Be Blessed
Song Of Silence by Cynthia Ruchti is a contemporary Christian novel and oh what a powerful read it is. I love everything that Cynthia Ruchti writes and always know that I will be in for a real treat, but Song Of Silence is something extra special. It is brutally honest, it is touching and it is hauntingly beautiful.
Lucy lives, sleeps and eats music. As funding is cut, so music disappears from the curriculum and Lucy loses not only her job but her passion. And even worse, she loses her joy “when they closed down the music program they stole the joy of music.”Song Of Silence deals with how to continue living when everything inside feels like it is dying. The rug pulled out from under her, how will Lucy survive? Every day is a struggle.
Cynthia Ruchti writes sensitively about forced early retirement. When one’s purpose for breathing is removed, how does one cope? Lucy experiences a myriad of emotions which are easy to empathise with. Lucy refers to herself as “driveable but broken.” She is going through the motions of living but is unsure about what the future holds.
Cynthia Ruchti explores how Lucy lives in the middle. “A ‘was’ full of memories and a ‘future’ full of awe. But this middle?” Lucy feels lost. Her purpose has been pulled away and she does not know what to do. “I know God’s got this… but right now I feel kind of lost.” Her ‘now’ is puzzling her.
Lucy’s new found freedom is resented by her but her retired husband Charlie loves having her around. He is celebrating. She is mourning. The novel shows how hard marriage can be when the two parties are at opposite ends but love means working at marriage and finding a compromise. See how Lucy and Charlie fair as they are both home all the time.
Song Of Silence shows how important good friends and a good support system is. Lucy understands that she needs to have friends around her who can empathise. She joins a HHATT (husbands home all the time) group where the women support each other through life’s ups and downs. They offer advice and humour in all situations.
Family is important. When life hits and all seems hopeless, having a close family network is what can pull you through.
Within Song Of Silence are various characters with disabilities. Music is important for them all. Cynthia Ruchti shows that you do not need to be able to hear or sing to be able to appreciate and enjoy music. Music can draw people out of themselves. Music unites. Music lifts one’s spirit. “Some days there won’t be a song in your heart. Sing anyway.”
The novel deals with the theme of forgiveness. There are some things that feel unforgiveable. The hurt is just too deep. Forgive them anyway. Unforgiveness can make us bitter and trapped in the past. God forgives us and we must forgive others always.
Lucy refers to God as ‘the Life Preserver.’ I thought that was a beautiful way to describe Him.
Within the novel there is a lot of focus on silence. In music there must be ‘rests’ in order to create beauty. Lucy finds her creativity silenced but “in the silence a song is brewing.” Sometimes we cannot hear God. We think He is silent to our situation but God is always working on our behalf. Never equate silence with absence. God is never absent from our lives.
Song Of Silence is written in the third person from the viewpoint of Lucy. I adored Lucy’s character. As a fifty something lady forced to stop working due to ill health myself, I found Lucy’s character resonated with me. I understood her struggles and feelings. Cynthia Ruchti always draws realistic characters who are easy to empathise with. I never ‘read’ her books so much as journey through them in the lead role!
Song Of Silence is another beautiful offering from Cynthia Ruchti. She leaves you feeling very tranquil at the end. She writes with such sensitivity that every novel is a real blessing. I cannot get enough of Cynthia Ruchti’s writings!
Download a copy of Song Of Silence today and settle down for a real treat.
I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review. No monetary compensation was received and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON
Blog tour Song of Silence on Litfuse