Her Mother's Hope/Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers

I read Her Mother’s Hope and Her Daughter’s Dream in two days. Part coming of age, part family saga, and part historical fiction, these two books tell the story of Marta—her early years in Interlochen with her parents, later years in England, then Canada, and finally California. Flawed but lovable characters fill these books as Rivers takes us through four generations of mothers, daughters and granddaughters and the complex special bonds they share. The books are loosely based on Rivers’ own personal history.

There are reasons why Christians love Francine Rivers’ books. She acknowledges the dirt in life without rubbing your face in it. The issues she deals with—rape, pedophilia, suicide—are handled with great delicacy, focusing more on character’s responses than the details of the events. The reader loses nothing by this. In fact, the emotional impact is greater because of it.

I always recommend books that I think will make someone a better person for having read them, and these two books fit the bill. They would make great summer reading, but don’t plan to do any housework for a couple of days…