A Touching Story of Friendship and Faith During the Depression
Anne “Perri” Singleton’s world is defined by the security of family, the camaraderie of friends at an exclusive Atlanta girls’ school, and an enviable social life. She isn’t looking for new friends when Mary Dobbs Dillard arrives from Chicago. Besides, “Dobbs,” the passionate and fiercely individualistic daughter of an itinerant minister, is her opposite in every way.
But just as the Great Depression collides disastrously with Perri’s well-ordered life, friendship blossoms–a friendship that will be tested by jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets…
With her endearing characters and poignant storytelling, Atlanta native Elizabeth Musser vividly re-creates the charm of her beloved city amid the poverty and plenty that shaped the 1930s.
| Price: | $14.99 |
| ISBN: | 978-0-7642-0831-7 |
| ISBN-10: | 0-7642-0831-4 |
| Dimensions: | 5.5 x 8.5 |
| Number of pages: | 400 |
| Carton Quantity: | 32 |
| Publication Date: | Jun. 11 |
| Formats: | Paperback |
Elizabeth Musser, an Atlanta native, lives in southern France with her 
husband and their two sons. Her acclaimed novel, The Swan House, was a Book Sense bestseller list in the Southeast and was selected as one of the top Christian books for 2001 by Amazon’s editors. Searching for Eternity is her sixth novel. Visit Elizabeth’s Web site at www.elizabethmusser.com
Endorsement:
“The Sweetest Thing is a touching story of friendship and faith. Musser’s characters are as real and as unforgettable as the friends I grew up with.”
–Lynn Austin, bestselling author of While We’re Far Apart
My Review:
Elizabeth Musser, in her book, The Sweetest Thing, gives you a very personal, bird’s-eye view of life during the Depression years in different parts of the country in the early 1930s.
It’s a book of contrasts: Anne “Perri” Singleton’s wealthy socialite family and Mary Dobbs Dillard’s poor family whose father is an itinerant pastor; Anne who has a well-ordered, busy social life and Mary who is an outspoken individualist; and the possibility of polar opposites becoming friends.
When disaster strikes Perri’s life, Mary is there to encourage her with her faith in God. When sickness and secrets strikes Mary’s life, she questions and doubts her faith. Jealousy, betrayal, and family secrets eventually causes an estranged in their friendship. But it’s faith that comes from the least likely source that will surprise you through the end of the story.
The ups and downs of the girls’ friendship are typical for the circumstances and age of the girls. They seem very familiar. The descriptions of the calamities that befall some of the families are well-developed and so very real. The destitution during the Depression is palpable and realistic. The mystery that is woven into the story keeps the pages turning!
A point I failed to mention earlier is that I loved the point of view rambling back and forth between Perri and Dobbs regarding the same episode, depicting their specific frame of mind about the circumstances transpiring. It felt like you were eavesdropping! Made for a fantastic read.
God’s intervention stands out in ways that shouldn’t surprise a believer, yet in ways it does. God is faithful, just not always in how we expect. Trust in God is the main emphasis that comes to my mind in the midst of trying circumstances in Elizabeth’s story. Along with the faith, love and help of people when desperate times hit those they have come to love.
Friendship and the faithfulness of God are The Sweetest Thing.
This book was provided by Jim Hart of Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.
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Posted by mainstayministries on July 13, 2011 at 5:01 am
This is such an inspiring book. A great read especially when you’re really down.
Posted by Onedesertrose on July 13, 2011 at 10:32 am
It is very uplifting. Faith and friendships!