Why the Sky Is Blue

I was recommended to read this book by a friend. I wasn't quite sure how good it was going to be, but it surprised me. It is a beautifully written book that makes you feel for the characters and you can feel the love of a family. Susan Meissner did an excellent job with this one.

I don't normally do book reviews--probably because I'm not very good at them, but the book I just finished touched me in such a way that I want to share it with all of my fellow writers and book enthusiasts. Title: Why the Sky is Blue Author: Susan Meissner Genre: Christian fiction--primary reader group: women Claire Holland is raped on her way home from the mall. If this isn't horrifying enough, she finds out she is pregnant. Claire and her husband, Dan, have two children, a daughter, Katie, twelve, and a son, Spencer, seven. Both children came to the marriage after many miscarriages. That Claire would become pregnant after rape is against all odds. If there is such a thing as a blessing in a situation like this, the fact Claire can't remember the assault is a gift from God. This novel delves into the inner feelings of each of the family members as they decide what to do with the baby. Katie is old enough to understand how the baby came to be, but she doesn't want her parents to give it up. Spencer is too young to realize anything except his mom's belly is growing. Dan decides he can't love this child and because of this, Claire agrees to put the child up for adoption. The word goes out and a childless missionary couple is picked to adopt the baby, now known to be a girl. They come to meet the Holland family. Mixed feelings tear Claire apart. She loves her baby, but she doesn't want her raised in a home without a father who truly loves her. Katie can't understand why they can't keep the baby. But, bravely, she hands the little girl over to Rosemary and Ed the day the baby and Claire are released from the hospital. Years go by. The Holland family doesn't speak of the baby named Lara. They move to another town where Dan, a veterinarian, sinks his teeth into a new practice. Claire opens a bookstore. Katie and Spencer grow up, do all the things kids do, but Claire never forgets her daughter. She prays for her constantly. Unbeknownst to Claire, Katie, now called Kate and married with children of her own, wonders what has become of her sister. One day, while Claire is away at a business conference, a letter comes from Rosemary. Kate doesn't trust her mother to share it with her, so she opens it. Rosemary is dying of cancer. She wants the Holland family to raise Lara, now sixteen. This book is a study in human emotions I found hard to put down. Bottom line taken from the book, Love is not blind--it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less." I give this book two thumbs up. Janice Williams

What a wonderful, outstanding book! Susan Meissner writes with incredible insight and understanding for the difficult situations faced by the characters in this story. She has a gift for writing with compassion and warmth, never becoming 'preachy' or sounding superior. This is a novel that has stayed with me - it's that good.

Susan Meissner's book is an awesome Christian book. It was hard to put down. The story shows how tragedy can sometimes turn into something good and with our faith in God things can all turn out for the best. It is a very well-written book. I had the privilege of hearing Ms. Meissner speak to a group of Young Writers and their families. She is an awesome speaker telling about her writing and getting published. I can't wait to read the next book that she has written.

I love how this book doesn't fall into the typical traps that most Christian novels do; there isn't a cheesy, overdramatic love story, the people aren't the stock characters with untroubled spiritual lives that you usually find, and the author manages to weave the Christian element in with the story line seamlessly without belaboring it. This is a great, high quality read that I would recommend to those who are looking for a novel in the Christian genre with some literary merit.

I cannot put this book down. I am enthralled and drawn to this story. It is real and powerful and wonderfully written. The most important part of a book is being able to relate with the characters and the author does a superb job of doing just that. Well done!