What options does a Christian woman have after she’s brutally assaulted by a stranger . . . and becomes pregnant? That’s the heartrending situation Claire Holland faces. Happily married and the mother of two when she is attacked, Claire begins an incredible journey on the painful pathway to trusting God “in all things”.
When Claire’s husband, Dan, confesses he can’t be a father to the expected child, Claire’s decision to put the baby up for adoption creates a sense of tremendous loss for Claire. Later, unexpected circumstances turn this seeming loss into victory.
This wonderful first novel isn’t a love story . . . but a life story, presenting the twin themes trusting God in tragic circumstances and reaping the rewards that eventually come with sacrificial loving.
Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include A Fall of Marigolds, named to Booklist’s Top Ten Women’s Fiction titles for 2014, and The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008. A California native, she attended Point Loma Nazarene University. Susan is a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When she’s not working on a novel, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church. Visit Susan at her website: http://susanlmeissner.com on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner.
My Impressions:
My book club has read books by Susan Meissner in the past. I think one of our members had gotten Why The Sky Is Blue at a discounted price from BookBub, or some such site, and suggested we read it. The name Meissner was enough for us all to give a unanimous assent. I didn’t know this book was her debut novel until after I had read it. I never would have guessed. It is a well-written story that touches a nerve in a reader. I could not put it down, and I think you may have the same experience.
Claire Holland is faced with a nightmare scenario. With no memory of the vicious attack that left her broken, she must face the reality of a pregnancy. It is not an unwanted pregnancy, at least for her. But the child is not her husband’s, and that reality alone puts a strain on her marriage and family. Faced with no other choice but to have the baby and then give it away, Claire struggles to do the right thing. Sixteen years later, Claire is faced with another decision that threatens to turn her carefully constructed life upside down.
Why The Sky Is Blue created more discussion in our group than we have seen in recent months. We actually spent most of our time talking about the book! That is quite an achievement for us. 😉 Our conversation centered mostly on the complexities of the characters’ reactions to the situations in which they found themselves and their motivations in attempting to control the uncontrollable. We found most of the characters to be believable and relatable. Meissner’s handling of the difficult subject matter showed a great deal of insight and sensitivity.
This book is definitely great for book club discussions, and we highly recommend it.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: adults.
Great for book clubs.
To purchase, click HERE.
(I purchased the audiobook version from Audible. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
This sounds worth reading!
It is!