Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Forever Friday by Timothy Lewis




So many fiction books end with a wedding leaving the reader wondering how the "ever after" turns out.  In Lewis' book, the reader gets in on a bit of background leading up to the wedding and then gets a glimpse into the significant milestones through several decades of one couple's love story.

Points of view change throughout the book offering a multi-dimensional reading experience.  Reading this book was like assembling a large jigsaw puzzle. The reader first puts together a few pieces of the puzzle in one corner, then shifts to pulling together a scene from somewhere else in the puzzle.  One thread includes Adam in current history, the man handling the sale of the estate possessions after the wife's death.  Another thread is in flashbacks the author provides about the central characters, Gabe and Pearl Alexander. And yet another thread includes scenes from the last few days of Pearl before she passes away.

As Adam handles the sale of their remaining belongings, he discovers a photo album containing postcards written from Gabe to his wife Pearl over the course of their marriage.  Recently divorced, Adam feels compelled to find out the "secret" that he and his ex-wife somehow missed on how to have a lasting marriage.  As he searches for answers, he contacts Yvonne, the daughter of the Alexander's former maid hoping she can fill in some of missing pieces of the their story. But she herself is a bit of a puzzle--at first not returning Adam's calls and then only sharing small bits and pieces at a time.

I really enjoyed the book and it made me think about the concept of legacy. This couple left a legacy of love. Not without hardship, but maintaining a focus on what kept them together. Through stories that Yvonne shares and also flashbacks of the Alexanders' life, the reader finds out the rest of their story.  And gets a glimpse of a very special kind of Forever love.

Watch the trailer for this old-fashioned marital love story:



Or listen to a podcast:

You can even read the first chapter of the book. Once you do, you'll want to pre-order the book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for $14.99.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of Forever Friday from WaterBrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received.

No comments:

The Ghost in the Garden by Alisse Lee Goldenberg

  Sophie Madison, 12 years old, is moving to the small town of Stratford, Ontario. She can't help compare her new small town to all the ...