Night Bird Calling by Cathy Gohlke Review

 Hello Friends :)

I hope you're all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

Are you all having a good December so far? Mine has definitely had its ups and downs, but I'm sure that's the same for the majority of people.

I'm definitely excited for Christmas though, and I'm looking forward to reading many Christmas themed reads in the weeks to come.

For today's post however, I have my review of a new to me author, of a book that has stuck with me long since finishing it. 

 I hope you keep reading and enjoy. :)

Night Bird Calling by Cathy Gohlke:

Source: Libby App

Publisher: Tyndale House

Publication Date: January 5th, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

From award-winning author Cathy Gohlke, whose novels have been called "haunting" (Library Journal on Saving Amelie) and "page-turning" (Francine Rivers on Secrets She Kept), comes a historical fiction story of courage and transformation set in rural Appalachia on the eve of WWII.

When Lilliana Swope's beloved mother dies, Lilliana gathers her last ounce of courage and flees her abusive husband for the home of her only living relative in the foothills of No Creek, North Carolina. Though Hyacinth Belvidere hasn't seen Lilliana since she was five, she offers her cherished great-niece a safe harbor. Their joyful reunion inspires plans to revive Aunt Hyacinth's estate and open a public library where everyone is welcome, no matter the color of their skin.

Slowly Lilliana finds revival and friendship in No Creek--with precocious eleven-year-old Celia Percy, with kindhearted Reverend Jesse Willard, and with Ruby Lynne Wishon, a young woman whose secrets could destroy both them and the town. When the plans for the library also incite the wrath of the Klan, the dangers of Lilliana's past and present threaten to topple her before she's learned to stand.

With war brewing for the nation and for her newfound community, Lilliana must overcome a hard truth voiced by her young friend Celia: Wishing comes easy. Change don't.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

This was my first experience with a Cathy Gohlke novel, and I can guarantee it won't be my last. Night Bird Calling came highly recommend to me by my aunt, whose book opinions I've come to greatly trust, and she definitely did not steer me wrong on this one. This is honestly a hard one to try and tackle in a review, as I'm not sure my words could possibly do it justice, but I'll try my best. 

Set in 1941, this particular novel is not for the weak at heart, and it doesn't hesitate or refrain from tackling many hard issues, and leaves the reader pondering its words long after they've finished it.

Themes of domestic abuse, church abuse, racism, child abuse, segregation, addiction, among many others all play dominant roles throughout the storyline, and while it did take me a long time to get through this one as the content wasn't something I found myself being able to read very quickly, it's a hauntingly beautiful story about redemption and grace, and the never ending truth that all things are possible for our Heavenly Father.

I really enjoyed how this one is told in a couple of other viewpoints besides our main protagonist, and I especially enjoyed young Celia, and the childlike eyes through which she's had to experience things far beyond her years. Night Bird Calling is definitely character driven, and quite a lengthy read, but I enjoyed it immensely and it's given me lots to think about on a number of deep issues highlighted throughout.

I highly recommend this one, and I look forward to reading more of this author's books in the future.

Final Rating: 4/5.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me and all rights to the respective owners.