Critical Times (Book Review)

Only a couple of chapters into Critical Times, one gets the feeling that this novel is the one that E.K. Jonathan really wanted to write; All Things New and The Unrighteous were just practice.

I'm not sure if Critical Times is his best work yet (it may be), but it is easily the most thrilling. In fact, Critical Times has the most suspenseful final act of any book I've ever read. If you're expecting another pleasant trip to the New World, think again. Critical Times is a conspiracy thriller with a clear villain. It is filled more with worldly people than Witnesses. It is dark and ugly.

Don't let these facts scare you away.

This novel is not dark-for-the-sake-of-being-dark. It's dark because this world is awful even though we'd sometimes like to think it isn't as bad as it seems. It is also more than the twothousandwordsandaturn melodrama that it starts off seeming to be; the vividly drawn situations shine through more than the plot as you keep turning the pages. It feels unapologetically written the way it was with a clear purpose in mind.

E.K. Jonathan has grown teeth as a writer and he just keeps getting better and more versatile. Jonathan has proven why he's the undisputed champion of Witness Fiction--and not just because there are only a few other others in the ring.

Critical Times is a fantastic action-thriller that should be sold with hot buttered popcorn.

An Open Letter to the Government of the Russian Federation...

To the Russian Federation,

The great writer Leo Tolstoy once said, “Much unhappiness has come into the world because of things left unsaid.” How much more unhappiness can come into the world because of things left undone!

Jehovah’s Witnesses are facing the threat of a ban on their religious activities in Russia based on slanderous charges. What will the Russian government do about this?

Please take the time to investigate our international website www.jw.org. You will see that the activity of Jehovah’s Witnesses and the publications that we produce encourage us to love God and our fellowman, love our families, and respect the government. There is absolutely nothing “extremist” or criminal in our Bible-based publications.

The peaceful standard of conduct we adhere to applies to all of Jehovah's Witnesses internationally, including those in Russia.

What will the Russian government do about the injustice Jehovah’s Witnesses are facing at this time?

I would like to have the confidence to believe that your government will protect the laws that guarantee freedom of religion to all of your citizens.

Please exonerate Jehovah’s Witnesses from the false charges against them and allow our brothers their freedom to peacefully worship and encourage others to live peaceful lives.

Sincerely,
Joseph Lal