young woman struggles with identity & faith on her way to the Promised Land

UNDER THE CLOUD

 

A novel by Violet Nesdoly

 

Reviewed by Elma Schemenauer

 

Some people store computer files "in the cloud." Thousands of years ago, Zamri travelled under a different kind of cloud. In the words of this novel about her, "It is Yahweh's (God's) glory come down."

 

Zamri is fifteen years old when the story begins. Like many young women, she struggles with her identity and role in life. She wants to be a leader. She has a prime example in Moses, who is leading her and the other Israelites through the desert to the Promised Land. Other examples include Aaron, Caleb, and Joshua. But the leader who inspires Zamri most is Miriam, sister of Moses and Aaron.

 

Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to be like Miriam. Also, her love life isn't great. She loves a young man named Pallu, but loses him in tragic circumstances. She marries Elah, but yearning for her first love keeps her from loving her husband as she should. Zamri longs for a child, but can't conceive.

 

Her path in life isn't smooth, but her faith in God grows through dealing with the challenges she faces. And near the end of the story, her dream of being like Miriam comes true in a surprising way.

 

This book begins with a list giving the names of the characters and their relationships to each other. The list also indicates which ones are mentioned in the Bible and which are fictional.

 

At the end of the novel are questions for discussion. Chapter-by-chapter endnotes give the Biblical references on which the story's incidents are based.

 

Nesdoly writes in a clear, straightforward style. Her novel is well researched, and helps readers experience Biblical events and developments through the eyes of the characters involved. Zamri's story explores themes that are as relevant now as they were then, for example, identity, coming of age, disappointment, doubt, and faith.

 

A few sentences in the novel seem too modern for the time. Examples: "Don't let her get to you." "Keep the long view in mind." "I tuned into Moses again." However, this is a minor quibble. UNDER THE CLOUD is available on Amazon.ca (Canadian) at https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0973584211/ & on Amazon.com (American) at https://tinyurl.com/y9jwzp3m

 

 

 

 

 

writerly news for June 26, 2020

If you subscribe to the free online magazine WRITERS WEEKLY, info about markets for writers, etc. will arrive in your inbox once a week. When you subscribe, you get a free book by Angela Hoy. Your choice of two books: DOS AND DON'TS OF BOOK SELLING or QUERY LETTERS THAT WORKED. Here's the link: https://writersweekly.com/subscribe

A guy writes 25 good novels, none published until after his death. What'd he do wrong? https://tinyurl.com/y998tvzo

Faith Today is a leading national magazine for Canada's estimated four million evangelical Christians. It connects, informs and profiles Evangelicals, equipping them with expert research and insight into Canadian culture, Christian life and ministry. This paying market is open to submissions of various kinds. Here are their guidelines: https://www.faithtoday.ca/

Periodicals open to articles about health/illness. https://tinyurl.com/ybrcrrea

Thinking of using a free stock photo on your website, book cover, or elsewhere? It's not always as straightforward as it seems. https://tinyurl.com/y86pnqnh

Great article & video about Interior Authors Group member Dennis Robertson in KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK June 26, 2020. This is our one-of-a-kind Dennis. We love him, his buoyant spirit, and his book CRACKERS, COME HEAR. It's the encouraging, informative, heart-touching story of his hearing-ear dog. https://tinyurl.com/yaotct2m

I was sent this email below by someone who wishes to be anonymous at this time. She informs me she is in the middle of a case and does not want to reveal her identity. While I have not yet been abl…

novel TRANQUILLE DARK by Alex McGilvery reviewed by Elma Schemenauer

Most Kamloops residents and visitors have found themselves on Tranquille Road, perhaps many times. It's a major business street and transportation artery in North Kamloops. The name, pronounced tronKEEL, is French for tranquil, calm, peaceful.

 

Some aspects of the street fit the name—free parking; wide, well marked pedestrian crosswalks; several churches; and an interesting mix of shops and restaurants.

 

But there are untranquil aspects, and Alex McGilvery explores some of them in TRANQUILLE DARK. The novel is about homeless and mostly homeless people of the area. He portrays them and their lives in a way that rings true, promotes empathy, and sometimes shocks readers.

 

The story centres on a character known only as Blue. He camps under the Halston Bridge, stores his meager belongings in a tree to keep them away from bears, and fights his addiction to alcohol one day at a time.

 

Blue struggles with a nagging question. In the words of the novel, "What could he do to give his life a purpose?" Day by day survival takes a lot of effort, but now that booze isn't blurring his perceptions, he's bored and wants something more. He eventually finds it in surprising places, and reveals himself to be a far different man from what readers originally took him for.

 

Blue's friend Sam also isn't what he seems to be. Neither is the woman lawyer in the expensive suit.

 

Neither is the opioid crisis. Behind the crisis is a chilling reality not suspected by most people in the media, law enforcement, and social services.

 

This isn't a book for Pollyannas, but it's an attention-holding read that delves into difficult questions and ends on notes of hope.

 

There's lots of action around, and McGilvery plunges right into it. The first sentence in the book is, "The fight started between two young punks as Blue walked south on Tranquille toward the Duchess."

 

The author's use of specific details appeals to readers' senses and makes them feel as if they're really there. Examples:

 

-"The kid pulled a knife. It snicked open—a gas-station karambit, cheap steel, crap quality, but it could still kill."

 

-"A car honked at a man pushing a shopping cart overflowing with torn black bags and a cardboard sign reading 'Bless you.'"

 

-"A woman with grey hair in a comfortable pair of grey pants and emerald green blouse came into the room and pulled up a chair."

 

-"Molly paced about the small camp, trying to work out the stiffness from steeping on the ground."

 

At the end of the book, a young woman who has quit taking drugs and made it off the street learns to knit. She says, "I'm getting better at keeping the tension even. It helps on the bad days."

 

Blue replies, "Bad days will happen." They'll happen to her in the future, and to him, and to most of us. Bad days are part of being human. But as the novel demonstrates, help exists, and it can come in unexpected ways.