Just Shy of Harmony

February 25, 2002
When Sam Gardner reads an article about "the ten warning signs of depression" in a Christian magazine, he discovers that he has seven of them. The article closes by telling readers that if they have seven or more signs of depression, they should see their pastor. The trouble is, Sam is
the pastor. He's tired of writing sermons and exhausted by his congregation's resistance to any change more meaningful than installing a new vanity in the women's bathroom. In this refreshingly candid novel, a sequel of sorts to Home to Harmony, the members of Harmony's quirky Friends Meeting engage in various struggles with depression and doubt. Like Jan Karon, Gulley has a gift for understanding the hilarity and pathos of small churches in small towns. With his characteristic wry humor, he develops a host of side characters, from Dale Hinshaw, the self-righteous and infuriating church elder, to the salt-of-the-earth lottery winner, Jessie Peacock. Gulley is unflinching at depicting some of the church members' narrow-mindedness, but he never succumbs to stereotype. While some readers may initially have a difficult time adjusting to the way Gulley often switches from the past to the present tense, this device helps the book play out like a comfortable, down-to-earth conversation. Many readers will relate to Sam's honest struggles with faith and will appreciate the book's subtle message: that Sam's faith is rekindled only when he steps away from congregational infighting and begins to help others. This story is a winner.

In this second installment of Gulley's Harmony series, Quaker pastor Sam Gardner is having a crisis of faith. The church elders are bickering, and the townspeople are consumed with gossip and scandal. Narrator Norman Dietz performs the role of Sam Gardner with a winning combination of patience and frustration as he faces his spiritual challenge. Dietz also proves his versatility as he portrays a supporting cast of villagers--from the young woman dealing with leukemia to an older couple experiencing the truly mixed blessing of a winning lottery ticket. The series warrants comparison to Jan Karon's Mitford series for both its uplifting stories and realistic, quirky characters. K.M.D. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine