Reviewer: Lori Graham
Title: The Longing Season - 2nd in the Music of the Heart Series
Author: Christine Schaub
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: : 0-7642-0060-7
Release Date: June/July 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Historical Romance (Inspirational)
Year/Setting: 1772/England and Africa
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Mild
Language (Profanity) Rating: Mild
Voilent Content Rating: Minimal
Christine's Website: christineschaub.typepad.com
John Newton wasn’t exactly making his father proud while in England. Since his father was a shipping merchant, it only made sense that John would be sent to sea. Initially, I believe, that John felt being the shipper’s son would buy him some easy work. Unfortunately, for him, it actually had almost the opposite effect when he was sold into slavery. Hardships such as what he experienced there were almost more than he could handle.
Through good fortune, however, he managed to maneuver into a new situation. I am not sure this one was much better though as he was now a trader of human flesh at the beginning of the slavery movement. Through his own bitterness and hurt, he became almost callous to the sufferings of others (notice I said almost). With all of this happening, though, he never forgot England. He didn’t long for his father or even his mother land but he did long for Mary. A sweet young woman who for whatever reason would not let go of his heart.
Mary, too, never gave up on John. Through it all she believed he would be home even when everyone, including his father, had given him up for dead. Mary even gave up a marriage proposal from a man who had become a dear friend because of her belief John would return.
Through it all, both John and Mary were questioning God and his presence in their lives. How could things be so hard if he was so loving?
I really enjoyed how Christine Schaub wove reality into this tale of fiction. Christianity most frequently does not come easy or immediately. It is something which must be worked on and sought after. Mary rarely faltered but John had no belief. He realized through his fighting to get back to Mary that he needed the help of someone much bigger than he.
Christine chose a tough topic for the heart of John’s life with the slave trading. However, I found that she handled it with great grace and brought the reader to where she was in time. The poignancy and rawness of the entire work creates a situation for the reader to stop and really ponder what they are reading while being entertained by the two main characters.
The only down side to the story was there were a couple of times I had to regroup as we moved from venue to venue. Not anything to stay away from just not a book that can be read quickly or without paying attention to what you are reading.
Lori
Note: This is the story of the hymn Amazing Grace.
Question or comment regarding the review or the book? Click here and let Lori know.
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