Bestselling British author Plass (Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation) offers an intentionally offbeat story of bereaved widower David Herrick, who suffers intensely following the loss of his beloved wife, Jessica. Herrick, a popular Christian speaker, finds it sadly ironic that the very words and pat phrases he offers to listening audiences aren't doing him much good in his personal sorrow. With the arrival of a letter and an invitation from an old friend, Herrick travels to a former haunted bed-and-breakfast and rejoins classmates from years earlier; during their gathering, they eventually expose their deepest longings and struggles. Keenly attentive to his own skewed view on life at present, Herrick finds himself strangely moved by his former friends' individual plights and begins to glimpse small slivers of hope in the cracks of brokenness. No matter how he tries to shut out the divinely orchestrated lessons, Herrick finally surrenders and what he discovers surprises him most of all. Finely tuned and sensitively written, this moving story reminds readers that everyone bleeds the same on the inside. (June)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.When David Herrick receives an invitation to a reunion from a long forgotten acquaintance, his first reaction is to refuse. After all, he hasn't seen Jenny, Peter or the others since they were all a part of the same youth group two decades ago. Moreover, he isn't feeling very sociable since his wife Jessica died six months ago. But the invitation comes from Angela, one of his wife's oldest friends-and mysteriously, she has something for him from his beloved Jessica. Reluctant but curious, he makes his plans to visit Headly ManorWhen the friends gather, they no longer resemble the fresh-faced group of twenty years ago. Each member bears the weight of their own burden. One has been deserted by her husband, another has lost his faith and another is filled with anger and bile. Life hasn't been the sugar-coated existence they might have hoped for. As they have less than forty-eight hours with each other, they decide to be vulnerable and share their greatest fears, Will they have the courage to bare their souls? And if they do, how will such revelations be received? Will they find a way to lift each other up or will their burdens be too much to bear? This poignant, moving and sometimes disturbing story blends Adrian Plass' rich style of humor with his knack for addressing the deep issues we all face, such as faith, grief, love...and fear.
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Silver Birches: A Novel
When David Herrick receives an invitation to a reunion from a long forgotten acquaintance, his first reaction is to refuse. After all, he hasn't seen Jenny, Peter or the others since they were all a part of the same youth group two decades ago. Moreover, he isn't feeling very sociable since his wife Jessica died six months ago. But the invitation comes from Angela, one of his wife's oldest friends-and mysteriously, she has something for him from his beloved Jessica. Reluctant but curious, he makes his plans to visit Headly ManorWhen the friends gather, they no longer resemble the fresh-faced group of twenty years ago. Each member bears the weight of their own burden. One has been deserted by her husband, another has lost his faith and another is filled with anger and bile. Life hasn't been the sugar-coated existence they might have hoped for. As they have less than forty-eight hours with each other, they decide to be vulnerable and share their greatest fears, Will they have the courage to bare their souls? And if they do, how will such revelations be received? Will they find a way to lift each other up or will their burdens be too much to bear? This poignant, moving and sometimes disturbing story blends Adrian Plass' rich style of humor with his knack for addressing the deep issues we all face, such as faith, grief, love...and fear.
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