I requested this book from NetGalley rather too impetuously, simply noticing the author Taylor Caldwell, someone I consider an excellent novelist, and not realising that this book is very much a Christian text. However, having received it I felt duty bound to read it and much to my surprise, as a non-believer, I really enjoyed it, which says a lot about Caldwell’s skill as a writer. The premise is a simple one. Twelve troubled people visit the Sanctuary to consult with The Man Who Listens. They each pour out their hearts to him and find comfort and solace, in the first place simply by voicing out loud their stories to someone willing to listen and then by the few words that he replies to them. The Man Who Listens is of course Christ, but I think there is a secular slant you can easily attach to the book, in that how often the possibility of such a place and such a person who is there simply to listen sounds like a very good idea indeed. What makes the book so compelling is the individual stories, all of which are engaging and instantly arouse the reader’s sympathy. They are all predicaments we can relate to and in many cases identify with. In just a few pages, Caldwell can summon up a whole life and the people really come alive on the page. An intriguing and absorbing read and of relevance not just to Christians.

It has been sometime since I read a more spiritual book so this made a good change!

A Sanctuary has been built in very pleasant surroundings. It is meant to give solace and meaning to life to those who enter. One is for people and one is for the person who listens.

Those who come here are those who seek answers as to why life has burdened them with sorrows which are not bearable. People want answers but the answers they get may not be the ones they want.

The novel deals with the idea of faith surmounting all issues. Not an easy concept to understand or accept. This was why it took me a long while to finish this book. It had to be read slowly.
Goodreads and Amazon review up on 22/6/2017. Review on my blog mid October 2017.

This is a story about a man who listens and the troubled people that seek him. Through these troubled people, the author shows the spiritual crisis and brings into focus the power of faith in the world.

I think this is a good novel but it is not my type of story that I was expecting. This is Christian fiction. It is also inspiring. Try it.

We're going to count this one done. I didn't really finish the book but I did read at least 25-30% of it. I couldn't get into the stories. I appreciate faith based books. I think authors make a decision to make the books about the characters not sex scenes, drug use and violence. But this one made little sense to me. I'm going to keep it on my carousel and try to go back and read a story in-between books. Maybe I'll learn to appreciate it more. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book for my honest review.

What a wonderful book. This book is very inspiring and very easy to read. This book made me feel warm all over. It truly lets you know there is "ONE" who listens and cares. We are not alone and this book will make you realize that. If you need peace or are going through anything, read this book. It will inspire you and comfort you. I highly recommend this book, it is amazing. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advanced reading copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Premise/plot: No One Hears But Him is a collection of twelve short stories. Each story is a 'soul'. Readers hear from twelve distinct voices. At some point in each story, the character goes to the Sanctuary, waits his or her turn, and goes into the room to speak with the Man Who Listens. Most choose to press the button to meet this Listener face-to-face, but, not all do. Each story ends with hope; all stories are tied together by hope. The stories can be dark, gritty, pessimistic, angry, doubting, critical, questioning, sarcastic--essentially anything and everything under the sun but the connection each makes with THE MAN WHO LISTENS brings hope.

In the preface or the introduction of this one, the author makes a startling statement: This book is deliberately designed to anger many.

My thoughts: I loved, loved, LOVED this one. I thought the stories were compelling and relevant. Yes, the stories are perhaps a bit dated here and there. But I'm of the opinion that truth is never out of date even if it it seen as out of style. Caldwell meant the book to be critical of society in 1966, and, today's readers should probably still feel offended by the gospel truths on display in this one.

Favorite quotes:
When somebody tells me they’re awful happy, I think, ‘You’re either a liar or a fool.’ ’T’ain’t possible to live in this world and be happy, after you’re about three years old.”

He shook his head. “I’m remembering something. When it was a choice between you and a criminal the people chose the criminal. They always do; it never fails. But you didn’t hold that against them. You’ve been watching all through the night, and you’ll be on hand when the last night comes.”

We speak only of the world and never question the stars, for the world is all we know—and all we want to know. Our little bright corner is enough for us, and there we can sit and talk our blasphemous and urbane nonsense, and utter our words of peace in a world where there is no peace, and offer up well-rehearsed prayers which are empty of content, as we are empty of content. Who shall forgive us?”

“What is it that is so frightful in most men these days that they must pretend to ‘love’ others?” asked Paul. “Never was the world so loveless as it is now, so degraded, so full of hate. Yet, you can’t go anywhere but that you hear love, love, love. A steamy bath of it. A miasma. It is particularly smothering for my people. They are choking in it, especially in the North. But it isn’t really love, is it? It is hatred. It is the self-righteousness of the cruel Pharisee.”

No one has ever earned the right to leave the harvest.

I have to admit that this is my first Taylor Caldwell book. I thought I was well versed in Christian Fiction but I guess not. I liked the premise of this book. I thought it was going to be in a novel format, but it was short stories each dealing with one soul and the unburdening of themselves with the “man who listens.”

I was shocked at how relevant the stories seemed to today’s climate. I saw on GoodReads that her books were originally published in the 20’s and so I thought it would be dated, but no, the stories were applicable to life in today’s world. The language used to tell the stories is dated somewhat, It is in a stuffy tone, but I can overlook that.

The stories themselves I found myself sucked in and wondered if this was gonna be the soul that the “man who listens” tells the person to go do you know what to themselves but he never did. What that always amazes me is that no matter how far away the person may have been that at the end that the “man who listens” never turns them away, I know that this is an allegory for God NOW but I was slow on the uptake ok. About half way through the book I started to have my suspicions then I looked it up on Goodreads and was like OHHHHH NOW everything makes a 1000 percent sense.

I enjoyed the stories themselves. It is broken up into figures from the Bible, and it is meant to show how some of the Bible’s teaching could be applied to modern day life. Like I said it was written and published in the 20’s, but the stories could still apply to today’s world and especially in today’s climate.

Especially in today’s political climate. It was somewhat comforting to know that people in the past had faced dark times also and the world has kept spinning. And no matter how hard the events of the time may have rocked the world eventually the good people have won time and time again. This was something that I needed to hear especially considering the events of the past few months.

I did not have a favorite story. I liked them all. I felt that they all had something important that they were attempting to convey. Even if you are not religious, I believe that this book can offer comfort and hope during these troubled times that we find ourselves in. I know I felt the best I have since November after I read this book. I find it immensely comforting to know that there is always someone who is listening and that no matter how bad things may get that “the one who listens” always have things under control and that the platitudes used are not, in fact, empty but rather are the truth.

I am thrilled that many of Taylor Caldwell's books are being reprinted in ebook format. Several of her novels hold a special place in my heart. But this is the first time I have read No One Hears But Him. It is an interesting allegory - not really a novel but a collection of stories - where we follow 12 troubled souls who find themselves sharing their burdened hearts to The Man Who Listens.

Caldwell's writing is of the highest caliber and I applaud the message she is trying to share. And even though the message is very clear - that there is Someone always listening & walking beside us - the story seemed dated and felt rather harsh at times. But I still reveled in her writing and felt privleged to have the opportunity to read this advance reader copy. Thank you NetGalley and Open Road Integrated Media. I am looking forward to reading more of their reprints of Caldwell's classic books.