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So I found this book in a little free library. I thought the premise was interesting, and while it did have a Christian Vibe to it, it wouldn't be super preachy. And, for the first part, it wasn't. I found the story of Ron and Debra interesting, Denver is a person who had a hard life, finally finding something that gives him hope/respect.

Unfortunately, the last half of the book is nothing but preaching, not necessarily at you, the reader, but at all the praise to the Lord/God is Good/God is mysterious, etc etc.

I was hoping for more of why Denver was a Modern-Day Slave, as it is subtitled on the book cover. There's a bit pertaining to his life as a shareholder, but it isn't much of a story. The majority of the first part is how Debra insisted on making Denver an acquaintance, a man who very much didn't want to be friends with a white women do-gooder. I found her approach a bit patronizing, but maybe thats just me. Not everyone needs to be a friend, and I believe that when rejected, you should honor that.

However, I do think that Debra was actually very respectful to those she wanted to help - she understood that they were at the bottom due to a combination of bad luck, bad family, and bad choices. She didn't judge, she just listened.

And, I'd like to know more about the white evangelistic church that accepted Denver.... was he considered a true member? or just a token "see, we aren't racist because we have a black person in our congregation". I suspect the latter, but the book was only surface level, showing the outside.

Now the book was written in 2006. And times have changed. I'd like to know if the Antique Dealer actually voted to make life better for poor people. There was no conversation about it in this book, and when Denver and Ron visited the shotgun houses near the end, there was no questions asked about how the social safety net has still not helped those most at risk.

Its not my place to ask.... but there are too many people who think that the only thing that is needed is charity to help those at the lowest rungs.... without understanding that poverty goes hand in hand with poor paying jobs, lack of education, and persisting stereotypes.

I was really hoping for a book about change, whether Christian based or not, and it is there in a way, but its about the change of two men who formed an unlikely friendship. But the book is more about bringing God to those at the bottom, rather than actually helping. Did good things come about? I don't know. It did for Denver and Ron, who found a strong friendship. But I don't see anybody else actually being helped. Just fed and preached at. ( )

This was a story that took a while for me to get into it, but once I did, it was a story that was hard to put down. It was also a story that had me weeping, so have Kleenex ready. It truly is a true story about "a modern-day slave, an international art dealer and the unlikely woman who bound them together", as the front cover states. I was shocked to learn that during my lifetime there were folks who were (are??) looked upon as "modern-day slaves". But I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the lady, Debbie, who had a heart for helping and not just helping, but loving those she worked with at the Mission. The authors, Ron and Denver did such a good job of telling their stories and how the Lord, through Debbie, brought them together and blessed their lives through knowing one another. I am so glad I was given this book to read! ( )

i loved Denver's sections. it made me cry too, so apparently it was effective in that way. the author has sainted his wife to the point of making her one dimensional, which was annoying. ( )