Saturday, August 8, 2009

121 - Song of Renewal; Emily Sue Harvey





In The Song of Renewal, by Emily Sue Harvey, Liza and Garrison Wakefield seem to be the perfect couple. Garrison is a talented graphic artist, and Liza is a stay-at-home mom. Liza is active in the community and a patron of the arts. Each of them had other dreams for themselves -- Liza wanted to be a ballet dancer, and Garrison wanted to become an accomplished artist. Instead, they married, gave up those dreams, and had a child. Now their life revolves around their 16 year old, gifted daughter Angel. She is beautiful, and a gifted dancer.
Life is good for the Wakefields until one rainy night when Liza allows Angel to go to a concert with him boyfriend Troy. Garrison had already told Angel that she could not go. There is a car accident, and the comes that dreaded knock at the door, the one most parents of teenagers have feared at one time or another. The couple is told that their daughter is in critical condition and in a coma, and that Troy was killed instantly.
This life changing event tests the Wakefield's already shaky marriage even more. Liza begins to question herself, and play the "what if" game, after she went against her husband's wishes that fateful night. The couple retreats to separate rooms, pursues separate interests. Liza pursues her ballet, and Garrison his painting. However, peace, and acceptance only seem to come when the two of them are together by their daughter's bedside.
Song of Renewal is certainly an inspirational story of faith, hope and renewal. The cover art is gorgeous. A very short book, fewer than 150 pages, that did send a powerful message. Personally, I was a bit disappointed by the lack of any surprise element whatsoever.


RATING - 4/5; COMPLETED - 8/8/09; My Stacks (review copy)

4 comments:

  1. Sounds like a solid read. I also like the fact that it's 150 pages!! Excellent review on this one!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree, the cover is very attractive, and the story sounds very inspirational.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I really liked this book as well. I'm not sure it needed any surprise elements for me anyway being the type of story it was plus I guess it was kind of short to include much more. I agree on the cover, it's so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This sounds really good and I love the cover!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for taking the time to visit and double thanks for any comments. If you ask a question in your comments, I will try to reply to it here, or by email if your settings allow me to do so. Thanks again for visiting.