In today, applause for author (A4A), I am showcasing the book The Waiting by Carol James. Ooh… and it’s a good one!
One thing the author does well:
In a word: funny.
Within the first few chapters, I was warm all over. I don’t think this is a rom-com … but the style of writing is pleasant to read. And I laughed out loud a couple of times. Not a chuckle, but closer to a howl. It’s something about James’ writing … How she draws us into a spiral. Lots of action words maybe, where there is stuff going on all the time while the character is being introspective. We learn about the characters so naturally.
James’ writing style is … I can’t describe it. There is a humor behind it. Like when you take a bite of chocolate cake and you’re like, “Huh. Is there a hint of lemon in this?” It’s something you’ve never tasted before and wondered why it isn’t more popular and you gobble up the whole thing, delighting in every bite.
That is how I read James’ book. It was like eating specialty chocolate.
I’m not going to do justice here, but this is one example of James’ humor that had me laughing out loud. (Yes, out loud. Not a chuckle, mind you. More of a short, abrupt howl. And that’s noteworthy because I read in the tiny break room at work, so it’s a little embarrassing when I start laughing to myself!)
Before I tell you the humorous part, I need to set it up.
This is chapter 1. Katherine isn’t interested on going on the blind date her dad set her up on, but she’ll do it because she loves her dad. The blind date, Sam, shows up in a sports car. From her bedroom window, Katherine notices with increasing angst that her blind date is bald. And short. Definitely not “The One.”
As the two make introductions, Katherine’s sister calls her “Beth.”
And here is where we pick it up:
*** *** ***
“So, Beth, is it?” [Sam] held out his hand and smiled again.
Oh, great, she’d made a stellar first impression. As she found her breath, her voice followed. “No. Katherine. Katherine Herrington.” She grasped his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, Sam.” The sightline from her eyes to his was an upward angle. He wasn’t short after all. He was definitely taller than she was, just not as tall as Clark. She had changed clothes for no reason.
“Katherine.” He cocked his head to the side, raised his eyebrows, and pressed his lips together. “OK, Katherine it is then. Pleased to meet you, as well.” He extended his crooked elbow for her to take. “Ready?”
Or not. “Ready.” She took his arm …
*** *** ***
That “Or not” got me laughing. I was in Katherine’s head. I was annoyed and wanted to get the date over with too.
Such clever writing.
Oh my, what a joy to read!
Which leads to my next point …
I loved Sam, the male protagonist—but not in the same way I enjoy all love interests of every romance I’ve ever read. I loved Sam’s dialogue. I loved the softness about Sam. But he’s firm too, sure of himself, and talented. Soft, as in, … sweet, gentle, whimsical. He’s funny without trying to be.
Okay, he’s fiction. And this isn’t a character sketch.
Dear reader, are you familiar with Michael Hosea? He’s the male protagonist of “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. He is the romantic of the romantics because of his pure love for Angel. It took me weeks to recover from Rivers’ book. Weeks!
That’s how Sam loves. But in this case, it’s not that his beloved isn’t confident that she deserves his love. In “The Waiting” it is Sam, himself, who doesn’t believe he deserves Katherine’s love. But the purity is there. When I say “pure,” I mean devoted, exclusive.
Decadent chocolate. Mmm.
If first was James’ humor and second was lovable loving Sam, then third is James’ writing itself.
Again, hard to describe … (Carol James, I just might have to interview you.)
For lack of better word, James’ writing is mature. Like she’s an English professor … but not stuffy. More like she’s so well-read that elaborate vocabulary flows out of her.
Or maybe because the setting is in Texas? And Texans have awesome vocab compared to the Midwest? (Could be …)
Or maybe because Sam started out with so many flaws (bald? short? Ugh. Is this even a romance?!) and turned out to be so wonderful.
Or maybe the guy makes a difference. I loved how James’ described his tenderness. His grin.
So, reader, as we all know, nobody reads unbiasedly. I admit there’s probably my past-reading has something to do with how much I loved this book. I’ve never read a rom-com, so I can’t compare (well, at least I think I haven’t!).
Please, please, someone else read this book and let me know if you laugh out loud sometimes?! I’m thinking I’m crazy.
What I learned about life from this book:
God’s plan. Oh, yes, I am in the middle of that struggle now!
Oh, you too? God’s plan is mysterious … wonderful, but mysterious. Perfect, glorious. But when we are in the thick of it, it can feel like the floor is falling out from under our feet.
Interestingly, this point, about God’s plan, can be a devotional. It is so important to wrangle with this concept. But James’ put this in a book, so it is the theme of the book, which means several aspects is covered.
And this can be applied to many different situations, but James’ wisely chose to dive deep into the specific area of God’s plan when it involved marrying the one God wants us to marry.
Wow! Talk about relevant. Find me a young Christian woman who doesn’t ask God if this a certain wonderful man in her life is the one “for her” and I’ll show you a flying pig. Marrying the one God chose is a big deal.
Relevant for the married woman too (me) because who hasn’t wondered what true love in marriage is? That God’s will in marriage is too mysterious … or we’ve missed the mark?
But “marriage” is only the main theme. Other topics include forgiveness, purity and healing, which are so related they don’t seem to need to be mentioned.
Get it at Amazon today! (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/394N19f
Carol James, however you wrote this, by skill or tons of prayer, keep it up! Mmm, chocolate ….
