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A Novel of Friendship and Grace

by Mandolin Ziadie

June 30, 2012

@mandolin_summer

Broken in body and spirit, principal ballerina Sasha Davis leaves the world of dance and all who remind her of it to return as an invalid to her hometown in Minnesota. There, as she searches for healing for both her back and her heart, Sasha finds that she cannot live alone and is forced to hire Evelyn Burt, a sassy and upbeat young woman who is determined to help Sasha on her way to recovery - even if Sasha resists her every move. Evelyn, a big girl and a tomboy at heart, is everything that Sasha is not and their relationship is fraught with conflict. Sasha, in the grip of depression and despair, sees Evelyn's sunny disposition and persistent optimism as failures and irritations. The women do share one important characteristic, however: both have wandered far from home. Sasha's move was a physical one while Evelyn moved emotionally away from her parents when she upset them by choosing not to go to college and instead became engaged to the town's "bad boy." As the women work together to find their ways back home, they gradually learn to understand each other better and form a strong bond of friendship that will prove to be an important source of strength for both of them when they are faced with unexpected life changes.

As a fan of Charlene Ann Baumbich's Dearest Dorothy series, I was so glad to see that she has continued to write beautiful novels that touch the heart. Finding Our Way Home was a wonderful novel that reminded me of the all-important need for grace and friendship in our lives. Though I was initially dissatisfied with the way the last few chapters seemed to rush towards closure, I realized upon further meditation that the focus of the book was not the resolution of the problems that arose but was rather the relationship between Sasha and Evelyn and its transforming power as they faced their darkest moments. The characters of both women are strong and well-written, but I was especially drawn to Sasha's story. I could relate so well to her feelings of helplessness and to the lessons that she learned by surviving those dark hours. I could have written passages like these myself: "Sadly, not until she was wholly laid up did she realize what a gift it had been to be able to wash a dish, clean a toilet, or make her own bed..." and "In the midst of everything that was wrong, Sasha began to realize how important it was to pay attention while one could, to remember to be thankful for small things. Thankful for growing health and the people who came alongside you." The book is filled with similar truths that left an impression on me, reminding me to be thankful for each day that I have to draw breath and to enjoy the world and the people around me.

Thanks to WaterBrook Multnomah Press for the copy of the book I received in exchange for this unbiased review.