Silent Days, Holy Night is a jewel of a story, a treasured Christmas classic that I savored through its touching moments, thoughtful acts of kindness, gentle humor, and even shed tears of happiness over. This is a story of a pivotal moment in a young girl's life and its far-reaching effects, but also pictures God's love in sending His precious Son to us. Phyllis Clark Nichols has become one of my favorite writers of contemporary fiction and Silent Days, Holy Night is a âbest of the bestâ read for me.
The narrative begins with the unveiling of festive preparations for a Christmas gala at Emerald Crest, a majestic mansion in the mountains of West Virginia, then takes us back sixteen years to 2002, when a ten-year-old Julia first meets Henry Lafferty the Second, a recluse in his late 50s. Emerald Crest itself becomes a major character, a mountain home with outside walls built out of green granite from the north, and floors out of green marble from Ireland, a tribute to Henry's grandmother.
Julia and Henry Lafferty are two of the most memorable fictional characters ever â rich, well-drawn, relatable characters who pull at the heart strings. With the precocious Julia, the author did a wonderful job in combining childlike qualities with those of inquisitiveness, intellect, and giftedness. Henry, given the name âHâ in sign language by Julia, is kind hearted, generous, highly intelligent, and a talented sculptor. The connection between these two is palpable, and no words are necessary as music, smiles and hugs become their language. In the words of Julia's grandmother, Grancie, âHis troubles could have made him a bitter, angry man, but they just seemed to make him better. In his silence, he must have learned some important lessons about living and making a difference in the world.â
There's so much to reflect upon in this story, one being the way we interact with people whose disabilities set them apart. Getting to know Henry through Julia's eyes was a beautiful experience, and although she couldn't bring him sound, what she did bring was of much more importance â music, companionship, and new family-like relationships.
Another thought is how seemingly unimportant moments can become all important in the direction our lives take. The dictionary defines pivotal as being âof crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something elseâ â and that perfectly describes Julia's first meeting with Henry. Not only was Julia's life changed, but that of Henry and so many others in the town. As I read this story, I couldn't help but reflect back on some pivotal, God-sent moments in my own life.
The overall theme of this story is its expression of God sending Jesus to reveal His character and love for us. Silent Days, Holy Night is a touching and emotional story, one that I will be reading again during future Christmas seasons. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
The narrative begins with the unveiling of festive preparations for a Christmas gala at Emerald Crest, a majestic mansion in the mountains of West Virginia, then takes us back sixteen years to 2002, when a ten-year-old Julia first meets Henry Lafferty the Second, a recluse in his late 50s. Emerald Crest itself becomes a major character, a mountain home with outside walls built out of green granite from the north, and floors out of green marble from Ireland, a tribute to Henry's grandmother.
Julia and Henry Lafferty are two of the most memorable fictional characters ever â rich, well-drawn, relatable characters who pull at the heart strings. With the precocious Julia, the author did a wonderful job in combining childlike qualities with those of inquisitiveness, intellect, and giftedness. Henry, given the name âHâ in sign language by Julia, is kind hearted, generous, highly intelligent, and a talented sculptor. The connection between these two is palpable, and no words are necessary as music, smiles and hugs become their language. In the words of Julia's grandmother, Grancie, âHis troubles could have made him a bitter, angry man, but they just seemed to make him better. In his silence, he must have learned some important lessons about living and making a difference in the world.â
There's so much to reflect upon in this story, one being the way we interact with people whose disabilities set them apart. Getting to know Henry through Julia's eyes was a beautiful experience, and although she couldn't bring him sound, what she did bring was of much more importance â music, companionship, and new family-like relationships.
Another thought is how seemingly unimportant moments can become all important in the direction our lives take. The dictionary defines pivotal as being âof crucial importance in relation to the development or success of something elseâ â and that perfectly describes Julia's first meeting with Henry. Not only was Julia's life changed, but that of Henry and so many others in the town. As I read this story, I couldn't help but reflect back on some pivotal, God-sent moments in my own life.
The overall theme of this story is its expression of God sending Jesus to reveal His character and love for us. Silent Days, Holy Night is a touching and emotional story, one that I will be reading again during future Christmas seasons. Very highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
