Charles and Lily, James and Nan. They meet in Greenwich Village in 1963 when Charles and James are jointly hired to steward the historic Third Presbyterian Church through turbulent times. Their personal differences however, threaten to tear them apart.Charles is destined to succeed his father as an esteemed professor of history at Harvard, until an unorthodox lecture about faith leads him to ministry. How then, can he fall in love with Lily—fiercely intellectual, elegantly stern—after she tells him with certainty that she will never believe in God? And yet, how can he not?
James, the youngest son in a hardscrabble Chicago family, spent much of his youth angry at his alcoholic father and avoiding his anxious mother. Nan grew up in Mississippi, the devout and beloved daughter of a minister and a debutante. James's escape from his desperate circumstances leads him to Nan and, despite his skepticism of hope in all its forms, her gentle, constant faith changes the course of his life.
This is a beautifully written novel that was captivating from the first page. The characters were well developed and thought out. I could really tell that the author took her time crafting each sentence and character structure. But for all the good, as a Christian I didn't really find myself in any of these characters. I didn't see people around me reflected either. I have no doubt that there are religious people very similar to the couples, but I just don't see it so that felt a bit off. If you can put this aside, it's a well written book that deserves to be read.
* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *
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