Cynthia Ruchti is my new best friend.
Her novel, Song of Silence, sealed this declaration.
And the main character need not be someone my age. She is, like me, a woman struggling to find her passion after a devastating loss.
Meet Lucy, the 55-year-old music teacher. She was sure that teaching music to youngsters is her calling. Then came the decision from the school board: Lucy is forced to retire because the music program in the school — a program her father put together — is being cut citing budgetary constraints.
Lucy got lost.
Losing her job meant losing her passion. She ran out of reasons to be upbeat and happy. She found no reason to sing, write, or make music. She put her talent to rest, afraid that acknowledging it would hurt her more.
Several events in her life and the people surrounding add up to Lucy’s personal dilemma, which affected any possibility of continuing a musical career.
I read this book at a time when I had very little self worth. I am rounding up my 20s and turning 30 in three months as a stay-at-home Mom with no part-time job and dreading each day changing pull-ups/diapers and answering to the needs of three children.
I was — still am — beyond exhausted. Whatever happened to the career woman who juggled three jobs, started a non-profit organization, and organized events left and right?
Every word that Cynthia Ruchti wrote in this book struck the lose chords of my ailing heart.
Her treatment of the characters was tender but with hints of push and splashes of humor. While this is a faith-based novel and Bible verses are quoted, the author wrote this without sounding preachy. Think of Paolo Coelho minus the mysticism with a message providing a calming, reassuring embrace to all its readers.
Cynthia Ruchti successfully created a meaningful character in Lucy whose trials and triumphs are mirrored in the lives of thousands of women from different walks of life.
She gave life to characters that are real; those people you know you have met in the aisles of grocery stores or those individuals you’ve encountered at gas stations.
The characters in this book are real as real can get.
It is refreshing to “see” a main character who struggles with her faith. By doing so, the author tells us, readers, that there is no perfect Christian; that every single day is a step to grow spiritually and that every single day is an opportunity to become better as a person.
One of my favorite themes in this book is the way marriage is presented. Lucy and her husband Charlie have an interesting, humor-filled relationship. Their relationship, however, does not come without glitches. This book puts some marital issues on the table and addresses it with loving and practical pieces of advice.
For struggling and confused individuals like me, it is helpful to read about Lucy because it gives us hope that somewhere at the end of this long, dark, winding tunnel is a ray of light that will guide us to the path we definitely need to take.
Thank you Cynthia Ruchti for this.
You have no idea how you warmed my almost cold heart. Please send Lucy my regards.
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a signed copy of this book from the Litfuse Publicity Group and Abingdon Press for the purpose of this review. I was not required to write positive reviews. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. 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”.
