About the Author

Phyllis Clark Nichols was born in Georgia. She is a pianist and she loves cooking and travelling. Most importantly she has been actively involved in various humanitarian projects. Not only her stories, that often tries to bring out the best in people accompanied by strong faith, the author lives up to it by example.

Synopsis

Silent Days Holy Night is an uplifting story about the real meaning of Chirstmas spirit. Emerald Crest is a green granite mansion which used to host the most lavish parties once upon a time. After a years however, the parties stopped and the owner of the mansion,  Mr. Henry Lefferty the Second, chose a life of reclusion for many years. When eleven year old Julia meets Mr. Lafferty and overhears a secret about him, she is determined to bring back Christmas to this mansion.

My thoughts

I received this book as an eARC from NetGalley. I would like to thank the publishers, the author and NetGalley for accepting my request and providing me with a copy of the book.

A few days back I made a post about how every other Christmas story was mainly about finding your true love only. Amidst that, this was a refreshing read and I enjoyed it for that very reason.

Narrative and plot

A major part of the story is told through the eyes of the eleven year Julia. This isn’t your shy, confused eleven year old. Julia is way too intelligent beyond her age and observant as well. The story calls out this fact to itself a couple of times. Even then, Julia has this innocence and vibrant energy about her that makes for a compelling narrative. If I start nit-picking, perhaps the only thing that I could say against the book is that, at times it was a bit confusing when the narrative shifted between the past and present of Julia. I had to re-read it to make sure a few times. Other than that, this book is just flawless.

The plot is not something I would say challenging. It is a simple Christmas tale told in a child’s point of view. It depicts the impression that we leave on our kids with our actions and the memories we create for them. The book has a message and it could have felt a bit preachy if told from an adult’s perspective. However, it found a smart way to bring the emotions of a child along with everything.

Characters and Conflict

Mr. Lafferty and Julia are the two main characters of the book. The two people who have nothing in common at a first look. Julia is an active and talkative child while Henry is a man on a wheelchair who happens to be deaf.  The way these two find their inner zeal and connection mark the beginning of an unusual friendship. Julia’s family and the people in Henry’s life are all interesting characters with their own stories. The relationship between Julia her dad, her mother, and her brother and how she reads each one of them was indeed fun to read.

A story is only good when it creates enough obstacles for the protagonist. However, here the obstacles are mostly around Henry. And as Julia points out, a group of good people joins hands to turn the “can’ts” into “cans”. It addresses the ripple effect that is caused by a simple action, either good or bad and the consequences it has on so many people and their lives.

Conclusion

Christmas is the time when friends and family come together and share each other’s joys and sometimes worries. This whole book is centered around Christmas and it really gets to your heart. It conveys a simple message of doing good and bringing joy to everyone in a powerful way.  I would recommend this book to everyone to read during the holiday season.

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Goodreads

Silent Days, Holy Night by Phyllis Clark Nichols
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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