Every Waking Moment - a Must-Read!

Every Waking Moment
Chris Fabry
(Tyndale)
ISBN: 978-1414348636
September 2013/400 pages/$14.99
Treha Langsam is a mysterious young woman who has fallen through the cracks, much like many of the elderly people she works with at Desert Gardens Retirement Home. But Miriam Howard, director of the facility, sees her extraordinary gift and untapped potential. Treha is a whisperer of sorts, calling those who have slipped into dementia back to a life of vibrant, if only temporary, clarity.

When Treha’s and Miriam’s stories intertwine with a documentary team looking for stories of the elderly, Treha’s gift is uncovered, and the search begins for answers to the mysteries of her past. As their paths converge, each person is forced to face the same difficult question: What if this is as good as my life gets?

An uplifting, human tale of an ordinary woman with an extraordinary gift.

Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris's novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won three Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more. He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR. Visit his Web site at www.chrisfabry.com.

MY THOUGHTS

Chris Fabry has once again written a compelling story that touches the heart with Every Waking Moment. Since I have a close family member with Alzheimer's, I wasn't sure how I would react to this novel's setting and its characters but Fabry's gift for character portrayal captivated me. Multiple threads weave together throughout this novel with themes that resonate deeply. How we view and care for the aged and infirm. The way we treat those who are a bit different. Integrity. The power of story. And faith. Perhaps my favorite part of the book is found in a conversation between Elsie (one of the residents) and Miriam, when Elsie said,

That verse going over and over in my head--the one people use to say God won't give us more than we can handle, 1 Corinthians 10:13. They think temptation and the hard stuff of life are the same. I don't believe that for a minute. He does give us more than we can handle. He lets us go through deeper waters so that we cling to him; that's the whole point of having faith. If we could handle everything, there would be no reason for us to need God. (p. 156)

I adored Elsie and want to be like her when I grow up! While a few of the things in the story were a bit unrealistic due to today's HIPPA laws, I'll grant Fabry some literary license. Put this book on your fall reading list!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”