The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin

A stranger arrives in town asking for prayers, but won't say exactly what he needs, the town embraces him, he kills someone and now it's Agnes's fault - what? Stupid. The town wants to put up a sign welcoming people to Agnes's home - Agnes and her sister don't want the attention, the townspeople are condescending twits 'we know better than you'. She demands more and more junk food - seriously, this poor woman would have been better off if someone told her no and quit feeding her all the junk. Agnes is manipulative and demanding with her sister, basically expecting her to sacrifice any chance at a normal life to care for her. I was hoping to find a charming small town story- maybe like the Mitford (Father Tim) books. Agnes is around 700 pounds, home bound, and spends her days praying for the town - maybe even a few miracles have occured due to her prayers. Griselda spends most of her time caring for her older sister Agnes. After some tense days, the townsfolk, Griselda, and Agnes decide they all need to find their way back to the true source of the miracles-God.Ģ sisters in a small town in Pennsylvania in the early 70's.

Agnes has been praying to atone for a sin committed when she was a child. How could Agnes allow such evil in their midst? Didn’t she know? Well, the prayers of Agnes Sparrow have more to do with Agnes than God.

The truth of Agnes’s odd motivation comes out when the town reels after the murder of a beloved community member. Griselda’s petitions are shot down and the sign plans press forward until a stranger comes to town looking for his miracle from Agnes. The rural residents of Bright’s Pond are so enamored with Agnes they plan to have a sign erected on the interstate that reads, “Welcome to Bright’s Pond, Home of Agnes Sparrow.” This is something Agnes doesn’t want and sends Griselda to fight city hall. Agnes Sparrow prays and when Agnes prays things happen, including major miracles of the cancer, ulcer-healing variety along with various minor miracles not the least of which is the recovery of lost objects and a prize-winning pumpkin. No longer able or willing to leave her home, where she is cared for by her long-suffering sister Griselda, Agnes has committed her life to the one thing she can do-besides eat. The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow is the story of an unusual woman, Agnes Sparrow.

The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow by Joyce Magnin