Is Christmas really so close that it’s
time to start reading your holiday novels? I hate to tell you, but it is. Beautiful
Star of Bethlehem by Lori Copeland is a great one to read first. It’s actually a novella, so it’s a pretty
short read—I read it a couple hours—but it’s a
great story.
In the book’s opening chapter, Arlene
Santana and her husband, Jack, are taking off in their brand new plane from
Vermont for a visit to their new granddaughter in Atlanta. On the way they hit an ice storm, and their plane
goes down. The second chapter begins
nearly a year later when Arlene is transferred from the hospital to a long-term
care facility. The book takes snippets
from her life over the next four or five years, mostly focusing on the
holidays. Arlene has amnesia, and doesn’t
recognize any of her family members, and sometimes doesn’t recognize herself. But she makes a few friends in her new home,
and relates some heartbreaking and hilarious events that occur during her time
there.
I think Ms. Copeland does a wonderful
job of portraying how a person with amnesia might feel placed in a new
environment where they don’t recognize anyone.
Since Arlene doesn’t remember or understand many of the things that
happen around her, the reader has to read between the lines, and sometimes draw
your own conclusions about what happened.
Several times members of her family come to visit her, and ask for her
advice, but since she doesn’t remember their visits, we can only wait to see
what happens in their lives the next time they come.
Don’t think that this book is too sad
to read at Christmas time. I will admit
to you that I shed a few tears in the first chapter, but it gets better after
that! It’s a sweet, heartwarming novel,
and a totally unique apporach. I may
have gotten a little teary-eyed at the ending, too, but those were happy
tears. This book deserves a place on
your shelf, and is a great way to begin your holiday reading this year. I highly recommend it!
Happy Reading!
Lyndsie
I
received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this
review. All opinions are my own, and a
favorable review was not required. Look for Beautiful Star of Bethlehem on or around
October 1.
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