Book Review: Fairhaven Chronciles, Book 2: Mercies and Miracles Posted on Mar 07, 2004
Reviewed by Jennifer Wilks, LDSFiles.com Staff Writer
The Fairhaven Chronicles, Book 2: Mercies and Miracles by Sharon Downing Jarvis
I have to admit that, as much as I've loved reading LDS fiction, it has all started to seem a little too similar at times. I have found the Fairhaven Chronicles to be a delightful exception to that rule. When reading book one, "A Fresh Start in Fairhaven", the first thing I was struck with was the fact that the book is written from the perspective of a bishop. To my knowledge, Sharon Downing Jarvis is the first author to write from this viewpoint and I found it very interesting. It's a good way to get inside the minds, hearts, and lives of the characters - to see them through the bishop's eyes, to interact with them in a bishop's interview, and to "hear" the bishop's thoughts as the Spirit directs him on how to best help them in their individual lives.
The Fairhaven Chronicles are written in a style that is very light and easy reading. At times, I felt that it was a bit too light and the story lines could have been developed more fully. But all in all, it was a refreshing change of pace and is the perfect read for someone looking for a story that is fun and light. There is a lot of humor in "Mercies and Miracles", but it is tempered by a lot of touching moments and thoughtful insights as well.
The story is set in a small town in Alabama, where Bishop Shepherd helps his congregation, family, and friends deal with the aftermath of the September 11th tragedy. The characters are fun and zany, with T-Rex, or Thomas Rexford, as the high school football star, Sister Buzbee, the eccentric widow who never leaves her secluded home and has a rifle in hand to keep her company at all times, and LaThea Winslow, a Genuine Pioneer Ancestor who spends her time aspiring to high and lofty callings for herself and her family members. The characters really shine through Jarvis' use of diction, bringing out their charming Southern accents.
I don't feel that readers would necessarily need to read the first book in order to understand and appreciate "Mercies and Miracles". I feel that the characters and story lines are sufficiently developed so that this second book could be read independently. However, I would recommend that the books be read in order, since that is the way they were meant to be read and some developments in "A Fresh Start in Fairhaven" would be given away by reading "Mercies and Miracles" first. The true nature of the characters in the story will also be best appreciated by a reader who has "gotten to know" them through reading "A Fresh Start in Fairhaven" first.
I have to admit that, as much as I've loved reading LDS fiction, it has all started to seem a little too similar at times. I have found the Fairhaven Chronicles to be a delightful exception to that rule. When reading book one, "A Fresh Start in Fairhaven", the first thing I was struck with was the fact that the book is written from the perspective of a bishop. To my knowledge, Sharon Downing Jarvis is the first author to write from this viewpoint and I found it very interesting. It's a good way to get inside the minds, hearts, and lives of the characters - to see them through the bishop's eyes, to interact with them in a bishop's interview, and to "hear" the bishop's thoughts as the Spirit directs him on how to best help them in their individual lives.