Author:  Glenn A. Hascall

Publisher:  PublishAmerica

ISBN:  1-4137-3307-7

 The following review was contributed by: Jennifer Brown

“It would sure be nice to know the final outcome of our best intentions.” (p. 34) 

Hal feels forgotten.  Call it a midlife crisis, bad planning, bad luck. Call it whatever you like – to Hal it’s simply “forgotten.”  Not that Hal’s a needy guy, nor a picky one.  He simply wants one thing:  to be a writer for the local paper, the Bridgestone Gazette.  He’s made the connections, he’s even chosen a pen name, but the best he can manage to land is a job running the press and cleaning up after the “real reporters.” 

Hal makes a command decision – he’s going to write up a story that his boss, the editor at the Gazette – won’t be able to refuse.  He’s got vacation time coming to him.  He’s got connections.  He’s going to go out and live among “The Forgotten.” 

What does a journey into the land of the forgotten look like?  Who would you care to meet?  How about the homeless, that untouchable faction of society that we like to pretend doesn’t exist, or maybe believe exists only out of some fault of their own?  Perhaps the sick, the maimed, the recluse.  Maybe the ignored children, or worse – the taunted ones.  Surely they’d deserve a visit.  Would you care, instead, to visit a criminal, someone forgotten on purpose?

These are the very forgotten that Hal visits. 

Hal’s journey among The Forgotten takes him on an incredible ride through joy, misery, regret, and pain.  He makes friends, tempts enemies, and learns a great deal about himself and the direction of his desires in the process.  What’s more, he learns about grace and plans much greater than our own.  Says Hal, “Isn’t it amazing how often we get in the way of God’s plan for us?”

FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORGOTTEN is a powerful novella, stuffed with lessons on life, love, and generosity.  Through Hal, Glenn Hascall makes the reader stop and think about those out there who are the forgotten ones, and inspires the reader to want to do something to stretch humanity and faith beyond their outer limits.   

Hascall tells the story in a deeply spiritual manner, without being overly religious.  He handles the subject of God without frightening the reader away with harsh didactics or lengthy, sermony Bible quotes.  Hal’s relationship with God is human – flawed and sometimes tentative, but in the end fulfilling.

This story is well-written, quick-paced and entertaining.  The characters are well-maintained.  FELLOWSHIP OF THE FORGOTTEN is a message not easily forgotten.