Title: The Feathered
Bone
Author: Julie Cantrell
Pages: 384
Year: 2016
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
My rating is 5 stars.
Life experiences are something we all acquire as we live
life this side of heaven. If we are
truthful, we would say that some days just seem dark, full of evil that looks
as if it is beating people down, and some don’t want to live another moment. When people are impacted by tragedies, the
reactions vary and if we’re honest we struggle with our faith.
In this novel is a tale that really will grab the deepest
parts of the reader’s heart with joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, evil and
hope. While I read the book, I admit I
wondered what in the world I was thinking as the novel wrestles with some of
life’s devastating events like suicide, divorce, feeling hopeless and full of
guilt for many reasons. The characters
show us how deep the pain can rock even the staunchest faith or a person who is
known to be strong.
The other tough issue is child abduction and human
trafficking which shatters many lives. While
some, in time, learn to live one day at a time, others decide that they cannot
live another day. People also live with
survivor’s guilt when someone else loses their life in a traumatic event. I imagine that is what people like Corrie Ten
Boom wrestled with when she alone survived a death camp, losing everyone but
her brother during the Nazi regime.
Why bring up Corrie ten Boom? Was she in the story? No. What
Julie shares with us is a fictional tale borne from real life events either in her
life or in those she has met in her travels.
Stories can touch our hearts in the deepest places and it is there we
see that God resides still and hope never dies.
I once heard an author respond to the question, “Why don’t you just tell
people what is going on or what might happen instead of writing fiction” (Not a
direct quote but you get the message).
The author replied that more will hear the message through the work of
fiction than if they simply came to a lecture.
I believe the author was spot on in the assessment. So, while Julie’s story is a work of fiction
it actually reflects what is going on around us every day whether we see it or
not. Before Julie Cantrell, Corrie Ten
Boom learned that no matter how deep evil, pain and broken lives go; God’s love
goes deeper still. He doesn’t just give
His love but the hope He brings to people every day if they can dare to
believe. Read Isaiah 61:1-3.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or
services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my
blog. Regardless, I only recommend
products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my
readers. I am disclosing this in
accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. “Guides
Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”