Night Bird Calling

November 9, 2020
Gohlke (Secrets She Kept) delivers a gripping story about the trauma of domestic and church abuse set in 1941 Appalachia. Lilliana Grace Swope flees Philadelphia and her abusive husband and father, both leaders in their local congregation who use their positions to justify physical and emotional abuse, after her mother’s death. She heads to her great-aunt Hyacinth Belvidere’s home in tiny No Creek, N.C., and soon learns of Hyacinth’s health troubles and her plan to will Lilliana her estate. As Lilliana becomes part of the community, she sees the effects of racism, violence, gossip, and hidden sexual abuse; she also begins to stand up for herself, see herself as God sees her, and defend those hurt by racism and sexism by opening Hyacinth’s home and large library to all. But as Hyacinth becomes increasingly blind and frail, Lilliana’s husband shows up looking to position himself to profit from Lilliana’s inheritance, and Lilliana must find the courage to thwart his scheme to divorce her to keep control of the estate. Gohlke creates a cast readers will love, and the strong themes of the bonds of family forged outside one’s kin resonate. The author’s fans will love this. Agent: Natasha Kern, Natasha Kern Literary Agency

Starred review from November 1, 2020

No Creek, NC, is a small town down on its luck, reeling from the Great Depression and suspicious of outsiders. Blind spinster Hyacinth Belvidere commands respect as the last descendant of the grand old families, but her new house guest, Lilliana Grace, makes some waves. Lilliana is accepted as the town librarian, but only because folks don't know she's on the run from an abusive husband and hiding under an assumed name. As Lilliana makes connections in the charming town, she uncovers hidden fault lines, and, with a child's innocent invitation, racial and class divisions threaten to erupt into an all-out war. Lilliana takes one small step of bravery after another, trying to bring forgiveness and healing to others even though she doesn't believe she deserves them for herself. VERDICT Gohlke (The Medallion) delivers another historical drama fraught with tension and loaded with truth. Recommended for readers seeking to understand complex historical issues with determined characters and a dash of hope. Fans of Susan Meissner's As Bright as Heaven or Lisa Wingate's The Book of Lost Friends will want to add this to their list.--Christine Barth, Scott Cty. Lib. Syst., IA

Copyright 2020 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2021
In May of 1941, Lilliana, downtrodden by an abusive marriage and heartbroken after the funeral of her mother, falls asleep on a church pew. She wakes up to the sound of her husband pressuring her father to betray her to grow his own fortune, and, to her dismay, her father agrees. She flees from her Philadelphia home to No Creek, NC, where she hopes to find refuge with her elderly Aunt Hyacinth. Hyacinth wholeheartedly accepts her, as do several others in No Creek, although she is still seen as an outsider by many in the tiny community. As Lilliana finds purpose managing Aunt Hyacinth's library, she and her friends face treacherous threats from the KKK, including rape, abuse of all kinds, and extreme violence. Gohlke's efforts to address real-life issues and the evils of racism is laudable and shows religious truths in this Christian historical-fiction novel. Night Bird Calling also interlaces themes of redemption, friendship, and grace, and its depiction of a small southern town, is reminiscent of writings by Lisa Wingate.

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