I am not sure even where to begin! First of all this is a dynamic, enthralling novel.
I found myself putting it down only to turn around and start reading again. It is skillfully and beautifully written. I am amazed at how the author took so many serious issues, diverse characters and seamlessly wove them all into an entertaining, outstanding story.
Colom Dryden is a thirteen years old teenager. His father is a pastor; his mom is a full time home maker. His dad is a dynamic pastor of a large church and is also has sought after as a family counselor. They are the perfect family, right? Like so many families what appears on the outside is not what happens at home. Colom continues a repeating nightmare that terrifies him. So much so that his behavior has become erratic; he is about to be kicked out of his private school, and his parents are shocked to find he has a suicide plan.
Fiona, his mother is beside herself and wants to get Colom counseling. It is tearing her apart not knowing how to help her son and fearful she will lose him. She is basically handling all this on her own. David, his father, is totally absorbed in his work. He loves is son but is caught in the middle of a demanding ministry, his churchs expectations him as a pastor and his family, frustration in dealing with the problem and home, and pride. He refuses for Fiona to seek outside counseling. She is trying to hold the family together but her husbands impatience and outbursts are driving Colom deeper into his problems and further away from his family.
In desperation she seeks out a friend from her past to help and goes to another country, determined find her son the help he needs before it is too late. Then the story really begins to unfold. Secrets begin to be revealed, opening up painful wounds.
The author deals with many difficult, frightening problems families face. Problems readers may be grappling with as they read. It also brings to light that our past must be dealt with and keeping secrets does not always protect the ones we love. You will not fail to be surprised at what is revealed!
I received this book free from Kregal Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I found myself putting it down only to turn around and start reading again. It is skillfully and beautifully written. I am amazed at how the author took so many serious issues, diverse characters and seamlessly wove them all into an entertaining, outstanding story.
Colom Dryden is a thirteen years old teenager. His father is a pastor; his mom is a full time home maker. His dad is a dynamic pastor of a large church and is also has sought after as a family counselor. They are the perfect family, right? Like so many families what appears on the outside is not what happens at home. Colom continues a repeating nightmare that terrifies him. So much so that his behavior has become erratic; he is about to be kicked out of his private school, and his parents are shocked to find he has a suicide plan.
Fiona, his mother is beside herself and wants to get Colom counseling. It is tearing her apart not knowing how to help her son and fearful she will lose him. She is basically handling all this on her own. David, his father, is totally absorbed in his work. He loves is son but is caught in the middle of a demanding ministry, his churchs expectations him as a pastor and his family, frustration in dealing with the problem and home, and pride. He refuses for Fiona to seek outside counseling. She is trying to hold the family together but her husbands impatience and outbursts are driving Colom deeper into his problems and further away from his family.
In desperation she seeks out a friend from her past to help and goes to another country, determined find her son the help he needs before it is too late. Then the story really begins to unfold. Secrets begin to be revealed, opening up painful wounds.
The author deals with many difficult, frightening problems families face. Problems readers may be grappling with as they read. It also brings to light that our past must be dealt with and keeping secrets does not always protect the ones we love. You will not fail to be surprised at what is revealed!
I received this book free from Kregal Publications. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The Boy Who Loved Rain by Gerard Kelly is an exquisite novel, atmospheric and emotive, a story that I will eventually take great pleasure in reading again. While I have discovered many outstanding reads in Christian fiction - and occasional rare gems, even - I often bemoan the fact that literary-style writing isn't often found in this genre. And "literary" doesn't mean slow moving and rather boring, as some might think. Instead, this type of fiction tends to focus on complex issues, character depth, and the beauty of the writing itself, which perfectly describes The Boy Who Loved Rain.
The prose is simply beautiful - lyrical, elegant, layered, even poetic at times. With themes of child abuse and suicide, the subject matter might seem complex and heavy, but in the hands of an author who cares about his topic, the readers will experience hope and joy. The pace is somewhat slower at first, but I felt like an essential foundation was carefully being laid, one precious stone at a time. Everything picks up about one-third of the way in, and what was already an enjoyable read becomes a thoroughly engrossing one as secrets and motivations are slowly exposed.
Fourteen year old Colom experiences nightmares and violent mood swings, going between an anger and indifference that even he doesn't understand. The thoughts of his mother, Fiona, reflect both her frustration and the beauty of Gerard's writing: "How could their bright, smiling son have become this passive-aggressive teen who slalomed daily between rage and indifference? . . . And then there were the constant eruptions, anger blowing in like a storm and staying as an unwelcome lodger, a fourth member of the family."
I loved how each chapter begins with a foreshadowing fact or literary quote about rain - fascinating to read along the way, but with a meaningful twist that only becomes obvious toward the end.
Sections of this story take place in London and Amsterdam, but the main setting is the quaint harbor town of Portivy and the Côte Sauvage area on the wild coast of the French-Atlantic peninsula. This is another instance where setting practically becomes a main character, for Gerard is gifted at taking what is already an awe-inspiring part of God's creation and describing it in vivid ways that add much richness and completely held my attention.
As to the spiritual element, this story doesn't feature the normal evangelical point of view that is often found in Christian fiction. Fiona's husband, David, pastors a large Anglican church in London - and Miriam, a wonderful woman who reached out to help Collom, had previously been a nun. But The Boy Who Loved Rain is spiritually moving, as Fiona and other characters are drawn closer to the Lord, and there are some touching prayer scenes, reminiscent of the spiritual discipline of contemplative prayer.
Secrets are at the very heart of this story - unthinkable secrets thought best to remain hidden in order to protect a loved one, but needing to be exposed so that healing can begin. What a beautiful word picture Fiona's thoughts paint . . .
She imagined the sea itself laid bare; its every rock and secret channel uncovered. Formations of stone and sand submerged for centuries, caressed by the ocean's currents, hidden from view by a dark weight of water: brought now to the light, laid open for all to see. A single fork of lightning; a wind like the very breath of God. Secret things, exposed at last.
The Boy Who Loved Rain is one of the best stories I've ever read. Highly recommended to everyone who enjoys a multilayered, emotionally nuanced drama with the promise of hope.
Thank you to Kregel for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The prose is simply beautiful - lyrical, elegant, layered, even poetic at times. With themes of child abuse and suicide, the subject matter might seem complex and heavy, but in the hands of an author who cares about his topic, the readers will experience hope and joy. The pace is somewhat slower at first, but I felt like an essential foundation was carefully being laid, one precious stone at a time. Everything picks up about one-third of the way in, and what was already an enjoyable read becomes a thoroughly engrossing one as secrets and motivations are slowly exposed.
Fourteen year old Colom experiences nightmares and violent mood swings, going between an anger and indifference that even he doesn't understand. The thoughts of his mother, Fiona, reflect both her frustration and the beauty of Gerard's writing: "How could their bright, smiling son have become this passive-aggressive teen who slalomed daily between rage and indifference? . . . And then there were the constant eruptions, anger blowing in like a storm and staying as an unwelcome lodger, a fourth member of the family."
I loved how each chapter begins with a foreshadowing fact or literary quote about rain - fascinating to read along the way, but with a meaningful twist that only becomes obvious toward the end.
Sections of this story take place in London and Amsterdam, but the main setting is the quaint harbor town of Portivy and the Côte Sauvage area on the wild coast of the French-Atlantic peninsula. This is another instance where setting practically becomes a main character, for Gerard is gifted at taking what is already an awe-inspiring part of God's creation and describing it in vivid ways that add much richness and completely held my attention.
As to the spiritual element, this story doesn't feature the normal evangelical point of view that is often found in Christian fiction. Fiona's husband, David, pastors a large Anglican church in London - and Miriam, a wonderful woman who reached out to help Collom, had previously been a nun. But The Boy Who Loved Rain is spiritually moving, as Fiona and other characters are drawn closer to the Lord, and there are some touching prayer scenes, reminiscent of the spiritual discipline of contemplative prayer.
Secrets are at the very heart of this story - unthinkable secrets thought best to remain hidden in order to protect a loved one, but needing to be exposed so that healing can begin. What a beautiful word picture Fiona's thoughts paint . . .
She imagined the sea itself laid bare; its every rock and secret channel uncovered. Formations of stone and sand submerged for centuries, caressed by the ocean's currents, hidden from view by a dark weight of water: brought now to the light, laid open for all to see. A single fork of lightning; a wind like the very breath of God. Secret things, exposed at last.
The Boy Who Loved Rain is one of the best stories I've ever read. Highly recommended to everyone who enjoys a multilayered, emotionally nuanced drama with the promise of hope.
Thank you to Kregel for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This is an excellent novel, well-written & conveying truths that capture the reader. I couldn't put it down. This book should be read by every adoptive parent & every parent considering adoption but the truths that it reveals will touch the heart of any reader. In many places Gerard Kelly's prose border on poetry & the images conveyed in words stay in the reader's mind as beautiful pictures. I can hardly wait to read his next novel.
