It’s a memoir of his dogs, and also of growing up in London, being gay, lonely and confused. If anything’s going to get me to get a dog, it’ll probably be this book.” Before we reveal the victim’s possible identity, we need to go through some history first. At the start of the school year, Rebecca is defiantly making history at St Oswald’s. There is an old proverb that goes, "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a woman to enter these gates," and she is the living embodiment of how this adage was proven false. She is telling all of this to the man who was her archrival for the power position at the school, Roy Straitley. It seems to be an odd choice, almost like she is speaking to him while in the confessional.

After reading a lot of books and watching movies about private schools, I always wonder why the schools don't have Classics and Latin. Although I understand the amount of disciplines the kids have nowadays and today's generations' needs (well, they would be lost without computer science or AI or big data), Classics and Latin seem to have a huge influence on your reasoning and overall thinking. For me, these pupils seem from the high league. I thought about talking more about the actual story, but it's too complex and skilfully woven to describe without giving too much away. There is such cunning and sharpness here, it's a story that totally enfolds the reader and doesn't let go until the very final line. Discuss: We are too casual about salvation because we have disregarded the biblical doctrine of hell. A: Some of the details are definitely taken from experience, although the main plot points are not. I had a lot of fun with episodes like: the Banda machine; the file of pre-prepared lessons; the pep talk with the Head of Department; being mistaken for a boy because I was wearing trousers. All those things happened to me pretty much exactly as I wrote them for Rebecca. I loved the first two in this trilogy and was eagerly anticipating the third.The writing, as usual, is beautiful,the build up is great, the characters engaging...and yet,and yet, I was very disappointed,and here´s whyThe story is told in the alternating voices of Rebecca and Roy. She tells her tale in instalments as a delaying tactic, and he, unbeknown to her, records it in a diary. Suffice it to say Rebecca has led a very dramatic life and is not always a reliable narrator. It is hard to stop reading at any point because the reader, like Roy, develops a desperate need to find out the truth.

Benedicta Wild – Ben – is a trans pupil. Why do you think the author chose to include a trans character in this book, and how does Ben’s decision to reveal this affect Straitley? In our text, Luke again emphasizes Jesus’ teaching ministry: “He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem” (13:22). If you know the end of the story, the mention of Jerusalem strikes an ominous note, because it meant rejection by the nation and the horror of the cross. Somewhere in some village some unnamed person in the crowd asked Jesus an interesting theological question: “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” I don’t know the man’s motives for asking the question. Perhaps he saw the increasing opposition from the religious leaders and he could sense that the crowds, although superficially interested in Jesus’ message, tended to side with their leaders. But he asked this question, “Are there just a few who are being saved?” That’s the kind of attitude that we should have toward our own salvation, according to Jesus. It shouldn’t be a nice thing to think about every once in a while when you don’t have anything better to do. It should be on your mind every day. It should govern everything you do. It should determine how you spend your time, your money, and your leisure hours. You must strive to enter because the door is narrow. It’s not a great big wide door that you can wander into without thinking about it. You must be earnest to make sure that Christ alone is your hope of salvation. A Narrow Door is told from two people's perspective - telling stories and their thoughts. One is an old Classic professor, the other is the new Headmistress. The story unfolds around a disappearance of the Headmistress's brother, when she was a little girl. It's a story about childhood memories and traumas, coping with grief and lose of a family member. Once that door is shut, there will be no bargaining or working out a last minute deal. We must enter on God’s terms and in God’s time, or not at all. At the judgment, everyone will know the truth and realize what a horrible mistake they have made. But it will be too late. As J. C. Ryle puts it, “Hell is nothing but truth known too late” ( Expository Thoughts on the Gospels [Baker], 3:134). Salvation is an urgent matter!The whys.Not believable.Rebecca´s kiliing spree, maybe, she´s a psycopath,but the boys hiding their friend´s body just not to be caught pulling a prank in the theatre? I found it absurd. These verses demand our careful attention because we who are in the church are in the same place as the Jews of Jesus’ day. We are familiar with the things of God. Perhaps like me, you were raised to know the gospel. But being in the church is not enough. Have you personally entered through the narrow door? Have you come to Jesus as a guilty sinner and laid hold of Him as the only acceptable sacrifice for your sins? Are you seeking to know Him and grow in Him as your Lord and Savior? General acquaintance with Jesus won’t be enough in that terrible day. Don’t assume that just because you know about Jesus, you know Him. Weeping and gnashing of teeth doesn’t sound like a fun experience, especially when it continues through all eternity! Think of it as an eternal root canal without anesthesia! These men had assumed that they would be included in the kingdom. They were Jews, not filthy gentiles. They were related to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But now they find themselves shut out and, of all things, those dirty gentiles from east and west and north and south are inside, dining with the patriarchs and prophets! Those who are shut out seem surprised. They call out, “Lord, open up to us!” But He says, “I don’t know where you’re from.” They reply, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.” They were acquainted with Him. But the problem was, He was not acquainted with them. He tells them, “I do not know where you are from. Depart from Me, all you evildoers.” If you have a genuine personal relationship with Jesus, you will not continue in your evil deeds. Salvation is God’s free gift, apart from works, but those who are truly saved will make progress in holiness, apart from which no man will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).

Joanne Harris is an Anglo-French author, whose books include fourteen novels, two cookbooks and many short stories. Her work is extremely diverse, covering aspects of magic realism, suspense, historical fiction, mythology and fantasy. She has also written a DR WHO novella for the BBC, has scripted guest episodes for the game ZOMBIES, RUN!, and is currently engaged in a number of musical theatre projects as well as developing an original drama for television. We are told from the very start that Rebecca is a murderer. Do you find yourself hating her, or tacitly rooting for her during the unfolding of her tale? Why? B. Salvation requires our earnest effort because many will seek to enter and will not be able to do so. I enjoyed Joanne Harris’s previous novels featuring ageing Classics teacher Roy Straitley and the troubled St Oswald’s School: Gentlemen and Players, and Different Class.. Indeed, I re-read both of them prior to starting this, and enjoyed them just as much the second time around. Unfortunately I found this latest addition to the canon rather a bind, and, having lost momentum about half way through, I struggled to finish it. After reading Gentlemen & Players at least 5 times, Blueeyedboy and A Different Class 2 or 3 times I was really excited when I heard about A Narrow Door and couldn’t wait to read it.Adjusting her blue headscarf, which compliments her blue blouse, she continues: “If I’d been Lee Child, and written a series of books totally on-brand and predictable, then I’d have had a much easier life. But I don’t think having an easier life was ever my main priority.” What I’m reading now… Q: How much of this was based on your experience as a young female teacher in a boys’ grammar school? I’ll say more about missing the deadline in a moment. But for now, I am making the point that if you follow the crowd you will not follow the Savior into eternal life. Jesus says that there are many (and He is talking about the religious crowd) who will not enter through the narrow door. If you follow them, you will be shut out when that door slams shut. And, it always takes effort, both mentally and morally, to go against the majority. You have to think about matters for yourself and decide, “I will not follow conventional wisdom. I will not go along with group pressure. I will follow the Lord Jesus Christ.”

It's an incendiary moment for St Oswald's school. For the first time in its history, a headmistress is in power, the gates opening to girls. How can a person who is unsure about his salvation gain true assurance? How can we know that we’ve entered through the narrow door?

Summary

I’d like to make a small personal announcement first if I may – this is my 1000th post since starting my blog in August 2013. I’m not as prolific a poster as some so it has taken a while to get there, but it does seem rather a momentous milestone – to me anyway! Now on to the book! 😊 Thus salvation requires our earnest effort and our urgent attention. Finally, Jesus teaches us that … Why do you think Straitley allows Rebecca to prevent him from going to the police, following the discovery of the body by the Gunderson Building? B. Salvation requires our careful self-examination because there are two and only two final categories.