Adopted Into His Family
Breaking The Silence by Diamante Lavendar is a powerful Christian novel about pain and forgiveness. It will break your heart as you read. It is set in 1985 looking backwards.
Breaking The Silence has some very difficult to read scenes as the novel surrounds the topic of child sexual abuse. It also has themes of drug and alcohol abuse as well as abortion, miscarriage and attempted suicide. The reader ‘feels’ the pain extending from the book as the lead character declares “when things are darkest, the only way to look is up.” She feels “the pain eating me alive.” God is always there for us. He can turn situations around but we will never understand why horrendous things happen to the innocents.
The novel has the themes of healing and forgiveness. The child who becomes the adult needs to heal. Healing follows after forgiveness which is not easy to do. “Forgiveness is a decision, not a feeling.” We will never be ready to forgive in our strength, we need God’s help.
Pain leads to anger and addiction. We will try anything to dull the pain. “The most glaring sign of addiction is the willingness to lose everything: family, friends and your own self respect.” Addiction brings its own problems.
We need God always.”When times are black and there is nowhere to turn, you are forced to acknowledge God.” When we reach rock bottom we realise “God was there in my darkest hour, holding my heart in His hands.”
The world and God have very different standards. “Empowerment… the world says take it by force. God says take it by love.” May we live a life of love.
The novel is written in the first person as a narrative, a ‘dear diary’ and life lessons. The time frame moves backwards and forwards. It is a powerful story as we experience life through the eyes of a child victim who needs to overcome.
The message of God’s love and presence comes through clearly. The reader does have questions as to why did no one see? Why did God not intervene?
The book in spite of its subject matter is very beautiful. There are some real gems to be found in its pages. Not always a pleasant read but we are Christians living in the real world and we need authors who are brave enough to tackle real issues. Thank you Diamante Lavendar for your powerful story.
Just a word of caution – there are the occasional four letter words and scenes some readers may not like.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
JULIA WILSON