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Pierced by a Sword #2
Conceived Without Sin by Jr. MacFarlane Bud
No contemporary writer draws you into the lives of the people who populate his stories the way Bud Macfarlane does. Conceived Without Sin, his long-awaited second novel was showered with positive reviews from thousands of actual readers. It established Macfarlane as a master Catholic storyteller who is not afraid to challenge readers to question basic assumptions about faith, marriage, and friendship. With over 200,000 copies in print, Conceived will take you on an addictive journey alongside real people who struggle with real problems. Sharply funny, always unpredictable, and with characters so real you'll swear you know them from your own life. You are in this story.
Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
42 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
About the author
Bud Macfarlane Jr.
6 books36 followersOne of the most popular Catholic writers in America, Bud Macfarlane grew up in New Jersey with nine sisters and one brother and graduated with honors from the University of Dame. In 1991 he started the Mary Foundation, the world's largest producer of Catholic CDs and booklets. A father of four, his three best-selling novels are available from Saint Jude Media and on Kindle, and his long-running monthly email newsletter is read by tens of thousands worldwide.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 19, 2012
(review I wrote for Amazon back in 2000)
Readers of Bud Macfarlane Jr. fall into two categories: haters and lovers. Both positions are understandable. Haters contend that Macfarlane is a terrible writer. His style is sophmoric and obvious, and occasionally contains typos. His subject matter is fantastic and fanatical; at least to people who aren't fervent Catholics. Lovers reply that the characters that Macfarlane comes up with are among the most real and most personal that they've seen in a long time. I'm personally among the lovers, although as a literature student, I understand the haters' point of view. Conceived Without Sin, MacFarlane's second novel, contains some of the the most rounded, expertly portrayed characters that I've ever seen in a popular novel; they far outshine the cardboard cutouts in Cricton and Grisham. I don't want to give away the ending, but let me just assert a few things; first, that Macfarlane writes with an instinctual, untrained talent that is both accesible and passionate; he tends to drag on at times, but readers who stick it out will be well rewarded by the conclusion, which is both surprising and satisfying. There are approximately seven subplots that occur and link together, and the many characters are rounded out by entertaining and realistic conversation. Macfarlane has an uncanny knack for portraying an interesting character at first glance, and then revealing the inner workings of that character through conversation and interior monologue. The best example of this is Buzz Woodard, who is first portrayed as a devilishly funny orthodox Catholic, and then is revealed as a desperately lonely man haunted by his demons, who nearly falls into despair before returning to his faith. Conceived Without Sin is not without flaws; there are some subplots and some discussions that could use a little editing, and they dimminish some of the power of the main story involving the three friends Buzz, Sam and Donna. But readers who plow through some of the duller parts will be amply rewarded by the ending. Although Bud Macfarlane's first book, Pierced by a Sword, will grip you and excite you, Conceived Without Sin will stay with you longer.
Readers of Bud Macfarlane Jr. fall into two categories: haters and lovers. Both positions are understandable. Haters contend that Macfarlane is a terrible writer. His style is sophmoric and obvious, and occasionally contains typos. His subject matter is fantastic and fanatical; at least to people who aren't fervent Catholics. Lovers reply that the characters that Macfarlane comes up with are among the most real and most personal that they've seen in a long time. I'm personally among the lovers, although as a literature student, I understand the haters' point of view. Conceived Without Sin, MacFarlane's second novel, contains some of the the most rounded, expertly portrayed characters that I've ever seen in a popular novel; they far outshine the cardboard cutouts in Cricton and Grisham. I don't want to give away the ending, but let me just assert a few things; first, that Macfarlane writes with an instinctual, untrained talent that is both accesible and passionate; he tends to drag on at times, but readers who stick it out will be well rewarded by the conclusion, which is both surprising and satisfying. There are approximately seven subplots that occur and link together, and the many characters are rounded out by entertaining and realistic conversation. Macfarlane has an uncanny knack for portraying an interesting character at first glance, and then revealing the inner workings of that character through conversation and interior monologue. The best example of this is Buzz Woodard, who is first portrayed as a devilishly funny orthodox Catholic, and then is revealed as a desperately lonely man haunted by his demons, who nearly falls into despair before returning to his faith. Conceived Without Sin is not without flaws; there are some subplots and some discussions that could use a little editing, and they dimminish some of the power of the main story involving the three friends Buzz, Sam and Donna. But readers who plow through some of the duller parts will be amply rewarded by the ending. Although Bud Macfarlane's first book, Pierced by a Sword, will grip you and excite you, Conceived Without Sin will stay with you longer.
November 27, 2009
I liked this one better than Macfarlane's first, Pierced By A Sword. Not sure if that's because I generally don't like end-of-the-world stories or if it was because the writing was so rough. This was still heavily didactic, but the story was more credible and writing of a higher caliber. Read it because a dear friend loaned it to me and it was light. I need some 'light' reading these days.
January 8, 2014
Before today I had only given a 1-star rating to one book here on GoodReads, and that was Bud McFarlane's first book, "Pierced by the Sword." I was talked into considering his second book, "Conceived without Sin", since, after all, "Pierced by the Sword" was his first novel, and of course a novelist will get better with more experience. I gave it a try and read "Conceived without Sin" cover to cover. I honestly have to say that it is arguably worse than "Pierced by the Sword."
"Conceived without Sin" has all of the faults of "Pierced with a Sword". The dialogue is horrible, with 1950s TV slang and banal conversations that go on for pages. CWS actually has a much weaker plot than PWAS. In PWAS, the Catholic SuperFriends characters came together in South Bend, Indiana to face the forces of evil, 1-dimensional contrived villains for an apocalyptic battle on the quad of Notre Dame University. In CWS, a different set of Catholic SuperFriends characters gets together in Cleveland, OH to win a local basketball tournament, see one of the SuperFriends through a wedding, another SuperFriend into a convent and a third SuperFriend through a suicide attempt. If that sounds confusing to you, it is even more confusing when this unravels through almost 500 pages of annoying text.
Besides these annoying characteristics, there were several very disturbing aspects to this novel which makes it truly worthy of the 1-star rating. GoodReads only gives me a limited number of words to spell this out for you, but I'll try in my alloted space. The first disturbing element of this novel is the impression that I got that McFarlane really has no clue what conversion is all about. In his novels, people who become Catholic turn into brand new people. It's almost as though the body-snatchers have kidnapped the convert and replaced him or her with a perfect facsimile of his former self that never sins, never has a negative thought and is totally dedicated to prayer and the sacraments. There is one character in particular, Buzz, who is described as a former baddie who used to beat his ex-wife, cheat on her, and was an alchoholic and a drug addict to boot. However, for most of CWS Buzz hangs out constantly with people who drink and smoke cigarettes around him, but it doesn't faze him at all. He isn't even tempted to drink. Furthermore, at one point in the book Buzz spends a few days in a beach house with a young woman, and is never tempted to sleep with her. This just doesn't happen in real life, especially with people who had serious struggles with temptation in the past. But in CWS, it's everywhere.
Another disturbing characteristic of CWS is McFarlane's treatment of women. In his books, McFarlane's female characters are only significant in that they pair up with the male characters or tempt the male characters in some way. In CWS there are two significant female characters. One of them marries a male character while the other one, who was in love with this same male character, enters the convent after the male and female characters get married. McFarlane has a married character who goes through counseling after he separates from his wife (it is significant that this character went to counseling alone, without his wife). In counseling, this married character is told that he should treat his wife like a fine violin and play her like a virtuouso. He is told that he should think of his wife as though she is a famous movie star. Now, if I came home to my wife and said to her, "honey, you are a fine Strativarius, and I want to learn to play you like a virtuoso!", my wife would slap me from here to Canada. It's just wrong to compare a woman to a musical instrument or any other tool. Likewise, no woman will be flattered if she discovers that her husband treats her well because in his mind he has turned her into Jennifer Lopez. It's really a clueless individual that would even suggest this. This, of course, is Bud McFarlane Jr.
The last distrurbing characteristic of CWS is the role violence and warfare plays in this book. Of course, violence and warfare took a major part in PWAS, but that novel was about apocalyptic warfare, so violence is to be expected. In CWS there is no war, no battle, but warfare analogies are everywhere. Buzz and Sam, the two main characters, meet with Buzz pummels Sam on the basketball court. Throughout the novel there are beatings described on the basketball court, the wrestling ring, the football field and other places. In one particularly horrible scene, a male character describes a flashback to his childhood where he was beaten senseless by a pair of public school boys who happen to be brothers. The male character, who was of course a Catholic school kid, gathered up his father and brothers and formed a deranged gang of thugs to exact revenge on the public school boys. McFarlane describes this senseless violence with approval. He seems to think that devotion and manhood are about fighting and struggle. This analogy extends to romantic relationships as well. McFarlane's characters don't love each other the way that characters in a great novel would love each other. They use their prayer time to gather up spiritual warfare weapons to fight for their beloved, or fight against their beloved. To McFarlane, love is war, and relationships are a battleground. It is truly a bizarre outlook, especially for a Catholic writer.
I would truly not recommend this book to anyone. For Catholics, this novel presents a skewed and disturbing perspective on spirituality and relationships that will not be uplifting at all. For non-Catholics, this novel will give a very bad impression of the Catholic faith. Bottom line, avoid "Conceived without Sin" at all costs!
"Conceived without Sin" has all of the faults of "Pierced with a Sword". The dialogue is horrible, with 1950s TV slang and banal conversations that go on for pages. CWS actually has a much weaker plot than PWAS. In PWAS, the Catholic SuperFriends characters came together in South Bend, Indiana to face the forces of evil, 1-dimensional contrived villains for an apocalyptic battle on the quad of Notre Dame University. In CWS, a different set of Catholic SuperFriends characters gets together in Cleveland, OH to win a local basketball tournament, see one of the SuperFriends through a wedding, another SuperFriend into a convent and a third SuperFriend through a suicide attempt. If that sounds confusing to you, it is even more confusing when this unravels through almost 500 pages of annoying text.
Besides these annoying characteristics, there were several very disturbing aspects to this novel which makes it truly worthy of the 1-star rating. GoodReads only gives me a limited number of words to spell this out for you, but I'll try in my alloted space. The first disturbing element of this novel is the impression that I got that McFarlane really has no clue what conversion is all about. In his novels, people who become Catholic turn into brand new people. It's almost as though the body-snatchers have kidnapped the convert and replaced him or her with a perfect facsimile of his former self that never sins, never has a negative thought and is totally dedicated to prayer and the sacraments. There is one character in particular, Buzz, who is described as a former baddie who used to beat his ex-wife, cheat on her, and was an alchoholic and a drug addict to boot. However, for most of CWS Buzz hangs out constantly with people who drink and smoke cigarettes around him, but it doesn't faze him at all. He isn't even tempted to drink. Furthermore, at one point in the book Buzz spends a few days in a beach house with a young woman, and is never tempted to sleep with her. This just doesn't happen in real life, especially with people who had serious struggles with temptation in the past. But in CWS, it's everywhere.
Another disturbing characteristic of CWS is McFarlane's treatment of women. In his books, McFarlane's female characters are only significant in that they pair up with the male characters or tempt the male characters in some way. In CWS there are two significant female characters. One of them marries a male character while the other one, who was in love with this same male character, enters the convent after the male and female characters get married. McFarlane has a married character who goes through counseling after he separates from his wife (it is significant that this character went to counseling alone, without his wife). In counseling, this married character is told that he should treat his wife like a fine violin and play her like a virtuouso. He is told that he should think of his wife as though she is a famous movie star. Now, if I came home to my wife and said to her, "honey, you are a fine Strativarius, and I want to learn to play you like a virtuoso!", my wife would slap me from here to Canada. It's just wrong to compare a woman to a musical instrument or any other tool. Likewise, no woman will be flattered if she discovers that her husband treats her well because in his mind he has turned her into Jennifer Lopez. It's really a clueless individual that would even suggest this. This, of course, is Bud McFarlane Jr.
The last distrurbing characteristic of CWS is the role violence and warfare plays in this book. Of course, violence and warfare took a major part in PWAS, but that novel was about apocalyptic warfare, so violence is to be expected. In CWS there is no war, no battle, but warfare analogies are everywhere. Buzz and Sam, the two main characters, meet with Buzz pummels Sam on the basketball court. Throughout the novel there are beatings described on the basketball court, the wrestling ring, the football field and other places. In one particularly horrible scene, a male character describes a flashback to his childhood where he was beaten senseless by a pair of public school boys who happen to be brothers. The male character, who was of course a Catholic school kid, gathered up his father and brothers and formed a deranged gang of thugs to exact revenge on the public school boys. McFarlane describes this senseless violence with approval. He seems to think that devotion and manhood are about fighting and struggle. This analogy extends to romantic relationships as well. McFarlane's characters don't love each other the way that characters in a great novel would love each other. They use their prayer time to gather up spiritual warfare weapons to fight for their beloved, or fight against their beloved. To McFarlane, love is war, and relationships are a battleground. It is truly a bizarre outlook, especially for a Catholic writer.
I would truly not recommend this book to anyone. For Catholics, this novel presents a skewed and disturbing perspective on spirituality and relationships that will not be uplifting at all. For non-Catholics, this novel will give a very bad impression of the Catholic faith. Bottom line, avoid "Conceived without Sin" at all costs!
July 12, 2017
LOVED must read for all couples
November 27, 2011
This book made Pierced by a Sword look epic in comparison. The only character I like (but who still annoys me a lot) in Conceived Without Sin is silenced from the narrative at the end which was not necessary to the storytelling in my opinion. I won't give spoilers but if you have read Conceived Without Sin I'm sure you know what I mean.
The ending of this book is terrible. It is supposed to be dramatic, but to me it just sounded like it was trailing off.
The ending of this book is terrible. It is supposed to be dramatic, but to me it just sounded like it was trailing off.
July 29, 2019
ove hanging out with characters that are so thoroughly Catholic, but it was slower moving and didn't seem as inspired like Pierced by a Sword. One of the best treatments of marriage anywhere however of what makes a good marriage work!!
2013 - 3rd time reading
2007 - 2nd time reading
1998 - 1st time reading
2013 - 3rd time reading
2007 - 2nd time reading
1998 - 1st time reading
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2009
I reread this one every summer. A quick read and very fast moving. LOVE IT!
March 7, 2018
Eh. Extremely average compared the the greatness of his first book. To be honest, I skimmed the last third just to see if it would start getting better at any point and it doesn't.
But please, if you haven't read Pierced by a Sword-- you must! From every review I've read, that's the best of the trilogy.
But please, if you haven't read Pierced by a Sword-- you must! From every review I've read, that's the best of the trilogy.
September 16, 2018
This was interesting to me because of my Catholic upbringing. The convictions and beliefs of the author are evident, and the characters often seemed one dimensional. However, the book was worth a read because it did succeed in some personal reflection.
This book wouldn't appeal to everyone, but I'm glad that I stumbled on it.
This book wouldn't appeal to everyone, but I'm glad that I stumbled on it.
January 17, 2022
Loved Pierced by a Sword, but this one was even better. It was a roller coaster that kept me wanting more and more. Left a lot of lessons engraved in me and to better practice my faith. EVERYTHING MATTERS!
October 28, 2017
Grateful for my faith!
I pray for all lost souls to find peace in Christ Jesus. This book may be fiction, but it brought me closer to my Lord!
I pray for all lost souls to find peace in Christ Jesus. This book may be fiction, but it brought me closer to my Lord!
October 5, 2019
It’s not that the writing is excellent or anything, but this book is nostalgic for me because of the beauty and vision of Catholic culture and community it presented to me when I first read it.
May 28, 2020
Thought it would be a good, Catholic read. I did not like it and would not recommend it. Corny. Not well thought out. No suspense. Alot of corny thought processes, just a bad story. Blech.
November 11, 2021
So I read this book because I had to read something in my class. When I first read this book I barely caught up with it. As I progressed throughout the story I slowly fell in love; Not because of a character, but because of how the story was told. Using reality and colliding it with religion just makes me feel surprised.
The story mainly focuses on a group of three friends, two of which are Catholic and the other atheist. I like the fact that there are relationships between people who have a religion and with people who don't have one. The way the relationship is told in this story doesn't offend anyone of any kind. I feel religion is criticized whether a person has one or not because of how serious we take our opinions. Of course, all religion should and will be respected, but I just see religion being criticized as one of those stereotypical situations.
So ima spill the tea on the book and I'm sorry but hate me if you want. So this book talks about the journey of 3 friends Buzz Woodward and Donna beck who are Catholics and Sam Fisk the antagonistic. More characters are mentioned in the story but it mainly focuses on the three. Buzz Woodward is an alcoholic who had a difficult past but lays his faith in God. Donna Beck was a lonely yet strong woman who met two wonderful friends but has trouble in finding out what is her destiny. Sam Fisk is a tall workaholic who loves to spend his time on computers and playing sports yet is unsure if God really exists.
The journey the three best friends go through made me feel a whole ton of emotions. Joy, worry, suspense, sadness, and almost pain. I really like how the author repeats the word "Grace" throughout the story. There is not one chapter where you will not find the word "grace". "Grace" is used as a guide for those in need. Because my memory is bad and I font know where my favorite line is, my favorite line was when Sams wife Ellie said: "Without suffering, how can there be grace?" This brought me to a realization that because I haven't experienced something grave as the characters have or testimonies people tell me, It made me realize that I haven't experienced TRUE REALITY! A lot of people call me Jesus boy because I talk about my religion a lot and they think I'm a goodie-goodie. I'm not but I have done some things that I wish I never done, but what's already done is done. I don't know how to explain my situation because people look at me as too good to do anything bad. This kind of brings me down because it's just an automatic assumption that people think I'm living the best life when I'm not. I like to relate myself to the character Buzz because although we don't experience the same issues, I feel like I go through the process of healing just as he did in laying faith in someone he greatly believes in.
I recommend this book to those who have been divorced or the Catholic faith and for those who are non-Catholics. This isn't me saying "change your religion" but just showing you to see what one can go through.
The story mainly focuses on a group of three friends, two of which are Catholic and the other atheist. I like the fact that there are relationships between people who have a religion and with people who don't have one. The way the relationship is told in this story doesn't offend anyone of any kind. I feel religion is criticized whether a person has one or not because of how serious we take our opinions. Of course, all religion should and will be respected, but I just see religion being criticized as one of those stereotypical situations.
So ima spill the tea on the book and I'm sorry but hate me if you want. So this book talks about the journey of 3 friends Buzz Woodward and Donna beck who are Catholics and Sam Fisk the antagonistic. More characters are mentioned in the story but it mainly focuses on the three. Buzz Woodward is an alcoholic who had a difficult past but lays his faith in God. Donna Beck was a lonely yet strong woman who met two wonderful friends but has trouble in finding out what is her destiny. Sam Fisk is a tall workaholic who loves to spend his time on computers and playing sports yet is unsure if God really exists.
The journey the three best friends go through made me feel a whole ton of emotions. Joy, worry, suspense, sadness, and almost pain. I really like how the author repeats the word "Grace" throughout the story. There is not one chapter where you will not find the word "grace". "Grace" is used as a guide for those in need. Because my memory is bad and I font know where my favorite line is, my favorite line was when Sams wife Ellie said: "Without suffering, how can there be grace?" This brought me to a realization that because I haven't experienced something grave as the characters have or testimonies people tell me, It made me realize that I haven't experienced TRUE REALITY! A lot of people call me Jesus boy because I talk about my religion a lot and they think I'm a goodie-goodie. I'm not but I have done some things that I wish I never done, but what's already done is done. I don't know how to explain my situation because people look at me as too good to do anything bad. This kind of brings me down because it's just an automatic assumption that people think I'm living the best life when I'm not. I like to relate myself to the character Buzz because although we don't experience the same issues, I feel like I go through the process of healing just as he did in laying faith in someone he greatly believes in.
I recommend this book to those who have been divorced or the Catholic faith and for those who are non-Catholics. This isn't me saying "change your religion" but just showing you to see what one can go through.
April 2, 2012
It has been hard for me to find a good and inspiring novel these days. I used to be an avid reader in high school but after college, no longer so. One day I was searching the shelves of a second-hand thrift store in Idaho Falls and found the book "Conceived Without Sin". I was raised Catholic and the name of the novel immediately sought my attention. From the first page I was in. The characters are young adults in their twenties and thirties, struggling to find the purpose of their lives. The best part of the book are the dialogues that touch and question the very heart of philosophy and Catholic faith. The second best part are the inner monologues of the characters, their doubts and struggles, the hidden psychological battles raging in their souls. Sometimes when reading, especially the parts with the answered prayers, I thought "this is too good to be true" and "These were the good old nineties, the time before the the internet". At other times, I thought "This is the exact description of the conflict, helplessness, doubt, weakness and identity crisis that I struggle with in my life.
I would recommend reading this novel to everybody who has some Catholic or Christian background, has doubts about the teaching of the Roman Catholic church (most Catholics do :-) and who has trouble finding a good book to read.
I would recommend reading this novel to everybody who has some Catholic or Christian background, has doubts about the teaching of the Roman Catholic church (most Catholics do :-) and who has trouble finding a good book to read.
February 12, 2017
So overplayed, ugh. I love the Catholic faith and was sad to see it used like a piece of splintered wood hitting people on the head - even the poor characters. Couldn't finish the book.
January 21, 2009
I didn't enjoy this book the first time around. I found it slow and boring, especially since I read it after reading Mcfarlane's first novel (books not related), which was action packed and suspenseful. But after I read "House of Gold", the sequel to "Conceived without Sin", I went back and re-read both (a few yrs later) and very much enjoyed this one. Especially because I knew what would later happen to the characters in the second book.
I hope Bud writes again. It's been a while.
I hope Bud writes again. It's been a while.
January 25, 2014
An average book that will have strongest appeal to conservative Catholics. I found it unrealistic, and some of the characters pretty annoying (Buzz!)
The sequel, House of Gold, is a little better. The Catholic "product placement" was cloying, but the book is not bad...it's just not really good. I would make it 2 1/2 stars if I could. Maybe 2.75 stars.
The sequel, House of Gold, is a little better. The Catholic "product placement" was cloying, but the book is not bad...it's just not really good. I would make it 2 1/2 stars if I could. Maybe 2.75 stars.
April 21, 2014
I read this book after reading Pierced by a Sword, which I really enjoyed. This book has a different plot and new characters and I couldn't stop reading it. McFarlane has a knack for writing what I term "good, Catholic soap operas". This book was hard to put down at the end- it really picked up!
May 14, 2016
Good basic Catholic Teaching
We Catholics need to learn more about our faith and not be afraid to share it, like Buzz, Donna, Mark, Bill. Sometimes their conversations were a bit weird but it was an enjoyable story. It helps people know that all Christians struggle with prayer, doing the right thing, and evangelizing.
We Catholics need to learn more about our faith and not be afraid to share it, like Buzz, Donna, Mark, Bill. Sometimes their conversations were a bit weird but it was an enjoyable story. It helps people know that all Christians struggle with prayer, doing the right thing, and evangelizing.
August 27, 2011
I started this novel about a month ago and got bogged down in the number of characters. I continued two days ago with it. It tells of the struggles of friendship and love and faith in their everyday lives. Catholic theology is center point.
October 8, 2013
I really wanted to like this book more but this book just did not have a cohesive enough plot to ever really engage me. I thought the characters were very real but the story doesn't move along well and there are so many subplots that the focus of the book isn't clear.
March 7, 2016
Again, Mr. Macfarlane, thank you.
It's been a pleasure to read this. I recently read Pierced By A Sword, enjoyed it, and now this. I'm looking forward to the next one. Worth the time.
It's been a pleasure to read this. I recently read Pierced By A Sword, enjoyed it, and now this. I'm looking forward to the next one. Worth the time.
February 10, 2008
Speachless.
Want to read
February 23, 2010I might enjoy this better than Pierced by the Sword, since it doesn't seem to deal with supernatural stuff, which bothered me in the other book.
January 11, 2011
If you read this, you have to follow with House of Gold.
June 27, 2011
I love this book. I've probably read it 8 or 9 times.
September 2, 2011
Recommend for all.....excellent read!
December 3, 2011
It's been 7 years since I've read it. I am reading it again hoping it's as incredible as I remember it .
May 4, 2012
Too wordy, slow developing, but in the last quarter has some activity and substance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews