The rare novel that is both heartbreaking and uplifting.
Forgiven by Bruce J. Berger is a layered, emotionally resonant novel about family, faith, and the difficult paths to healing. The story follows the Covo family, each member bearing private grief and unresolved conflicts. Nicky is a Holocaust survivor and respected Brooklyn psychiatrist who is rocked by a malpractice lawsuit that threatens his identity and career. His wife, Helen, wrestles with the looming loss of her daughter, Sarah, to cancer. Daughter, Kayla, is a gifted composer, left adrift after the loss of a personal source of inspiration. Her biracial son, Jackie, is being raised as an Orthodox Jew, but hides a secret icon of Jesus and is terrified of what his mother might think. Seeking a way forward, the family travels to a women’s monastery in Greece, where Nicky’s long-lost sister, now Sister Theodora, has lived since childhood. In this place of austere beauty and deep spirituality, the Theotokos (or the Mother of God) steps in to alter the course of their lives. Through moments of revelation, grace, and confrontation, the Covos begin to face their grief, reconcile their differences, and discover the transformative power of forgiveness. Berger’s novel is at once a moving family drama and a meditation on love, loss, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Bruce J. Berger has crafted a brilliant book that’s easy to fall into and hard to leave, resulting in a tender, deeply human exploration of family and faith. It’s a notably deep read with challenging ideas and complex emotions thrown into the mix from honest, bold characters whom readers will grow to love. Berger writes with empathy, nuance, and sharp lyricism to achieve this incredible characterization, and the Covo family’s struggles feel achingly real with every moment of vivid dialogue and strong, emotive description. The author strikes a finely tuned balance of intimate drama and spiritual depth, while the Greek monastery setting is rendered with a beauty and reverence that perfectly match this tone. Every scene is illuminated by culture, history, and faith, so that it feels like poetry to read, but digs much deeper with its detailed storytelling. Berger also interweaves personal and historical trauma with grace, never resorting to gimmicks. The novel digs into the fragility and resilience of humanity, even when life is at its most trying. Forgiven is the rare novel that is both heartbreaking and uplifting, and I would highly recommend it as an emotive read that takes audiences through a lot of feelings, but ultimately leaves the reader with a renewed sense of hope.
