The Story Keeper

GIVEAWAY
RANDOM RETRO READ DAY

WINGATE, LISA

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