THE STORY KEEPER
When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever. Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen's suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains...and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.
My Review:
published in 2014
Spellbinding! The kind of novel that hits hard (literary sucker punches to the nth degree!) and engages a reader's heart and mind with emotions on full throttle.
I haven't met a Lisa Wingate book I haven't loved but the emphasis on stories in this one touched me in so many ways. The author celebrates the power of words and the importance of remembering and celebrating everyone's story no matter how broken or unpolished. This book really made an impact on me.
Dual timelines set in the Blue Ridge Mountains -- both depicting the struggles of women born a century a part with some eerie similarities to their stories. The complex layers of both timelines and the way they come together by the end is sheer perfection. Gorgeous character growth and compelling faith threads added to my readerly delight.
The author starts us off in present day with career driven editor, Jen, who is determined to keep her painful childhood buried in the past. Until she stumbles upon a slush pile partial manuscript that sends her back to the place and the people she's tried so hard to forget. Wingate expertly weaves in the historical timeline through the words of the manuscript but when it abruptly stops mid-story, Jen is compelled to go off on a desperate quest to search for the rest.
I listened to the audible edition narrated by Abby Craden and Bahni Turpin and they did an amazing job giving all the characters their own distinctive personalities. The Mountain dialects were really well done. A perfect match for the author's rich storytelling style. (Available on Audible Plus right now, for anyone who enjoys audio books.)
Goal Update: #5 Diversify my reading, #8 Play author catch up
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a paperback or ebook copy -- winner's choice.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Story Keeper, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT AND DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 19 2022. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck
Sounds like a great read, Kav. Count me in! :)
ReplyDeleteckbarker at gmail dot com
Counted. Good luck, Cheryl!
DeleteOooh, have not heard of this one before, thanks for sharing! cilydav at hotmail dot com
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to do all my Lisa Wingate catching up this year. Good luck, Cindy!
DeleteHave enjoyed several of her books, especially the more recent Before We Were Yours and The Book of Lost Friends. You can become totally, heavily immersed in those two! I had not come across this title, which sounds very good. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYes -- both of those titles were amazing. I'm hoping to catch up with her retro reads with the help of my library and audible this year. Good luck, CC!
DeleteI think I've only read The Sandcastle Sister, a novella by Lisa Wingate. But I hear good things about her writing. And I have been enjoying the split time novels lately!
ReplyDeletepattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
She's an amazing storyteller! Good luck, Patty!
DeleteThis one sounds very interesting, please enter me, thanks! lclee59(at)centurylink(dot)net
ReplyDeleteYou're in, Connie. Good luck!
DeleteI loved The Prayer Box and I think this one is in the same series! Thanks for the giveaway! iwant2save34 at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteYes, it is. I'm going to focus on finishing this series first. I've read The Prayer Box too. My library had that one in audio format which made me very happy. Good luck, Beauty!
DeleteI would love to read this. Thank you for sharing. leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Lucy. Good luck, Lucy!
DeleteI've not been fortunate enough to read this author - yet. Think that "THE STORY KEEPER" would be an excellent place to start because it sounds amazing. Love when they can so perfectly blend two eras into one seamless story.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the chance!
2clowns at arkansas dot net
Oh, Kay, you will love her stores. Good luck!
DeleteI missed this one! Would love to read it. And ~ dual timeline!! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
ReplyDeletekathleen[dot]e[dot]belongia[at]gmail[dot]com
I know, she was doing dual timelines way before they became a 'thing'. Good luck, Kathleen!
DeleteThis was the book that first introduced me to Lisa's writing & she's now a must-read! 😊 I love her story telling style.
ReplyDelete(not an entry)
What a great introduction! I need to catch up on the rest of this series.
DeleteI've not read after this author, yet. This sounds real good!! Thanks for a chance to win!!
ReplyDeleteangiepool1606(at)gmail(dot)com
You're welcome, Angie. Good luck!
DeleteThanks for the review and chance to win, Kav! I love Lisa Wingate's books, and this is one I haven't read. I have a few to catch up on.
ReplyDeletewhthomas13 at yahoo dot com
You're welcome, Winnie, we can play catch up together. Good luck!
DeleteYes Lisa is a good author. I’ve read quite a few of her books. rrwalter34atgmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed by her storytelling skills. Good luck, Becky!
DeleteThis is one of the first dual time books I read, before it was a hot genre! Loved it and would like it for my keeper shelf!
ReplyDeletepaulamarys49ATgmailDOTcom
Thanks for the chance!
Definitely belongs on your keeper shelf. Good luck, Paula!
DeleteOh gosh this sounds really really good!! I have Before We Were Yours on my self but haven't got to it yet. Have you read that one?
ReplyDeleteThnx Kav!!
sarahdar0801ATgmailDOTcom
Yes -- Before We Were Yours is fantastic! Though I will say there's more faith elements in her older work. Good luck, Sarah!
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