G.R.I.T.S.
And November's CFRB Tour is......

Talking to the Dead by Bonnie Grove!


Back Cover:
Twenty something Kate Davis can't seem to get this grieving-widow thing down. She's supposed to put on a brave face and get on with her life, right? Instead she's camped out on her living-room floor, unwashed, unkempt, and unable to sleep-because her husband, Kevin, keeps talking to her.

Is she losing her mind?

Kate's attempts to find the source of the voice she hears are both humorous and humiliating, as she turns first to an "eclectically spiritual" counselor, then to a shrink with a bad toupee, a mean-spirited exorcist, and finally group therapy. There she meets Jack, the warmhearted, unconventional pastor of a ramshackle church , and at last the voice subsides. But when she stumbles upon a secret Kevin was keeping. Kate's fragile hold on the present threatens to implode under the weight of the past...and Kevin begins to shout.

Will the voice ever stop? Kate must confront her grief to find the grace to go on in this tender, quirky story about second chances.



A PENNY FOR MY THOUGHTS?
I have to say that this book was not exactly what I was thinking it would be when I said I would review it. But I'll Start with the Positives, before I go on to what I didn't like...
- I really got into the book once I started to read it! The first couple of chapters are not as 'catchy' as the rest of the book, but once you get started reading it, it can be hard to put down.
-Bonnie does a great job with being descriptive...she allows you to be apart of this woman's grieving...from the fears of going into the room she shared with her husband, to how she let's the house go (house cleaning....).
-I love how she shows that grieving isn't just something you 'get over with'. It's something you have to work on...the ups and downs. From wanting to leave the house, to staying inside for 2 weeks at a time, not wanting to see another living soul.

Negative(s):
- Bonnie has her main character, Kate, use a lot of phsycology, medication, and mental hospitals...instead of good Biblical Counseling...She does have a salvation 'break through' at the end of the book...but I would have preferred (this is my own opinion, and you may feel differently about this)some more biblical aspects through out the book.

Now a more in depth look at the book:









It opens with You finding out that Kevin (Kate's Husband) had died from a hear attack at the office. Kate's in shock, and everyone is trying to help her through this time, but she's basically just running on automatic.
After about 2 weeks of being holed up inside the house, Kate's mom (also recently a widow) starts to worry about her daughter, and tries to help, by bringing over some books for Kate to read. A Friend stops by to offer her sympathies, and a list of counselors for Kate to look into...and all this time she's yet to step foot upstairs!
And then, the Voice starts to invade her thoughts and house. But it isn't just any voice...It's Kevin's!
Now Kevin isn't saying anything important really, he's just talking like he would every other day...like 'You burn the toast' ,'the teapot is whistling', and things like that...But Kate doesn't know how to keep him talking...and then she learns a terrible sercret!
As a result of knowing this secret, and realizing everyone (so she thought) she trusted was in on it., Throwing her off the deep end...sending her for mental help...and a long road to the Lord.
With the help of a young man she befriends one day, and the faith of a good friend...She finds herself on the road to recovery. Will Kate learn to 'shut off' Kevin? Or will she be a Mental patient her whole life?


Check out these other member blogs this week for more info.






Want to Join CFRB? And Review Some great Authors like Bonnie Grove? Then Click Here!

To the FTC and whomever else it may concern, I received this book (for free) as a member of the Christian Fiction Review Blog group. In return, I have promised to review the book but have been given the freedom by Bonnie Grove to give my honest opinions whether they be positive or negative.
5 Responses
  1. Great review, Rae! Watch for mine coming up on Nov. 5th.

    ~ Lori


  2. Julie Says:

    Great review! Thanks for the help. I think I'll be posting mine on Wednesday.

    Julie =)


  3. I liked your review! I'm so excited that I really enjoyed the first book that I got to review for CFRB! Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book too and stopping by my blog!

    xoxo~ Renee


  4. Nice review! I really loved this book!

    xoxo~ Renee


  5. cathikin Says:

    interesting how several of us found the emphasis on secular counseling methods and medications negatives. Yet, I wonder if the author's intent might have been to shoe just how wacky these solutions cn be--dangerous even. I wish she had given more time to the spiritual, Godly, that is, but then again she might be treading softly on purpose. Not sure who she has in mind as an audience.


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