Beth's
life is turned upside-down. Her husband, Rick, is a pastor at a large
church in Lutherville - well, he's the men's pastor. When old friends
who have moved to the big city come to visit, it is with a job offer
for Rick. He can be head pastor of a big church in the city. The
friends will see to it. And Rick will have a voice, a megaphone in
the Christian community.
Rick
feels he needs to seek God on the issue and determines to spend a
month in solitude in the backyard shed. Beth feels abandoned. Her
life is upside-down.
Beth's
brother suggests this time might be for her as much as it is for her
husband. Beth, wife of a husband retreating in a backyard shed and
mother of two teenage sons, tries to find out what all of this means.
She meets unusual people, takes part in a demonstration, and has
other adventures. Then one day, she sees the sky through a whole in
the roof of a beach hut and she knows.
What
an interesting novel. It took me a while to get into it. The first
half was a little slow and tedious for me. But then the novel took
off. It was great to journey with Beth as she gets into various
situations, finding what God is doing, who He wants her to be. This
is almost a coming of age story except that Beth is middle aged.
Nonetheless, she comes into her own as she realizes what God is doing
and how Rick and the boys are all a part of it.
When
you get to the very end, get your tissue ready.
The
is a very rewarding novel. There is a discussion guide at the end so
it would be a great choice for a reading group. There is tons to
discuss – everything from expectations placed on wives to kids
taking drugs to being a part of a political demonstration.
Lisa
Samson is the Christy Award-winning author of Christianity Today's
Novel of the Year Quaker Summer. She lives in Kentucky with
her husband and three kids.
Thomas
Nelson Publishers, 320 pages.
I
received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher for
the purpose of this review.
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