The Solace of Water

July 18, 2018

In a time of grief and heartache, an unlikely friendship provides strength and solace.

After leaving her son’s grave behind in Montgomery, Alabama, Delilah Evans has little faith that moving to her husband’s hometown in Pennsylvania will bring a fresh start. Enveloped by grief and doubt, the last thing Delilah imagines is becoming friends with her reclusive Amish neighbor, Emma Mullet—yet the secrets that keep Emma isolated from her own community bond her to Delilah in delicate and unexpected ways.

Delilah’s eldest daughter, Sparrow, bears the brunt of her mother’s pain, never allowed for a moment to forget she is responsible for her brother’s death. When tensions at home become unbearable for her, she seeks peace at Emma’s house and becomes the daughter Emma has always wanted. Sparrow, however, is hiding secrets of her own—secrets that could devastate them all.

With the white, black, and Amish communities of Sinking Creek at their most divided, there seems to be little hope for reconciliation. But long-buried hurts have their way of surfacing, and Delilah and Emma find themselves facing their own self-deceptions. Together they must learn how to face the future through the healing power of forgiveness.

Eminently relevant to the beauty and struggle in America today, The Solace of Water offers a glimpse into the turbulent 1950s and reminds us that friendship rises above religion, race, and custom—and has the power to transform a broken heart.

My Review

I absolutely love, love this book. It did not take me follow to figure out that I was in for a pure delightful read; within the first few pages. Ms. Younts drew me in and made me not want to leave. The three prominent women featured in this story...Delilah, Emma, and Sparrow all had a story to tell and their voices were heard loud and clear.

I felt sorry for Sparrow. She truly was devastated by the death of her younger brother. The way her mother, Delilah lashed out at her was sad. However, I could put myself in Delilah's shoes and see her point of view. She was hurting as well. Emma also was hurting. Thus the reason that these three women were able to band together and form a close bond. What I loved is that the women saw things deeper than "skin" deep or faith. Delilah and Sparrow are black and Emma is white and Amish.

This book is truly a delightful read. It is in the top five of my list for 2018. To quote Emma:

Water pulls at us
Believe
Drawing us together
Trust
Wraps coolness around
Us
Plunge into the deep
Breathe
We are reborn
Together
Solace