Monday, July 27, 2009

A Heavy Read


This book was extremely difficult for me to read.

Extremely difficult.

I often found myself having to put it down to take a break from reading it. I had to allow my mind some time to digest what it was taking in.
I just could not wrap myself around the idea of someone owning someone else and treating them with such disregard. Such hatred.
It made me sick to my stomach.

Lawrence Hill is truly a brilliant author. He writes in such a way that you feel like you are right there walking along with his characters. Although for the majority of the book I wished I didn't feel like that.
I didn't like feeling the pain and struggle. The hatred. The injustice.
I wanted to jump inside the story and rescue all the people who were hurt and suffering.
My heart was torn into pieces over all the brokenness.

The one thing that I did come away with though, is that through all the pain and injustice an awe-inspiring strength had the ability to emerge.

A strength that I can only imagine.
A strength that would not otherwise be found.
A strength that can only be described as beautiful.

It taught me about how ugly we can be, and also, just how beautiful we can be.

I highly recommend this book, but with a warning:
Proceed with caution.
You'll likely want to throw the book across the room...many, many times.


Now, after that heavy read, I'm looking for something a little lighter...any recommendations? What are you reading this summer?

8 comments:

  1. I'm re-reading one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors, the Smart Chick series by Mindy Starns Clark. The first one is The Trouble with Tulip, then Blind Dates Can Be Murder, then Elementary, My Dear Watkins. They are light Christian murder mysteries. Very Nancy Drew-ish, but yet almost chick lit light.

    A series I think is hilarious is Philip Gulley's Harmony series. It's kind of like Jan Karon's Mitford on steroids. I laugh out loud in parts of these.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Robyn Jones Gunn is good, light Christian fiction reading. I am particularity fond of her Christy Miller Series :)

    I have also heard good things about the Shack, but have yet to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for your kind words yesterday!

    And I agree, a lighter read following Book of Negroes is definitely a good idea. As for suggestions, have you read Marley and Me? Even better than the movie (as books usually are!)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I saw what Snow White said about The Shack...it is good, but it wouldn't qualify as light. And I agree with her on Robin Jones Gunn, except that I've only read her Sisterchicks series.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm currently reading My Sister's Keeper, but its not exactly 'uplifting'. Probably more-so than what your reading tho!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm currently reading My Sister's Keeper, but its not exactly 'uplifting'. Probably more-so than what your reading tho!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I saw what Snow White said about The Shack...it is good, but it wouldn't qualify as light. And I agree with her on Robin Jones Gunn, except that I've only read her Sisterchicks series.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for your kind words yesterday!

    And I agree, a lighter read following Book of Negroes is definitely a good idea. As for suggestions, have you read Marley and Me? Even better than the movie (as books usually are!)

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for leaving your comments. I absolutely love hearing from you :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails