MY REVIEW:
I'm not quite sure why it has taken me so long to discover Lynn Austin, but I'm glad that I finally have. I have read her book "Until We Reach Home" and I really liked it, and now "Though Waters Roar" and I have realized she is not a fluke - her writing is wonderful. I was explaining her writing to my mom today and I said, "She writes stand alone epics. She covers generations in the space of one book and yet you are not getting caught up in a series. It's amazing!"
In "Though Waters Roar" we follow Hannah, her daughter Beatrice, her daughter Lucy and her daughter Harriet. Four generations of women and the battles they each face in their lives. I found it fascinating that Hannah helped with the underground railroad, Beatrice found her battle in getting Prohibition passed, Lucy becomes instrumental in woman's suffrage and Harriet gets arrested for smuggling liquor. That is where the book starts out, with Harriet in jail thinking back over the stories she heard growing up. It gets a little confusing at times as the story bounces around through the span of 100 years, but Lynn does a good job keeping you straight.
I really enjoyed this book and am already looking into getting some more of Lynn's books as she is a very prolific author.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction.
Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel.
ABOUT THE BOOK
"Thank goodness you're such a plain child. You'll have to rely on your wits."So went the words of Grandma Bebe. And for all of my growing-up years, I scoffed at the beauty of my sister and what I saw as her meaningless existence. But my wits hadn't served me well in this instance, for here I was, in jail. And while I could have seen it as carrying on the family tradition (for Grandma Bebe landed in jail for her support of Prohibition), the truth is, my reasons for being here would probably break her heart.
So how did I end up becoming a criminal? I've been pondering that question all night. Perhaps the best way to search for an answer is to start at the very beginning.
Harriet Sherwood has always adored her grandmother. But when Harriet decides to follow in her footsteps to fight for social justice, she certainly never expected her efforts to land her in jail. Nor did she expect her childhood enemy and notorious school bully, Tommy O'Reilly, to be the arresting officer.
Languishing in a jail cell, Harriet has plenty of time to sift through the memories of the three generations of women who have preceded her. As each story emerges, the strength of her family--and their deep faith in the God of justice and righteousness--brings Harriet to the discovery of her own goals and motives for pursuing them.
If you would like to read the first chapter of Though Waters Roar, go HERE
"I received a courtesy copy of this book for the purpose of reading and reviewing."
1 comment:
This book sounds fantastic.
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