This is the story of the Parst family. David Parst was a minister in O’Fallon, MO who seemed to have everything and then he threw it away in one night. He committed adultery. The husband of the woman he had a one night stand with commits suicide on David’s church steps.

What follows is the effect that one act had on his entire family for the rest of their lives. His wife - didn’t want to divorce him but couldn’t live with him. Shortly after their separation she is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. His son, Jack, who at 12 learns of his father’s affair in the middle of a church service where his father is giving the sermon and then sees the dead man on the front steps of the church. He is sure that the failure of his family, the man’s death and then his mother’s disease is all his father’s fault. Can he ever forgive him? David, himself, has failed God, his family and himself. Is there forgiveness?

Something That Lasts is an excellent, well written story. It tells of the strong faith in God that Sarah and David have that carry them through more than 30 years of challenges and struggles as well as good times. Realistically it also shows the bitterness Jack carries with him towards God and his father.

The third part of the book is about Jack’s life with Katie his wife and their son. It is about their tragedy and the pit that Jack falls into after losing his son. This part of the book is very emotional but also very inspirational. It is a long struggle but with his family’s love and faith Jack climbs his way out of the pit of despair he has fallen into.

I highly recommend this book to everyone.
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First of all, can I just say this book was very Twilight Zone for me. The beginning of Something That Lasts takes place in O’Fallon, Missouri, where I have family and the rest takes place in Dallas, where I certainly live.

Something That Lasts is a very well-written story. Not exactly a “feel good” read, but Something That Lasts provides a real depiction of how good people can be devastated by their choices and how complex grieving can be.

I remember starting this book long ago, probably in 2006, but don’t remember why I put it down. It became a movie in my mind and the writing bring the reader through the emotions of anger, disappointments, tears, and ultimately joy. Jordan’s characters realistically heal in a way that doesn’t seemed forced, doesn’t seem unrealistic.

My only complaint is that there were a sections were I was tempted to skip to the next chapter, a couple of pages at most. Something That Lasts is a long novel because Jordan goes to such lengths to make the reader feel the consequences of the father’s sins. However, it seems long, despite having only 324 page and, at times, I wanted to bail. ( )