Last night I did what I have tried desperately not to do all school year: I read a book for fun instead of planning for school the next morning. It has been a long time since I read a book that engrossed me so much I couldn't put it down. I tried many times to put it away. I even went so far as to put it out of reach and turn out my light so I could go to sleep and at least be well-rested if not well-prepared in the morning. I attempted this twice and both times I lasted about ten minutes before turning my light back on, picking the book back up and (ultimately) reading it to its conclusion.
The book in question is When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin. The title calls it "a book of the heart" which is exactly what it is. The narrator is also the main character and he is a mystery from the beginning. Throughout the book he slowly reveals himself and his past. The story that develops is a beautiful and graphic description of the heart, its diseases and how to heal. Rather than limiting himself purely to the physical or the emotional, Martin masterfully weaves the two parts of our heart into a single account. The author liberally sprinkles relevant passages by Shakespeare, Tennyson, Helen Keller and the Bible.
There are definite Christian themes in the book, but I would recommend it as an excellent piece of literature to anyone, Christian or not.
Bottom line: When Crickets Cry- highly recommended.
