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When Silence Sings - by Sarah Loudin Thomas (Paperback)

When Silence Sings - by  Sarah Loudin Thomas (Paperback) - 1 of 1
$13.68 sale price when purchased online
$17.00 list price
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About this item

Highlights

  • Colman Harpe works for the C&O in the Appalachian rail town of Thurmond, West Virginia, but he'd rather be a preacher and lead his own congregation.
  • About the Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas is the author of numerous acclaimed novels including The Finder of Forgotten Things, The Right Kind of Fool, winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year, and Miracle in a Dry Season, winner of the 2015 INSPY Award.
  • 344 Pages
  • Fiction + Literature Genres, Christian

Description



About the Book



After the rival McLean clan guns down his cousin, Colman Harpe chooses peace over seeking revenge with his family. But when he hears God tell him to preach to the McLeans, he attempts to run away--and fails--leaving him sick and suffering in their territory. He soon learns that appearances can be deceiving, and the face of evil doesn't look like he expected.



Book Synopsis



Colman Harpe works for the C&O in the Appalachian rail town of Thurmond, West Virginia, but he'd rather be a preacher and lead his own congregation. When a member of the rival McLean clan guns down his cousin and the clan matriarch, Serepta McLean, taunts the Harpes by coming to a tent revival in their territory, Colman chooses peace over seeking revenge with the rest of his family.

Colman, known for an unnaturally keen sense of hearing, is shocked when he hears God tell him to preach to the McLeans. A failed attempt to run away leaves Colman sick and suffering in the last place he wanted to be--McLean territory. Nursed by herbalist Ivy Gordon--a woman whose birthmark has made her an outcast--he's hindered in his calling by Serepta's iron grip on the region and his uncle's desire to break that grip. But appearances can be deceiving, and he soon learns that the face of evil doesn't look like he expected.



From the Back Cover



As a Long-Standing Feud Threatens to Spark Once More,
the Fates of Two Families Rest on the Most Unexpected of Shoulders

For years, Serepta McClean has towered over the coal-filled hills of West Virginia, taking more than her share of legal and illegal trade alike. She's intent on securing the future of the McClean name, despite two unreliable sons and a long-standing feud with the Harpe clan that's exploded once again into violence.

While many fear her, and many more despise her, few dare to stand against her. Especially not someone like Colman Harpe--a railroad man with dreams of being a preacher. And yet it's a reluctant Colman, Serepta's sworn enemy, who finds himself in this powerful woman's territory, supposedly sent there by God himself to share stories of love and hope.

With the feud growing ever more dangerous, putting the entire region at risk, these two impossibly different people find themselves on a collision course. And the very lives of everyone close to them will be changed forever.

"Thomas brings to life a rugged yet faith-based Appalachian drama perilously situated in the crosshairs of feuding families. Set in 1930 West Virginia, this standalone novel draws on themes of mercy, understanding, and loving your neighbor amidst the dangers of lawless vengeance and moonshine runs. Readers will sympathize with Colman's reluctance to trust the unknown as the families race to a doublecross conclusion."--Booklist

"Struggles, drama, and local flavor abound in this novel by Thomas. . . .Fans of historical Southern fiction will be drawn to this title, as will readers of Lisa Wingate and Karen Witemeyer."--Library Journal

"When Silence Sings vividly evokes its mountain setting, but its main strength is its complex characters, especially Serepta. . . . With an excellent supporting cast and a fast-moving plot, this novel should be enjoyed by readers of both Christian and secular historical fiction."--Historical Novel Review



About the Author



Sarah Loudin Thomas is the author of numerous acclaimed novels including The Finder of Forgotten Things, The Right Kind of Fool, winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year, and Miracle in a Dry Season, winner of the 2015 INSPY Award. She worked in public relations for Biltmore Estate for over six years, and is now the Director of Jan Karon's Mitford Museum. She and her husband live outside Asheville, North Carolina. Learn more at sarahloudinthomas.com.
Dimensions (Overall): 8.4 Inches (H) x 6.0 Inches (W) x 1.0 Inches (D)
Weight: .7 Pounds
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 344
Genre: Fiction + Literature Genres
Sub-Genre: Christian
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Format: Paperback
Author: Sarah Loudin Thomas
Language: English
Street Date: November 5, 2019
TCIN: 79206878
UPC: 9780764234002
Item Number (DPCI): 247-14-2731
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 6 inches width x 8.4 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 0.7 pounds
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4.7 out of 5 stars with 3 reviews
100% would recommend
3 recommendations

Listen Carefully

5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
- 5 years ago
What I love about Sarah Loudin Thomas' stories is the miraculous surprises found within, and in When Silence Sings there are plenty of them. Thomas took the conflict, hatred, and danger of a Hatfield vs. McCoy-like feud, threw in a Jonah-like situation, and added some special characters and events to make this a very worthwhile and satisfying read.Thomas gives the reader many points to ponder. Of course, it all fits perfectly in the 1930s West Virginia setting. There was so much going on in this story that even though the book concluded naturally, it had been messy, and many questions were left unanswered. I mean this in a good way, that perhaps there could be a sequel, and if not, it's okay because that was the nature of the story. Men and women who appreciate historical fiction and the West Virginia setting and culture will enjoy this book. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Bethany House, on behalf of the author, for review purposes. The thoughts expressed here are my own.
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Interesting, well written and unusual

4 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Moonglotexas - 5 years ago
“Colman walked along the last car of the coal train, tapping each wheel with his long-handled hammer, listening intently to the clang clang clang. He cocked his head to the left and closed his right eye so he could hear better. The tone was just about perfect. Good—no cracks.” -Opening lines of When Silence Sings by Sarah Loudin Thomas Sarah Loudin Thomas’ When Silence Sings is a novel which is hard to fit into a category. It is set in 1930 in West Virginia with two families stuck in a feud. At the opening, another murder has occurred. The death is that of Colman’s cousin and it prompts him to reconsider the origins and point of the feud. He feels prompted by God to preach to his family’s enemy, Serepta. He tries to avoid the calling but life circumstances lands him in the midst of Serepta’s territory. Serepta is a fascinating character with a past that has traumatised her and her business is experiencing problems. The person she most trusts is a black man, Charlie, making their relationship dangerous and they have to keep it hidden. To these two, a third character, Ivy, is added. She has been an outcast for most of her life and yet is full of positivity and hope. She helps doctor those who cross her path and, when she finds Colman in need, helps his recovery. Her home and care become the crossroads for the story as she connects Colman and Serepta. The storyline is a study in forgiveness. In working through the fallout of the feud, Sarah explores empathizing with “the enemy”. She examines the place of vengeance for those who believe in Christ and she highlights the power of love and hope. There is mystery, romance and drama throughout the novel but it appears in surprising ways. Full of rich descriptions and insightful phrases, this is one to chew over rather than rush through. There are several scenes of racial abuse and violence which I found distressing in an otherwise interesting story, so be forewarned. It’s a four out of five on the en-JOY-ment scale.
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Outstanding!

5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
Connie Saunders - 5 years ago
I am so in love with this book and it is now a part of my favorite book list. Sarah Loudin Thomas has completely captured the culture of Appalachia and much of what she mentions is native to my area of Kentucky. Blackberry Winter; the odor and taste of milk when cows have eaten in a pasture field filled with spring onions; a meal with cornbread and greens, followed by spreading apple butter on that cornbread for dessert. So familiar to many of us but so foreign to those who have grown up elsewhere. I also love the deadly family feud depicted between the Harpe and the McLean families because I have grown up with the legendary feud between the Kentucky Hatfields and the West Virginia McCoys. What is most appealing to me, however, is Colman Harpe's desire to become a preacher but wanting to do it on his own terms. How could God expect him to preach to the people who have been enemies of his family for generations, especially Serepta McLean, the meanest and most powerful woman around their area of West Virginia? But that is what God wants him to do and Colman's reluctance parallels the biblical Jonah's efforts to avoid going to Ninevah. When he finally realizes that he MUST heed God's call, his first chance to minister is with a group of McLean women that he encounters as they mend their clothing while sitting under a circle of dogwood trees. At a loss of what to say, Colman tells them about the legend of the dogwood tree and its role in Jesus Christ's crucifixion. As they sit mesmerized by his story, he realizes that the best way to reach the McLean family might not be through traditonal preaching. Maybe, Colman thought, he could use stories and illustrations to share God's message. After all, isn't that what Jesus did through his parables? Thomas has created so many fascinating characters. Colman Harpe; Ivy Gordon, the young woman who is feared because of her lack of skin pigmentation but gifted with amazing medical skills; Charlie, Serepta McLean's black houseman who understands her like no one else; and Emmaline, the little girl who changes the lives of so many people. It is, however, Serepta who stole my heart. No, she isn't a good person or a model citizen but she is the person that I would like to see in another story. I believe that her ability to serve God could be as powerful as her ability to bootleg illegal liquor and run an empire! There is a suggested romantic connection between Colman and Ivy but When Silence Sings isn't your usual love story. It is instead a tale filled with the many different emotions that influence our lives and God's amazing ability to turn hatred and pride into acceptance and understanding. Sarah Loudin Thomas has created a wonderful story and I recommend When Silence Sings to all who enjoy Christian fiction and family drama. I received a copy of this book from the author and Bethany House but a positive review was not required. These are my honest opinions.
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