My rating: 5/5
Life is unpredictable. It can fluctuate from immense bliss then instantly change due to an incident so disturbing that it shakes the very core of your being. How one responds depends on many things. Nevertheless, love is a balm to the weary heart and soul. The Solace of Water by Elizabeth Byler Younts is a heartening story depicting memorable characters entwined to one another by their battles with loss and grief, abated purposes, and yearnings for hope and forgiveness.
“It was like lamenting over thirst while the solace of water was close at hand. But I’d remained empty, and instead of taking a long drink of healing and offering forgiveness, I’d poured the water onto the earth to satisfy the bitter roots I harvested daily. Could water even satisfy my thirst anymore”? –The Solace of Water.
Primary characters Delilah and Emma could not be more different from one another. Delilah is a fiery wife and mother, who refuses to allow the mending of her broken heart that was recently shattered by the untimely death of her young son. The burden of grief has hardened herself towards her family, particularly toward the family member she holds responsible for the death of her son.
Emma is a meek woman, whose reputation within her Amish community compels her to keep devastating secrets that are slowly rotting her and well as her family to the core. Although greatly different, Emma and Delilah establish an unlikely friendship through one common factor. The glue of their friendship lies in Sparrow, Delilah’s eldest daughter who is gravely suffering from the loss of her little brother, dealing with issues with her mother, and becoming weakened by the debilitating strain of guilt and grief. Events that they endure connect them in a way that transcends the growing racial tides within their small town in Pennsylvania, exceeds their dissimilar religious practices, and provokes the healing of their hearts and souls.
The Solace of Water is a hopeful tale of forgiveness, friendship, and emotional healing. The story is well written with an exceptionally diverse cast of characters. I appreciated the diversity of characters, which is oftentimes not included in Christian fiction. The story is a well-paced character and plot driven novel that effortlessly keeps the reader engrossed in the tale. There is suitable Christian content that doesn’t overpower the plot in a preachy sort of way. Characters are realistically dealing with doubtful faith in God during tough situations; however, the restoration of faith and hope is restored through the unwavering love of Christ. Although the characters dealt with challenging situations, this story is a welcomed celebration of friendship, forgiveness, and healing. I absolutely loved this novel, and I highly recommend it to others.
#ChristianFiction #HistoricalFiction #Fiction #ElizabethBylerYounts
