Arising From The Ashes
Specters In The Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright is a powerful dual timeline Christian novel that consumed me from the start.
The tale is set in 1921 and present day as we view the action through alternating chapters with the two lead characters.
The leading ladies have parallel lives – both are alone as their parents have died. Both had mothers who struggled in life – one through addiction, the other with a genetic mental illness. And both leading ladies have good hearts, despite their upbringing.
Mental illness is an ongoing theme in both time periods. Today there is a lot of help. Back in 1921 characters were shut away from the world if there was any glimpse of mental illness.
We also meet a character who is physically disabled, having lost a leg during a battle in World War I. He fears that others may see him as ‘less than’ he was but he is still the same kind-hearted person. “I’m no less a man now than I was when I went to France.”
There is much to fear in the novel. We learn that “It is alright to be afraid… It’s what we do with that fear that’s important.” Fear may still exist even though we have faith. “I choose faith… even though I’m still… afraid.” When we have faith, we can look to God and our fears will diminish.
Prayer is important. “Praying was not natural to her, but she believed in the Creator. And she desperately needed Him.” When we recognise our need for God, we can draw closer to Him. God longs to hear the cry of our hearts. “Marion wasn’t sure if her prayer had been heard… she wasn’t sure if He did hear her, He would care enough to do anything about it.” God hears. God cares. God answers – but not always in the way we expect. God doesn’t necessarily give us what we want, but He does give us what we need.
God rescues our lives from the ashes. He can make us new again. “It had taken her years to realise… that God was there and personal enough to invest in her life.”
Life happens but God is greater than our fears and our superstitions. “That doesn’t mean superstitions supersede real faith. There has to be a God who is bigger than all of that.”
When life hits, we may wobble in our faith. “It doesn’t matter how much faith you have in God, when stuff like this happens, it shakes even the strongest.” If we have firm foundations in God, we will not crumble. We need to remember that “He [God] finds you… in the chaos.”
Family is important. There may be good or bad inherited genes but we are not destined to repeat the sins of our fathers.
There is the theme of parents. Though they may let us down, but our heavenly Father is faithful and can be trusted.
1921 in America was a time of Prohibition. This is a central theme as we witness the lengths some will go to in the pursuit of illegal liquor.
I thoroughly enjoyed Specters In The Glass House. It was a marvellous plotline that kept me entertained throughout. Over it all, there was God who will redeem and restore broken lives.
I received a free copy from the publishers. A favorable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
JULIA WILSON
