Finding this book was a revelation
for me. I was really excited to find something where the sole story was not
hinged on romance. This possibly had much to do with just having read Revolution In World Missions by K.P. Yohannan. I
didn’t know fiction could include such awesome topics! Don’t get me wrong
because I do love a good ‘kissing book’.
One reviewer wrote, “Flinchbaugh's writing is sensitive, compassionate and articulate.” I
couldn’t agree more.
Honestly, I don’t know if it’s a
personal coming of age thing for me or not, but Hope’s book provided food for
the inner man that gets far above and beyond our Café Society to the realities
of life in China’s persecuted church. We know these things exist and that real
people struggle within them, but we have little to connect us with their
reality.
I considered only momentarily
whether or not Christians under wraps in China was a morally sound topic for a
work of fiction because fiction can so easily make a mockery of things we ought
to uphold. I took about two seconds to decide that there are people who will
never read testimonials or bios. Fiction is the only way to reach them,
therefore it is the perfect topic for a novel.
My only disappointment was in finding out that this book is a sequel! Daughter of
China is its predecessor, and I’m really hoping to get my hands on a copy
of that too, very soon. Sometimes jumping the gun is very uncool. This one
could easily stand alone (but what a crying shame if it did).
So. How would this unique and genuine
subject matter be treated? I held only a minute degree of scepticism. The author
is extremely well acquainted with issues surrounding the persecuted church, and
her writing is fluid and transporting. What a joy to read such seamless work. It
allows fast delivery into the moment and to my mind, this topic is worthy of our
utmost respect.
Suddenly I wasn’t just reading
about the rice paddies on the hillside, I was standing in them. I felt the rock
beneath me as I sat with Liko and Mei Lin listening to them discuss their
future, and I walked behind them toward the house as the sun sank beneath the
horizon and another day neared its end. I read this book in a day and what a joy to
experience that, too. It was so lovely to be able to have a virtually uninterrupted
journey, more so because of my deep investment with the characters, aware it
would not be far removed from the truth.
There are some completely
unexpected twists and turns in this story and the characters are easy to
associate with. Because we have heard of certain levels of persecution to some
degree, when the story takes a turn for the worse, your brain starts screaming
at the characters to watch out. It was impossible to keep from thinking
about our different lives, and the freedom we live with and most assuredly take
advantage of. Have we lost our fervour? Ha. Decide for yourself, because the
question will be presented to you though it is not asked once inside the pages. We will have much to answer for.
I could not put this one down. Even
when I had other things requiring my attention throughout the day, the book was
either in my left hand, tucked under my arm, or right where I could see it to
pick it up again (and that’s saying something). I treated it as real. For all I
cared, it was a true story.
This book will get you thinking,
and it should. Prayer is truly our greatest weapon, and the author gets into
territory I honestly believe many Christians would simply not know how to
handle if they were faced with the same spiritual realities. What a challenge
to our reality.
I hope you can find a copy of
this book soon, and let it pour into your heart to the full. I am at a loss to
describe it beyond this.
Soyez sobres, restez vigilants: votre adversaire, le diable, rôde comme un lion rugissant, cherchant qui dévorer. Résistez-lui avec une foi inébranlable, sachant que les mêmes souffrances sont imposées à vos frères et sœurs dans le monde.
