Not a Sparrow Falls
Reviewed by Elaine Williams
The title of this Christian novel is taken from the Bible. The book of Matthew, chapter 10, verse 29 says: "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." Not a Sparrow Falls is the story of people who have drifted away from God in various ways and find it hard to believe in second chances.
Bridie Collins steps into the sanctuary of a church while on the run from her past life as part of a drug dealing ring. She used to go to church as a child, but abuse in her family led her to run away as a teen. Now, she finds herself drawn to a young girl she sees putting a prayer request on the church bulletin board. The girl, a troubled teen named Samantha, has also come to the church for help, but without much hope. Ironically, she is the daughter of the church's pastor, who is so absorbed in church work since the death of his wife that the rest of his family has suffered. A series of answered prayers brings Bridie into Samantha's house, where she begins to remake it into a home. As the family's secrets are revealed and healed, Bridie grows nervous about her own past, and must decide whether to put all her sins behind her or to continue to run from God.
Author Linda Nichols is skilled at developing authentic characters who all have strengths and weaknesses that the reader can care about. Even the drug dealing boyfriend is shown as a young man who loved nature and kept bees with his uncle before he lost himself in drugs. Nichols uses some symbolic names for her characters, such as Jonah, who is recognized by Bible students as the man who was literally swallowed up when he ran from God. Nichols writing can be a bit preachy at times with the folksy wisdom that Bridie's grandmother dispenses from time to time, but the rest of the sprinkling of scripture throughout the novel is well-placed and well done. The plot is a bit predictable, but themes of repentance and forgiveness are what is expected in Christian fiction, and this predictability did not take away from my enjoyment of Not a Sparrow Falls. One of the highlights for me was the Christmas scene in which the pastor comes home to find the house transformed. After reading the marvelous descriptions of the snowy yard, the crookedly hung Christmas lights, and the scent of baking cinnamon rolls, I was ready to put on some Christmas music and open the season!
Linda Nichols' first book, The Handyman, was made into a movie. She writes that the success she experienced from that book caused financial and marital problems. She says that Not a Sparrow Falls came out of the despair she felt as her life changed, and the decision she made to use her writing ability for the glory of God. Read more about Linda Nichols at
www.lindanichols.orgOur Library Catalog | Our Staff Book Reviews
Highland County District Library
Highland County, OH