Book Review: Song of Silence

Music taught Lucy love and beauty. Could silence teach her hope?

Lucy and Charlie Tuttle agree on one thing: they’re committed to each other for life. Trouble is, neither of them expected life to look like this. Charlie retired early, but Lucy is devoted to a long-term career . . . until the day she has no choice.

Forced to retire from her position as music educator in a small Midwestern K-8 school, Lucy can only watch helplessly as the program her father started years ago disintegrates before her eyes. As the music fades and a chasm separates her form the passion of her heart, Lucy wonders if her faith’s song has gone silent, too. The musical score of her life seems to be missing all the notes.

When a simple misstep threatens to silence Lucy forever, a young boy and his soundless mother change the way she sees—and hears—everything.

Cynthia Ruchti tells stories hemmed in hope. She’s the award-winning author of 17 books and a frequent speaker for women’s ministry events. She serves as the Professional Relations Liaison for American Christian Fiction Writers, where she helps retailers, libraries, and book clubs connect with the authors and books they love. She lives with her husband in Central Wisconsin.

Find out more about Cynthia at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.

My Impressions:

I have found that I have a harder time reviewing books that make the biggest impact. I feel inadequate to express the power and the beauty that an author has imbued in his/her work. Song of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti is one of those books. I loved this book, but more importantly, I connected with it. Characters, plot, themes — they all resonated with me. This is one that will stay with me a long time and is a highly recommended read.

Lucy Tuttle has been living her dream for 19 years — teaching music to children. But the dream abruptly comes to an end when she not only loses her job, but the school board shuts down all arts curriculum. Her summer stretches out in front of her without an end. Despite her husband’s sometimes clueless attempts to join him in retirement, Lucy slips deeper into her grief. A series of events lead her to a new understanding of God’s new song for her life.

Because I am struggling to find the right words to convey the essence of this book, I am just going to tell you why I loved it. Song of Silence has great characters — complex, believable, struggling with everyday issues that we can all relate to. I especially liked Lucy’s husband Charlie, referred to as Captain Oblivious in one instance. But before you think that there is some man-bashing in this book, let me say that he is one of the most caring, loving characters, even if he is not always the most observant. The themes are ones that we all deal with at some point in our lives — relationship dynamics, loss of dreams/purpose, disappointment and grief. God is present in the novel in the words of friends and trusted counselors, in the circumstances that almost overwhelm Lucy and in the silence in which she finds herself. Ruchti’s use of humor lightens the mood and brings real life into the pages.

Song of Silence is a great book, one that lingered in my mind long after I finished it. It spoke truth and it spoke hope. I loved it and think you will too.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

To purchase this book, click HERE.

(Thanks to Abingdon and LitFuse for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Giveaway!

Celebrate the release of Song of Silence with a blog tour and giveaway. Two winners will be chosen!

One grand prize winner will receive:
A copy of Song of Silence
A $150 Visa cash card

One second place winner will receive:
A copy of Song of Silence
A music-themed prize pack filled with goodies hand-picked by Cynthia.

Enter today by clicking HERE. But hurry! The giveaway ends on May 9th.
The winners will be announced May 10th on Cynthia’s blog.

Tags: contemporary fiction, Cynthia Ruchti