Book Review: The Miracle of Mercy Land by River Jordan

Let's begin this review with a synopsis from the publisher:

What if you had the power to amend choices you made in the past? Would you do it even if it changed everything?



Mercy Land has made some unexpected choices for a young woman in the 1930s. The sheltered daughter of a traveling preacher, she chooses to leave her rural community to move to nearby Bay City on the warm, gulf-waters of southern Alabama. There she finds a job at the local paper and spends seven years making herself indispensible to old Doc Philips, the publisher and editor. Then she gets a frantic call at dawn—it’s the biggest news story of her life, and she can’t print a word of it.


Doc has come into possession of a curious book that maps the lives of everyone in Bay City—decisions they’ve made in the past, and how those choices affect the future. Mercy and Doc are consumed by the mystery locked between the pages—Doc because he hopes to right a very old wrong, and Mercy because she wants to fulfill the book’s strange purpose. But when a mystery from Mercy’s past arrives by train, she begins to understand that she will have to make choices that will deeply affect everyone she loves—forever.

After I received this book from Waterbrook for review, I decided to read another book by Ms. Jordan so I could get a feel for her style of writing. I read The Messenger of Magnolia Street, which was a strange novel about people fighting the forces of evil in their hometown. I thought it was a little too contrived, and so I wasn't sure what to think about The Miracle of Mercy Land.

I needn't have worried. I think Ms. Jordan's writing improved over the last four years, causing her to have more likeable characters, and a plot that, although not possible in real life, is filled with allegory and symbolism that bring the reader to understand God and His world a little bit better.

I was frustrated in the reading of the book at first because I was trying to make sense of what was happening and instead saw the story become weirder as I continued. However, when I got about halfway through, I beagn spotting the comparisons that were so subtly made that I almost missed some of them. I'm sure if I read it again I would see more, but I don't think my little brain would withstand the pressure.

As I think back on this story, I have decided that I did like it after all. I agree with Mercy when she says that scars are "a good sign of the soul of (a) man" and that if a person "shows up perfectly whole on the outside, there's a fair chance something's ill on the inside". I am learning more and more about the heart of man and it's not always pretty. Until one is "filled with all the fullness of God" (Ephesians 3:19), he/she will incur scars. And trials, whether they are the result of our sin, or the hand of God on our lives for the purpose of sanctification, will leave us with scars every time. But I'm so glad that I can trust Him to work all things together for my good, and for His glory. No matter how much I try to get into the way. 

I give The Miracle of Mercy Land 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

(I received this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

WWW Wednesdays

WWW Wednesdays is a meme from Should Be Reading, where we answer three questions: What are you currently reading? What did you recently finish reading? and What do you think you'll read next? If you want to participate, answer the three questions, then put your link on the Should Be Reading Blog in the comment section. Happy reading!

What I am currently reading: The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan - Mrs. Jordan has a unique writing style, one that is interesting, yet somewhat hard to grasp. I consider myself a pretty intelligent person, but I'm not quite following the story like I feel I should. I'm hoping that all the questions I have about the plot and the characters will be answered when I reach the end, but I only have about 31 pages left, so I'm also skeptical. I'll try and write a review of this book soon.

I decided to read this one before reading The Miracle of Mercy Land, another book by Mrs. Jordan that I will be reviewing soon.

What I recently finished reading: Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason - The second book in the Women of Justice series. I liked both of the books so far in the series. I will be reviewing this one next week. You can read my (glowing!) review of Too Close to Home, Women of Justice #1, here. 

                                                  

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay - This one is definitely going on my Top Ten of 2010 list. I almost cried when I read it (I know a book has really touched me when I cry, because I seldom do when reading a book). The story of a girl who survives WWII under horrific circumstances and a reporter who discovers her story and the impact it has on the lives of so many is absolutely amazing. I wonder how Ms. Rosnay wrote such a book. I can't wait to read her next one, A Secret Kept. Review to come.

 

 

 

 

What I'll probably read next: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - For the last few years, our city has participated in The Big Read, which is a program designed to encourage communities to read good books and share those with one another through programs such as discussion groups and movie viewings. This year, the people in our area of Knoxville, Tennessee are reading Their Eyes Were Watching God, so I will be reading this book next to prepare for watching the movie based on the book, which will be showing at our library in a few weeks.

 

 

 

What are you reading this week? Have you read any of the ones above? If so, what did you think? I'd love to hear from you!