Worth Coming Back For
The Atlas Of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold is the most charming contemporary Christian novel that I absolutely adored. It is a book to be savoured from start to finish.
This is a book about relationships between a mother and her two grown daughters. It is also about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We witness the effects of life’s experiences on our outlook and on how we do life.
The younger daughter, Chloe, is like a breath of fresh air. She has a joy in life that is infectious, and which reaches from the pages to encompass the reader. Her joyful spirit comes from her faith. She knows that she is loved by God and that whatever happens, her life is in His hands.
In contrast, her elder sister and mother do not have a faith, preferring to rely on themselves. Their lives are far more tense. Chloe prays for them to know God. “I pray you hear His voice… Faith often came like a stranger to those who lacked it. But Chloe had plenty to share.” Chloe longs for them to know the joy of living loved.
The three go on a week-long road trip, taking in the literary haunts of authors and their fictional characters. It is a journey of discovery in more ways than one. “Walking in faith was an adventure like no other.” Each new day offers new opportunities.
We witness the awakening of the characters. A mother realises that loving her daughters means letting go and giving them wings to fly. They cannot be tethered to the mother hen forever. Love will mean they keep returning home. “It’s hard… releasing them to their own lives.” Grown children live in hearts even when they are far away. “Mothers should always reach for their children first.” A mother loves with a sacrificial love.
We see a new faith dawning. “Lord show me what you see. Awaken my eyes.” We need to have eyes that see like Jesus. When there are no earthly answers, we need to press into Jesus. “Grant would not answer her question… That left only one source… Jesus… what would you do?”
When we have faith, we need not fear. “Speak to that fear. Until the fear is quietened, the hope can’t be heard.” We need to fix our eyes on Jesus and not look at our fear. This is illustrated when the mother climbs a high tower. She must not look down, but keep her eyes on her daughter’s face who is higher up.
We all need to fill up our faith. We get top-ups in church. “Making room for the peace that filled her to the brim.” Peace is found within the walls. We can receive God’s peace wherever we meet with Him. “She worshipped with her voice as well as her pen.” Chloe uses her God-given talent to return her worship to the Father.
The Atlas Of Untold Stories is a real gem of a book. Not only do we have a fabulous tale of family and love and God; but we also dip in and out of literary tales.
Sara Brunsvold has perfectly captured the relationship dynamics within a family; and also, the physical landscape as the reader ‘travels’ through the novel.
I adored The Atlas Of Untold Stories and am sorry it has ended.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
