Chris Fabry

Every Waking Moment by Chris Fabry is an uplifting, human tale of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift, and this novel goes on my top inspirational fiction list. All the elements that elevate it to that rank are present: lyrical prose, rich characterization, emotionally gripping themes, compelling message, and the power to effect change in how one thinks. Highly recommended.

This is a difficult review to write because it will be hard for me to do justice to this wonderful novel. The show more engaging writing style held my interest from the beginning and the themes are both vital and compelling. I wish there were more novels like this in the Christian fiction genre.

The story revolves around an unusual character named Treha (Tray-uh), a young girl with a tender heart who struggles to connect with people. Treha's gift is the ability to reach inside older people who are suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s and pull them back - a gift "to help flowers bloom, to free chained minds. But the girl herself remained closed tight like a desert rose in the winter." The book's cover beautifully depicts Treha's character and struggles.

Other characters play strong parts, such as Miriam Howard, director of Desert Gardens in Tucson, Arizona where Treha works. Miriam has a genuine compassion and ability at working with people to make Desert Gardens remind them of their home. Forced into early retirement, Miriam's replacement is Jillian Millstone, who is "able to catalog every duty for the job except compassion."

One of the book's main themes, "the power of story," can't help but resonate with everyone who reads it. Devin Hillis and his partner, Jonah, are given permission to interview some of the residents at Desert Gardens for a documentary they are producing. In Devin's words, "I'm a big believer in the power of stories. Individual and collective. We were capturing people at Desert Gardens rehearsing their lives, showing how one person's story touches another and how it feeds the rest of us, makes us better. Instead of discounting those on the margins, those our society says aren't important, we need to celebrate their stories. Ask more questions. Learn and grow and honor them."

I appreciate a book that makes me think, and a Desert Gardens resident named Elsie did exactly that. I've always thought of 1 Corinthians 10:13 as giving the assurance that God doesn't place upon us more than we are capable of withstanding. But I love how Elsie takes it a step further when she says, "He does give us more than we can handle. He lets us go through deeper waters so that we cling to him; that's the whole point of having faith. If we could handle everything, there would be no reason for us to need God."

Treha talks about how people crave touch, and she always reached out to touch a hand, arm, shoulder, or gently rub a back. And she also listened. I have often visited nursing homes and am ashamed to realize I haven't been very good in these areas. Treha's actions and attitude are something I will always remember.

The theme of valuing people because of the lives they've lived is so relevant and compelling for today. Discussion questions at the end are very thought provoking.

Every Waking Moment will definitely go on my list of 2013 favorites. There is so much opportunity for further development of characters and storylines that I really hope Chris will write a sequel. It was a pleasure to discover the writing of Chris Fabry and I highly recommend this book to all readers.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. show less

Every so often, a book comes along that grabs you and won't let go. Not in the Heart is one such book. I read it quickly, and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. From the beginning, I assumed Terrelle (the death row inmate) was innocent, and as Truman came closer to the truth, I felt like I was searching for clues right along with him. And once I reached the epilogue, I read the sad-but-satisfying conclusion with tears running down my cheeks.

Truman Wiley is not your classic show more protagonist. An unemployed gambling addict who abandoned his family, he is certainly no hero—and he does things throughout the book that made me want to shake some sense into him. However, I found myself pulling for him, not in a "boy, he sure needs Jesus to fix his life" way but in an "I care about him so much that I wish he could see how much God loves him and get his life back together" way.

As I read the book, I thought a lot about Truman. We all know someone like him—someone whose addictions and fears control his or her life; someone we would desperately love to see trust in Christ. While no one close to me is a Truman, I do have friends and family members who have spent hours on their knees praying for their own Trumans. Reading this book reminded me again of the importance of prayer—praying for the Trumans who seem unreachable ... because no one is unreachable to God!

Rarely have I been so emotionally invested in a book that it brings me to tears. Not in the Heart is a fantastic book that I highly recommend with 5 out of 5 stars!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from The B&B Media Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. show less

bookshelves: christian-fiction

From the opening scene when nine-year-old June Bug is startled to see her picture on a missing persons poster to the surprising yet satisfying ending, readers accompany the precocious girl and her father on a journey of discovery that forces her father to face his past so that June Bug can find her true future. Throughout the story June Bug’s delightful personality shines through. She is spontaneous, free-spirited and loving, a healing balm for her emotionally show more scarred father, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Several dramatic plot twists enliven the narrative and keep readers engaged as the father’s course of action is determined by forces beyond his control. Fabry’s tale resonates with themes evident in his earlier work, Dogwood (2008): faith and forgiveness; confronting the consequences of mistaken, even if well-intentioned, choices; the longing for home and family and the power of prayer. The publisher describes it as a modern interpretation of Les Miserables and while June Bug is not destined to achieve the status of Victor Hugo’s classic, young June Bug will steal readers hearts and remain with them long after Fabry’s inventive conclusion. show less

The Promise of Jesse Woods by Christ Fabry is a wonderful book that draws you into the everyday lives of his characters. It is an engaging book that brings you to small town West Virginia and tells the story of three children who are best of friends and have secrets that must be kept and promises that may change as time goes by. Fabry gives a gritty view of poverty and broken families, of racism and bullying, and the grief of wartime decisions and death. The characters are realistic and show more evocative and you either love 'em or hate 'em! The story unfolds through a flashback type construct and flows well and quickly with a little humor, twists and turns and a satisfactory ending. Woven throughout is the truth of faith. When horrible things happen, is God really there? Does He even care? And when you find the truth what do you do with it? The Promise of Jesse Woods is a provocative and poignant coming of age story not to be missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Club network. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. show less