A Bigger Life: An Eden Plain Novel

This book made me cry but not for the obvious reasons i.e. a sad storyline. The beauty which brought tears to my eyes was the love that was apparent within the characters....between husband and wife, friends, church members, as well as acquaintances. I especially appreciated the imperfect nature of each of the characters. Somehow that made them so much more real and therefore likable to me. Ms. Smith obviously has a gift for storytelling, for she created a memorable tale, told from a young father's point of view. There is so much to be taken from his journey towards redemption and it's a story that is sure to stay with you for a long time.

Part of the joy of reading is discovering new authors. It's especially satisfying to find someone who might not have best-seller status, but who does present a fresh voice, true talent and a passion for their work. Recently, a friend dropped a book on my desk and said, "You might like this." The book was "A Bigger Life," by Annette Smith, who grew up in Sulphur Springs and now lives in Quitman. Smith, a hospice nurse, is the author of 12 books, including "Whispers of Angels," which has sold over 100, 000 copies. "A Bigger Life," released in January, tells the story of Joel Carpenter, a single father doing his best to raise his son and trying to win his ex-wife back. There's a real-life back-story to Smith's book. The inspiration for "A Bigger Life" came from listening to Paul, her hairdresser, pour his heart out to her while cutting her hair. However, Smith is quick to point out that the book is not Paul's life. "It (the book) is his voice and his spirit, but not his life," the author said. "He inspired the character. He is not the character." Joel's early life was anything but easy. He was raised by his father, a gay hairdresser, in a small East Texas town. Joel had no desire to attend college, so drifted for a while, finally becoming a barber. As the book begins, Joel is entertaining a bunch of his single father friends. Joel's helping his ex-wife Kari raise their young son, Colton. It's not a perfect arrangement, but Joel's playing the hand he's dealt himself. Smith uses flashbacks to tell how Joel and Kari fell in love, married, and had Colton. It seems Joel had a brief affair with one of his high school classmates during a stressful time in his marriage. Kari found out about the affair and left the marriage, taking Colton with her. Joel wants Kari back, but she is having none of it. Just as has settled into the single father lifestyle, he is dealt another blow, this one coming from left field, bringing incredible sadness with it. How Joel reacts to this challenge is a testimony to his character, his desire to get Kari and Colton back, and to his innate goodness. The book brings a message about compassion, forgiveness, and the healing power of God's love. Smith's books are considered Christian fiction, but "A Bigger Life" transcends the genre. Joel's story is one for the ages. It's about going the distance; about being true to your heart's desire; about making sacrifices; and, finally, about unconditional love. I read "A Bigger Life" in one sitting and will revisit it again soon. Smith's ability to tell this story from Joel's point of view is stunning. In a recent interview, Smith said, "Joel's world is not white bread like mine. My life has been very neat and tidy." How Smith was able to find Joel's distinctly male point of view and to make it believable is clear proof of her considerable writing talent. Smith is an author to watch. Her storytelling skills and her ability to create memorable characters will serve her

You'd think having a beautiful wife and a child on the way would have been enough for Joel Carpenter, but he made one very serious mistake and ruined it all. Kari, his wife moved out. He'd like to get back together, but she isn't interested. They do have a good relationship where Colton, their three-year old son is concerned, but Joel wants them to be a family again, although he knows that isn't likely to happen. Then Kari has a seizure and the news isn't good. She has nowhere to turn, except to Joel. They try to work through their differences, but it's difficult. With past problems and an uncertain future, they both have a lot to learn about love and forgiveness. A Bigger Life is the story of two damaged people facing the greatest test of their life. A compassionate, heart gripping story that I really loved. I recommend this book.

A Bigger Life is the first book I have read in a long, long time that made me want to put my arms around the characters. I devoured it in one straight sitting because I didn't want to leave Joel Carpenter's world. Annette has nailed the voice of a young, unchurched single dad, not to mention his three-year-old son and friends and family. Joel's story is a powerful illustration of God's love demonstrated to an estranged world. It's fresh and funny and made me cry over my pancakes at IHOP. Kudos to Annette...

A Bigger Life is told from the male protag's point of view and Annette does an absolutely amazing job of nailing it. She flips back and forth from past to present in a way that was seemless and fit the story perfectly. I was engaged from cover to cover because of an intriguing story but also because she pulled me into a fictional world full of living, breathing characters with problems and faults that I could relate to. So often characters in novels are perfect and being a fallen person in a fallen world, I just can't relate. Those in A Bigger Life were as authentic as I've seen in a novel. A Bigger Life is something I'd recommend buying for any married or engaged person. It will surely change lives as it shows the consequences of extramarital affairs in a non-preaching light, (as well as the dangers of "the grass is greener over there" mentality.) SPOILER: My only small complaint would be an end of the book romance that was predictable and a convienent character that felt very Christianese in the old CBA sense. I thought the author did such a beautiful job of showing God's grace that having that token person spell it out wasn't needed. This was subjective of course and certainly didn't keep me from thinking this was a phenominal book. A Bigger Life was fabulous. I enthusiastically recommend it.