I used to avoid books about tragedies because of the sadness I associated with them. But I’m learning that I miss something when I do: a beauty beyond compare.
This is what Michele Phoenix’s new book, The Space Between Words, offers. Centered on the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, the story follows Jessica, a young woman who survives the attacks and must learn how to go on living. The discovery of a faded document in an antique sewing box sets her on a path toward healing as she searches for the untold story of a Huguenot family driven from France for their practice of faith centuries before.
I have enjoyed Phoenix’s books in the past, and they keep getting better and better. If you’ve read any of her works before, I’d say this one is her best yet. Her heart for France is evident and her uncovering of deep truths in the midst of unimaginable suffering make this book a relevant read. (Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher through the Blogging for Books program.)
My favorite line: “For all its scars and strife, this world still speaks the beauty of its Maker.”
Though the subject matter and the events of the plot make it difficult to read at parts, it is a worthwhile story. More than simply enjoyable. Satisfying in a soul deep way.