Faith
Release date: 2012 / 352 pages
Synopsis(from Amazon): It is the spring of 2002 and a perfect storm has hit Boston. Across the city’s archdiocese, trusted priests have been accused of the worst possible betrayal of the souls in their care. Estranged for years from her difficult and demanding family, Sheila McGann has remained close to her older brother, Art, the popular, dynamic pastor of a large suburban parish. When Art finds himself at the center of the maelstrom, Sheila returns to Boston, ready to fight for him and his reputation. But what she discovers is more complicated than she imagined as the scandal forces long-buried secrets to surface.
Review: When TLC contacted me about reading and reviewing Faith, I jumped at the chance without any idea of the subject matter and without having read any of Haigh’s earlier works (upon finishing Faith, I immediately requested her previous novels from the library). As a rule, I try not to learn much about the plot or premise of a novel before I begin since often this element is the least significant. But I had seen Faith listed on so many “best of” lists last year and knew Haigh was considered an exceptional writer.
After finishing the first few chapters, I had marked so many passages, I forced myself to put down my pen. First, because I knew a quote-riddled review would become tedious; second, because so many of the passages needed context — of the previous pages, of a life lived — in order to resonate. Here is one exception that stands alone due to the imagery: It’s impossible to describe Grantham without mentioning the wind… In most months the wind is omnipresent, a constant ruffling, scratching, snuffling, as though a large pet, a zoo animal perhaps, were sleeping at the back door.
Haigh’s subtle intuitive ear for family dynamics — whether parent-child or between siblings — in addition to her ability to create rich, full-realized characters who stand shoulder-to-shoulder, her ability to extricate that strange, glorious, terrifying, perplexing concept of “faith” on spiritual and secular levels, is exceptional.
Her crafting of the setting — not just of place, but of weather and time and mood (setting as taught in high schools as multi-faceted and thematically meaningful throughout) — is such a rare find. Her creation of syntax and ear for dialog — again of a singular time and place — allows the South Boston accent to ring true through her use of diction and spelling.
And when the context of plot revealed itself — I thought, Of course I would love this novel! My favorite fiction involves sideways perspectives — the mother of a child who has killed his classmates, the sibling of a wrongly-accused pedophile — these are the stories that interest me deeply due to how relentlessly real they must be in order to work — the truth never fully known, the reader uncomfortably empathetic, no clear-cut judgement possible. I love being forced to empathize, even sympathize, with the most unlikeable, irredeemable characters. All of this is the gift of Faith.
So, I guess I should not have been surprised when I read the supplemental materials at the back of the novel and learned that Haigh’s writing process echoes my own — painful, gut-wrenching first drafts, the release of editing. And she reminded me — through her novel as well as in her interview – why I must read fiction. Last year I began to get impatient with what used to be my favorite genre, gravitating to non-fiction instead. But then Haigh reminded me: “…the best fiction deepens our understanding of what it means to be human… writing [and reading] is an exercise in empathy.”
So often the best exercises are the most difficult — the least obvious. I thank Haigh for bringing me back to fiction and reminding me that the best fiction is imperative. Unfortunately, I’m afraid I cannot give away my copy, since I plan on recommending this to my own book club. But, if you cannot tell from my review, I strongly recommend this as an excellent book club choice!
Tuesday, January 17th: A Cozy Reader’s Corner (Baker Towers)
Tuesday, January 17th: The Lost Entwife (Faith)
Wednesday, January 18th: The Feminist Texican [Reads] (The Condition)
Thursday, January 19th: Book Addiction (Mrs. Kimble)
Monday, January 23rd: Teresa’s Reading Corner (Mrs. Kimble)
Tuesday, January 24th: Book Hooked Blog (Faith)
Thursday, January 26th: Amusing Reviews (Faith)
Friday, January 27th: Book Journey (The Condition)
Monday, January 30th: Melody & Words (Faith)
Monday, January 30th: Coffee and a Book Chick (Baker Towers)
Tuesday, January 31st: Write Meg (Faith)
Wednesday, February 1st: Unabridged Chick (Baker Towers)
Thursday, February 2nd: Broken Teepee (Faith)
Monday, February 6th: Unabridged Chick (Faith)
Tuesday, February 7th: Take Me Away (Faith)
Wednesday, February 8th: The Crazy Life of a Bookaholic Mom (Baker Towers)
Thursday, February 9th: Elle Lit. (The Condition)
Tuesday, February 14th: A Bookish Way of Life (The Condition)
Wednesday, February 15th: Book Club Classics! (Faith)
Wednesday, February 22nd: Chunky Monkey (Faith)
Thursday, February 23rd: Life is Short. Read Fast. (Faith)
Monday, February 27th: The Scarlet Letter (Faith)
Wednesday, February 29th: Reflections of a Bookaholic (Baker Towers)
Thursday, March 1st: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom (Baker Towers)
TBD: A Cozy Reader’s Corner (Mrs. Kimble)
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I LOVED Haigh’s writing in this book. She drew me into the story and made me care about each and every character, in spite of any preconceived notions I had about them. I can’t wait to read more by her!
I’m thrilled to see that you enjoyed this book as much as I did. Thanks for being on the tour.
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