Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker

 

"My name is Christy Snow. I'm seventeen and I'm about to die. I'm buried in a coffin under tons of concrete. No one knows where I am. My heart sounds like a monster with clobber feet, running straight toward me. I'm lying on my back, soaked with sweat from the hair on my head to the soles of my feet. My hands and feet won't stop shaking. Some will say that I'm not really here. Some will say I'm delusional. Some will say that I don't even exist. But who are they? I'm the one buried in a grave. My name is Christy Snow. I'm seventeen and I'm about to die."

Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker was a book that truly opened my eyes wide to the power of the mind and the illusions that it is capable of creating. This novel left me spellbound and unsure of what was going to happen. Even as the story concluded, I found myself questioning what was real and what was all the in the mind of the characters. One of the best psychological thrillers I have read in a while, Eyes Wide Open has a fantastic storyline that explores what it means to be loved and accepted by God especially once you realize just how messed up you really are. Set in a supposed mental hospital, Christy and her friend Austin find themselves in the midst of a cover up that leaves them admitted into the mental ward under fictional names with no way to get out or to reveal the truth. As the story unfolds, Christy and Austin find their perceptions challenged, their thoughts confused, and the truth of who they are clouded as they face their worst fears and characteristics. Will they discover the truth in time, or will they remain in a state of clouded illusion, not realizing the love and beauty of following the Outlaw?

The plot line of Eyes Wide Open was beautifully crafted and consisted of series of twists and turns that left me dizzy and truly able to connect to the characters as they struggled to understand what was going on. The imagery and illusions that filled this book were excellently described and added to the intrigue and complexity of the story. The characters of Eyes Wide Open were well developed and realistic. Both Christy and Austin struggled with fundamental issues, such as body image and what is truth, that every person has struggled with at some point in time. As they are forced to wrestle with these thoughts, it becomes obvious how truly clouded one's perceptions can be about what is true apart from God. The themes of this novel were woven in incredibly well and were convicting in their message. Eyes Wide Open addressed the importance of God's love and acceptance and how it is only through his love and his Son that we can see beyond the clouds of sin and death to what we are in Him. That through the death and resurrection of Jesus we are made Outlaws, outside of the law and redeemed from the death that our sins require and that the law demands.

Overall, I highly enjoyed the depth and complexity of Eyes Wide Open by Ted Dekker. I loved how it pulled me in yet still made me think about deep, base issues that reside all hearts. I highly recommend this novel to any person looking for a novel that both thrills and convicts, and I look forward to seeing what happens next in this series.

I received this novel for free from Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.