I guess this book is all about preaching to the converted. Well, it's clearly targeted at people who call themselves christian or have marked leanings in that direction. Actually, it's probably even more focused on regular church-goers. I definitely don't fit into that category and yet I not only pulled it off the shelf at the library, but read it and found myself very emotionally involved. Regular readers of my reviews (hi Bron!) would know that I'm a pretty soppy emotional kind of guy who cries at the slightest provocation...but I think Lisa Samson deserves some credit for creating a set of characters and an environment that has a ring of truth and believability which tends to lead at least one reader to feel very involved in their lives. Of course, why I pulled this book off the shelf was the Quaker in the title. Although coming from a background of little real knowledge of Quakers, I'm nonetheless attracted to the aspects that I do 'know' about: pacifism, non-bureaucratic organization, and simplicity of lifestyle. I was not disappointed in the sense that this book does indeed spend some time exploring the interaction between the main character and an older Quaker woman. However, the title is misleading in the sense that the interaction with the Quaker woman is only one of a number of relationships which have a big impact on a woman who is searching for greater meaning in her life. The interacting people include: her mid-teenage son, a Catholic nun, a drug dealer, a drug user, a woman friend with a PhD in theology, an old widower, and, perhaps most importantly, someone from her childhood. The latter relationship is one element of a focus on one of the major themes: forgiveness and reconciliation. I think it's this theme, rather than the more dominant anti-materialism theme which drew me in more and provided the emotionality to which I responded.
I definitely liked this book, and was able to just ignore a lot of stuff which an anti-religious person would find to be annoying or just plain silly. ( )

Heather, a middle-aged doctor's wife, begins to question events in her past, how she is currently spending her life, and what the future holds for herself and her family.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I actually couldn't finish reading it. I don't recommend this book, but others may like it.

Heather is in a crisis. No, there's not anything horrible happening in her life, but she is dissatified with her materialistic lifestyle. Even her frequent shopping sprees and plans to put in a tennis court are not enough anymore. She also doesn't want to put up with all the social obligations she has because of her status as a Christian mother at her son's private school. She takes some time off, spends some time with a couple of older ladies (one of whom is a Quaker) and volunteering at a homeless shelter. Along the way she finds some insight into herself and finds a new sense of purpose.
At times I got frustrated with the main character as she seemed to spend so much time processing what she knew she needed to do. Following her thought process step by step may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this novel does have some memorable characters and the musings of the main character may be just what someone needs to process their own journey. ( )