Book Review: Mindful of Him by Hollis Hughes

ABOUT THE BOOK: Mindful of Him is a tale of heartbreak and triumph set in the 1950s. Separated from his young wife, and with both of his parents recently deceased, Rob McLain sets off on an adventure for which he has longed since childhood. Travel with Rob as his journey not only takes him to beautiful places, but also crosses his path with influential men who help him through his loneliness. Five months into the trip, Rob has a moonlight encounter that changes his life forever and overwhelmingly convinces this young skeptic that God is indeed mindful of him!

Through it all, he receives answers to life’s deepest questions. What does he learn? What happens to his wife? Do they get back together? Does he make it back safely?

Find the answers to these questions and others dealing with faith, creation, nature, and more in Mindful of Him, which will keep you reading long after you had planned to turn out the lights. Mindful of Him was inspired by the writings of Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer, the giant of 20th Century Christian philosophers.

y thoughts on Mindful of Him.

Rarely have I read a novel from a man’s perspective, and found it interesting hearing his voice and thoughts throughout the story. We don’t always understand the way a man grieves, which he encounters first with his parents, then his firstborn child, and then a major estrangement with his wife and in-laws. I imagine if this was written in today’s language, we’d say he went out to “find himself”. He met numerous people during the next five months of his canoe travels that encouraged him spiritually and to see things from a different perspective. There was sweetness in the story when he realized what he was missing out with his wife and yearning for reconciliation.

As far as rating Mindful of Him, I’d rate it a 3 out of 5. I found it got a little long with his canoe travels and was disappointed with some of the language in the book, though realistic, it was not necessary. I do not want to give the ending away, but I was mainly disappointed with the shortness of it. From my perspective, had some of the canoe travels been shortened and I could have read more depth into the ending, it would have been more enticing to me. I felt like I finally got to a good part, and it was over!

I also found the information about the author, which I share below, very interesting and would enjoy reading more about his life and his caring for his wife. 🙂

I received a copy of Mindful of Him from the publisher via Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review. To see what others are saying about Mindful of Him , visit the Litfuse Blog Tour or visit Wine Press Publishing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, HOLLIS HUGHES: On a cold February day in 1928, Hollis Hughes was born in a ramshackle house with no insulation, plumbing, or electricity. Growing up on a farm during the Great Depression, Hollis spent his youth chopping wood, tending the family farm, milking cows, and tending to livestock. Following college graduation, Hollis worked as a high school teacher and counselor for 38 years, and operated a successful rhododendron nursery.When Hollis’ wife developed Alzheimer’s disease in 1988, he spent the next twelve years taking care of her. Today, Hollis is retired from education. He is a fly fisherman, hiker, and gardener. He is a member of the American Camellia Society, and a lifetime member of the Birmingham Botanical Society. Hollis and his wife, Lera, make their home in Alabama.