I am quickly discovering that if there is an author who can take historical details and pique a reader's interest and provoke thoughtful reflection at the same time, it is Heather Wood. Sowing Hope is the next book in A Gathering of Mercies series, and it embodies the title in a way that we desperately need in a broken world.
Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Book Synopsis
Encounter the True Story of Abolitionist Editor Elijah Lovejoy
Patrick Gallagher has done all he can—and it hasn’t been enough. Now in his mid-thirties, he battles discouragement over his inability to make a difference in eradicating slavery. Longing to regain the hope and passion that once fueled his calling, Patrick sets out from his home in Maryland to meet his hero, Elijah Lovejoy, an anti-slavery editor in Missouri.
Anna Markland actively serves her community and those traveling on the Underground Railroad. But her efforts feel small when she is constantly beset by headaches that leave her prostrate for days on end. When the enigmatic Mr. Gallagher enters her life, she discovers their hearts beat with the same dreams. Yet Anna knows that if she allowed him to pursue her, her weakness would hinder him from reaching his potential as an abolitionist leader.
In the free states along his path, Patrick discovers that the Black and abolitionist communities are anything but free. Violent mobs, hateful rhetoric, and spineless politicians create a tinderbox of danger. What will he sacrifice for the cause he’s devoted his life to—and will God finally use him to make the difference he longs to see in society?
Source: Amazon
Book Thoughts
I can understand all the rave reviews for this book as Heather Wood knocks it out of the park again with the next Gathering of Mercies story, focused on Patrick Gallagher. Reading this book during a time when civil discourse has quickly devolved into violence, it's even more meaningful that we become familiar with the story of Elijah Lovejoy in American anti-slavery history. I appreciate that he appears in the epigraphs and that his statements are quoted verbatim, allowing readers to experience a biographical treatment of those involved in the abolitionist movement. The author's faithful interpretation provides a realistic glimpse into how Patrick and Anna Markland may have felt in viewing injustice and wishing they could do more as followers of Christ.
Sowing Hope is a compelling story that all Christians need to read as it is easy to take the end of slavery for granted today without acknowledging its dark history and the faithful men and women who fought to have all humans recognized for their inherent worth and dignity. This is a book that brings God's form of social justice to life, especially in an age where performative justice would not have existed and any hint of siding with the abolitionists would have resulted in harm and danger. Even if we feel that this issue may be resolved, we are doomed to repeat history unless we see God as the source of truth and the standard for how we treat others. More than ever, Christians can learn from the examples of past believers such as Elijah Lovejoy by trusting in God's hope for a world in turmoil, making this book timely and necessary.
Book Summary
- Format of book: 📱
- Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Recommendation: 👍
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