Some mistakes are just a part of the bigger plan
Can the lives of two strangers intertwine to influence the world?
Have you ever wondered if there is a bigger plan to your life or if everything just happens by chance?
In his newest book, The Blackberry Bush, David Housholder will take you on a journey across two continents to discover that your life may be bigger than you think and that even the worst of mistakes can find redemption. While on this journey, he will also examine today’s youth cultures and their complex relationship with the Christian faith.
According to Housholder, “We are all products of an extensive root system, whether or not we believe it or acknowledge it.” The tapestries of our lives have been woven together using the pasts of our parents, grandparents and generations before who influenced who we will become. But we can take the mistakes from their pasts and weave them into something beautiful in our futures. We can be a product of generational blessings and generational curses, but it is up to us to sort it out.
The Blackberry Bush begins with two babies, Kati and Josh, who are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls. You would think that such a potent freedom metaphor would become the soundtrack for their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth. They will follow a parallel path connected by a mistake their great grandparents made years before.
Despite his flawless image, Josh, an artistic and gifted Californian skateboarder and surfer, struggles to find his true role in the world. He fears that his growing aggression will eventually break him if he can’t find a way to accept his talent and the competition that comes along with it. Kati, a German with a penchant for classic Swiss watches and attic treasure-hunting, is crushed with the disappointment of never being “enough” for anyone—especially her mother. She wonders whether she will ever find the acceptance and love she craves and become comfortable in her own skin.
Craving liberation, Kati and Josh seem destined to claim their birthright of freedom together. With the help of their loving grandparents, they will unlock the secrets of their pasts and find freedom and joy in their futures. Today, like Katie and Josh, our youth often fall into two different cultures. Josh is part of the “bro” culture which is outdoor-oriented, with sports as a focus, and generally more conservative. Whereas Kati is part of the “scene” culture which is more liberal and indoor-oriented, focusing on music. These cultures are apparent in the novel and can aid in a better understanding of the issues today’s 21st century youth are facing as well as the struggles they have in coming to faith.
“The Blackberry Bush is a beautifully written novel of two characters’ search for meaning and their powerful rescue from the relational and societal expectations that are crushing them. It’s the story our own hearts might tell from our journey through life,” says Debby Griffith, radio host of Everyday Matters. Housholder’s journey will take readers into the deepest recesses of the soul while pulling them from their own thorny thickets. And along the way we may just discover a life of redemption and meaning.
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder
Summerside Press/June 2011
ISBN: 978-1-6093-6116-7/208 pages/paperback/$14.99
Visit David Housholder’s blog at http://robinwoodchurch.wordpress.com,
become a fan on Facebook (http://facebook.com/BlackberryNovel)
and follow on Twitter (http://twitter.com/RobinwoodChurch).
My review:
The Blackberry Bush had a unique literary style in the way the author crafted the story. The author's approach to storytelling was also unique and engaging. At first I found the story a bit challenging to follow due to the many points of view, but then I started to see a flow that made sense. The use of a narrator was a bit odd when the author could have merely used the omniscient point of view, however, when I saw Angelo as an angelic being in the story then it fit better. It kind of gave a heavenly perspective to the set up of the novel.
I always enjoy reading WWII era fiction and reading about all of the things pertaining to the war in Europe and the aftermath that followed. I clearly remember the time when the Berlin Wall came down because I was in college and it was highly publicized. It was a pretty exciting time in world history. In my mind I can still hear President Reagan's speech when he challenged the communist regime and said, "Mr. Gorbechov, tear down that wall."
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Again, the style was different then I am used to, but the content of the story itself was interesting. It was almost like reading a diary, only in this case it was multiple diaries all blended together. The author's intent seemed to be showing how things are all connected in the spiritual realm even though we don't always understand what is happening in the here and now. I found that to be the greatest strength of this book. On the flip side, there were some loose ends at the conclusion of the story that I would have liked to see tied up, but that was probably not the author's intent. Regardless, I still enjoyed the book.
I always enjoy reading WWII era fiction and reading about all of the things pertaining to the war in Europe and the aftermath that followed. I clearly remember the time when the Berlin Wall came down because I was in college and it was highly publicized. It was a pretty exciting time in world history. In my mind I can still hear President Reagan's speech when he challenged the communist regime and said, "Mr. Gorbechov, tear down that wall."
Overall, I enjoyed this story. Again, the style was different then I am used to, but the content of the story itself was interesting. It was almost like reading a diary, only in this case it was multiple diaries all blended together. The author's intent seemed to be showing how things are all connected in the spiritual realm even though we don't always understand what is happening in the here and now. I found that to be the greatest strength of this book. On the flip side, there were some loose ends at the conclusion of the story that I would have liked to see tied up, but that was probably not the author's intent. Regardless, I still enjoyed the book.
A copy of this book was provided by The B&B Media Group for me to review for this blog tour. All comments regarding this book are my own.
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