if you are a person who wants everything explained in a forthright manner, you will not like this book. My Sunday school class is discussing the book and many lively debates have arisen over the abstractness. Some examples:
    "Why doesn't the man just say want he wants to say?" to "Um-m. the imagery is fantastic; I can see and feel it."
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2015
    Fifteen years ago I had read the first chapter of this book, then lost it. I hoped someone would find it and be as inspired as I had been. Now I have found it again and been blessed to read the whole book. Though none matches the first chapter, they all have the authors brilliant touch and profound spiritual insight. Please read it. You will be blessed.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Gwen Muncey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Transaction.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2024
    My book arrived very quickly & was in great condition. Another bargain purchase from a very reliable seller. Many thanks .
  • Lorraine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful stories
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2014
    The stories are very varied, some being more meaningful to me than others. The first, 'Ragman', is amazing and I will be reading it at church on Easter Sunday. I'm really glad I bought the book.
  • Teresa Molloy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ragman
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 22, 2018
    just what I wanted!
  • MR K POCKLINGTON
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and varied
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 6, 2015
    A wide variety of stories. Some really great others a bit less so. Generally good and definitely worth a read.
  • Kate
    5.0 out of 5 stars A treasure
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 14, 2012
    This book is moving and profound and an excellent buy. It arrived very quickly and well presented - a very satisfactory purchase all round.

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