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? Scripture says that without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:14). How can this be harmonized with salvation by grace through faith apart from works? 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.” Rebecca is the new Headmaster of what was formerly an all-boys’ private school that is opening up to girls for the first time in its history. Seeing this school and others like it through her eyes was an enlightening experience. There’s a lot of discourse here about women in academia, especially in private schools. Even when Rebecca is able to break into the “old boys’ club” atmosphere, she isn’t treated like the rest of her colleagues. One of the schools in this book doesn’t even have a lady’s restroom; the women are instead forced to use the handicap facilities, which goes a long way to showing how their male counterparts view them. Being female isn’t a disability. But so many men in so many professions seem to believe so. Harris managed to both romanticize academia, as readers tend to do, and shine a light on its underbelly. Q: This is a lot scarier than the other St Oswald’s books. Were you aware while you were writing it that it was a supernatural thriller?

Needless to say, as is to be expected from this author, the story that unfolds is beautifully and intelligently written. The battle between the then and the now, the fight against the patriarchy, the control and apparent ease within the writing is just outstanding. A. Salvation requires our urgent attention because the time is coming soon when the door will be shut. Harris, who was born and still lives in Yorkshire, is an unusual novelist for the simple fact that she tends to write whatever pleases her, irrespective of market forces. Twenty years ago, her third novel, Chocolat, was an unexpected hit that had previously been turned down by several publishers who deemed its confection of love and food in France not particularly “en vogue”. It went on to sell a million copies, and became a hit Hollywood film. Suddenly, Harris was able to quit the staffroom and turn to writing full-time. She remains impressively industrious, and is full of new book ideas, none of them particularly “en vogue”. “If I’d decided to become a brand,” she says, “I’m sure I’d have made much more money and would have had a much more certain career. I wouldn’t have had to fight all these little battles that I’ve had to fight.” Rebecca chooses to tell Straitley her story – a story she has not told anyone before. Why do you think this is?It was great to catch up once again with a character I felt I knew, Roy Straitley, his boys, colleagues and St Oswald’s School. Times have moved on at St Oswald’s and the traditional narrow door has opened a smidgeon and admitted not only a female head of school but also girls as pupils. 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. 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? A: About as much as I do with Straitley; I’m fond of them both, and more importantly, I find them both interesting; but it would be a mistake for anyone to feel that either is a self-portrait. However, I particularly enjoyed writing Rebecca because she is a rare example of a middle-aged woman protagonist in fiction, with all the nuance that entails.

I love to sit around and discuss theological issues with anyone who is interested. That was probably one of the best aspects of seminary, to be able to interact with my classmates on a broad range of biblical and theological issues. But while it is fine to discuss theology, there is an inherent danger in doing so, namely, the danger of not applying the truth to one’s own heart. Now, not later, is the time to make sure that you have a personal relationship with Jesus, not just a casual acquaintance with Him. One major evidence of such a relationship is that you are growing in holiness, not just outwardly, but in your heart. I am discovering Joanne Harris with a different angle and am positively surprised how good she is when writing thriller/mystery. The first book I read from her was Chocolat, quite different from those series. Harris is as always a master of prose, suspense, and twists. Few detectives will keep you awake like this. Thriller writers should take a leaf out of her books. Jesus says that many will seek to enter and will not be able. The following verse indicates that they will not be able to enter because they missed the deadline. It is not that many strive to enter, but only some of those striving succeed. Rather, as the following verses show, some will wake up to the serious issues involved in their own salvation too late. They had assumed that all was well with them because they were decent, religious people. They knew Jesus in a casual way, but they had not taken the gospel to heart. They had never repented of their sins. But they didn’t consider these matters seriously until it was too late.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.

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. 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? 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.The 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. The options are pretty vast and will include oak, pine, walnut, white, doors that are ready to decorate or doors that are prefinished and lots of other vibrant doors in various types too many to mention, just remember one thing, none of the above sizes are available as external doors.

B. Salvation requires our earnest effort because many will seek to enter and will not be able to do so. As like Gentlemen & Players despite just finishing it I will start reading it again shortly, it really is that good. 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?”This is the third book in the series based at St Oswald's School for Boys in the fictional town of Malbry. Set just a year after the events in 'A Different Class', we find Classics teacher Roy Straitley still trying to uphold tradition but fighting a losing battle - the new headmaster is a woman, the school has gone co-educational (it is now St Oswald's Academy) and a new leisure facility is being built on the grounds. St Oswald’s is finally admitting girls to the School. Here’s an article about the pros and cons of single-sex versus co-ed schools. But Rebecca is here to make her mark. She'll bury the past so deep it will evade even her own memory, just like she has done before. After all...