"None So Blind"
About the Book:
Author: Chautona Havig
Release date: September 29, 2013
Genre: Contemporary
Dani and Ella Weeks–two women who share one thing in common. The same life, the same family, and the same body.
When Dani wakes with no knowledge of who or where she is–no memories of her life at all–David and Dani Weeks discover that “til death do us part” takes on an entirely unexpected meaning. Practically speaking, Dani died. But she didn’t.
What’s a gal to do?
In a desperate attempt to separate the old life from the new, Dani insists on a new name, a twist of her old one–Ella.
Ella’s doctors can’t explain what happened. Her children can’t understand why she doesn’t know them. David, her husband, finds himself torn between admiration for the “new” version of his wife and missing the woman he’s known for over fifteen years.
Will Ella ever regain her memory? Why does their pastor suspect it’s one great hoax?
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My Thoughts:
Having had read some of Chautona's other novels, I was looking forward to this new one, which seemed to be very different from her usual creations. I certainly was NOT disappointed!! This author has a very special talent enabling her to portray faith, always in a positive light, in all of her main characters! Yes, some of them falter, as any other person does, in the difficult journey that life takes us on, however, there is always hope at the end of tunnel.
Chautona outdid herself in this novel! Her characters were so realistic and well described that I immediately found myself living with Ella , experiencing her every pain and confused thought. What a horrible fear she must have felt! She went to bed one day, awoke another, not knowing who or where she was!!! Who were these strangers who seemed to know her, even when she did not know herself?? I absolutely loved the way the author portrayed a positive faith by the characters, even when in their darkest moments. Ella was a unique individual who had strength beyond measure. I so admired her. She managed to bring happiness to others even while she faltered with her own life. Honestly, can you imagine living in a situation having had no memories of the past??
All of the characters were lovable in their own way. They had unbelievable struggles that took faith and time to overcome.
The plot moves steadily towards a happy ending. Does Ella regain her memory??? That, I can not tell you! However, this very strange situation this family finds themselves in , becomes the most positive , valuable experience that each has ever had . There were a few twists and turns, but I was kept busy just guessing what Ella would attempt to do with her life next!!
The underlying theme of forgiveness, second chances and the acceptance of change comes through loud and clear. We all need to have the faith that this family exhibits!
Was this book different from the usual that this author creates? Definitely, yes! But in a great way!! Don't miss this novel! A great read!
This book was a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
Having had read some of Chautona's other novels, I was looking forward to this new one, which seemed to be very different from her usual creations. I certainly was NOT disappointed!! This author has a very special talent enabling her to portray faith, always in a positive light, in all of her main characters! Yes, some of them falter, as any other person does, in the difficult journey that life takes us on, however, there is always hope at the end of tunnel.
Chautona outdid herself in this novel! Her characters were so realistic and well described that I immediately found myself living with Ella , experiencing her every pain and confused thought. What a horrible fear she must have felt! She went to bed one day, awoke another, not knowing who or where she was!!! Who were these strangers who seemed to know her, even when she did not know herself?? I absolutely loved the way the author portrayed a positive faith by the characters, even when in their darkest moments. Ella was a unique individual who had strength beyond measure. I so admired her. She managed to bring happiness to others even while she faltered with her own life. Honestly, can you imagine living in a situation having had no memories of the past??
All of the characters were lovable in their own way. They had unbelievable struggles that took faith and time to overcome.
The plot moves steadily towards a happy ending. Does Ella regain her memory??? That, I can not tell you! However, this very strange situation this family finds themselves in , becomes the most positive , valuable experience that each has ever had . There were a few twists and turns, but I was kept busy just guessing what Ella would attempt to do with her life next!!
The underlying theme of forgiveness, second chances and the acceptance of change comes through loud and clear. We all need to have the faith that this family exhibits!
Was this book different from the usual that this author creates? Definitely, yes! But in a great way!! Don't miss this novel! A great read!
This book was a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.
About the Author
Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert with her husbnd and five of her nine children. Through her novels, she hopes to encourage Christians in their walk with Jesus.Guest post from Chautona Havig
“Who are you, again?”
“I’m Joe’s, daughter. Vyonie.” My sister pointed to me. “This is Chautona.”
For some odd reason, the niece she spent the least amount of time with, Aunt Doris remembered—somewhat. But she didn’t remember Vyonie from what I could tell. She smiled at me, that amazing, sweet smile I’d never forget. She asked how I was. I always thought that Mrs. Sanderson—mother of John, Alicia, and Carl on the TV show, Little House on the Prairie—looked and sounded like Aunt Doris. Of course, that memory of me didn’t last. A minute or two later, she gave me a big smile and asked if she knew me.
It gave me a picture of what it must have been like for my character, Ella Weeks—to wake up every day with these children there—children who knew her, but she didn’t remember. The hurt she caused every time she had to struggle to admit she didn’t know something she probably should—again. So, I thought I’d ask her to tell us about it.
Ella: People often assume that the worst part of losing my memory are the memories that disappeared, too. But it’s not. A much as I’d love to remember my wedding day, my daughter’s first steps, my son’s first words, or that moment I realized I was pregnant with my third, those are blessings that I don’t think about often. No, what hurts most is seeing the pain in my children’s eyes when they need me to remember something and I can’t. For me, not remembering their first day of kindergarten is an inconvenience. For them, it’s a further reminder that if they didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t know them. That without them pushing themselves into my life, I wouldn’t care about them any more than any other human in my path. I do now, of course, but not at first. I hate that they heard David say once, “…she doesn’t know me. She doesn’t trust me. She doesn’t know our children. She tries, but she could walk out of our lives tomorrow and never miss us.”
Living so close to it every day, I missed those little bits of pain that I inflicted without meaning to, but when I went with our Bible study to a nursing home and visited with the residents, then I saw it. Women with tears running down their cheeks as loved ones patted their hands and tried to comfort. I heard one man offer to find a woman’s father. She squeezed him close and whispered, “It’s okay, Daddy. I love you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
The man promised to try to find her father in the meantime.
Those people there—most of them didn’t realize they didn’t remember someone important. They didn’t struggle to remember this or that. Their dementia had gotten bad enough that their lives had gone from constant frustration to, by comparison, blissful oblivion.
And their families withered with each forgotten face, name, moment.
That’s what my “episode” did for my family. It caused them pain that just resurfaced every time something new happened. Pain that I didn’t know I inflicted. And since that visit, I have a greater compassion and awareness of just how amazing and powerful memories are.
I also have a greater appreciation for those beautiful words in Isaiah when the Lord promised… “I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake, And I will not remember your sins.”
You see, there’s a lifetime of the sins that Jesus died for buried somewhere in my brain—or, at least at one time there was. I know that those sins were in there, because the ones I committed yesterday are there today. The ones I’ve already confessed and been forgiven for—I beat myself up for the next morning. A week later. A month. But the Lord has wiped them clean. I just keep smearing them back out there again as if to say, “But You don’t get how BAD I was.” Yeah. The arrogance, right? Because an almighty, holy God can’t possibly understand how sinful a sinner that He had to DIE to save from those sins… is. The arrogance? That’s an understatement.
But all those years before that horrible morning… gone. Maybe I stole something. I don’t know. It was forgiven, wiped clean, and then wiped from my memory. I can’t rehash it with the Lord over and over. I can’t drag it back up like a wife who won’t let her husband forget the one time he forgot her birthday. I can’t use it as a whip to beat myself up with. And I think there’s something beautiful in that.
Do I wish I could stop hurting my family with my blank past? Of course. But am I also grateful for a living picture of the fresh start the Lord gives His people at salvation? Definitely. I hope I never take it for granted again.
Blog Stops
June 15: Blogging With Carol
June 15: Genesis 5020
June 15: Lane Hill House
June 16: Red Headed Book Lady
June 16: The Scribbler
June 16: Moments Dipped in Ink
June 17: Back Porch Reads
June 17: The Power of Words
June 17: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
June 18: Carpe Diem
June 18: A Baker’s Perspective
June 19: Christian Bookaholic
June 19: Quiet Quilter
June 20: The Fizzy Pop Collection
June 20: Mommynificent
June 21: Seasons of Opportunities
June 22: Pursuing Stacie
June 22: Remembrancy
June 23: Pause for Tales
June 23: Avid Reader Book Reviews
June 24: Bigreadersite
June 24: CAFINATED READS
June 25: Lots of Helpers
June 25: Ashley’s Bookshelf
June 26: Blossoms and Blessings
June 26: A Reader’s Brain
June 27: Margaret Kazmierczak
June 27: His Grace is Sufficient
June 28: Just Jo’Anne
June 28: Henry Happens
June 28: Reader’s Cozy Corner
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away a grand prize that includes:
1 $25 Amazon Gift Card
1 Paperback Copy of None So Blind
1 Paperback Copy of Will Not See
1 Lampwork Necklace
1 Cool denim mini-backpack (to hold your stuff!)
1 Custom Travel Mug (with quote from book)
1 FREE eBook code to share with a friend!
1 Paperback Copy of None So Blind
1 Paperback Copy of Will Not See
1 Lampwork Necklace
1 Cool denim mini-backpack (to hold your stuff!)
1 Custom Travel Mug (with quote from book)
1 FREE eBook code to share with a friend!
Check out this cool video from Chautona: https://youtu.be/5K_cTjlg4S8
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ba35
Looking forward to this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts. I am enjoying the book and looking forward to finding out how it ends
ReplyDeleteThanks for your great review!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this novel and I really think it is my favorite and then her maggie series
ReplyDeleteThank you for such a thoughtful and enthusiastic review. I'm pleased you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post! This book sounds like a very interesting read! Looking forward to checking out this book!
ReplyDeleteExcellent review.
ReplyDelete