Review: The Song

The Song
By Chris Fabry
Tyndale House, 2014


Summary

Jed King’s life has been shaped by the songs and mistakes of his famous father. He wants to sing his own song, but the words and melody are elusive. Haunted by the scars inflicted by his broken family, Jed’s dreams of a successful music career seem out of reach . . . until he meets Rose.

As romance quickly blooms, Jed pens a new song and suddenly finds himself catapulted into stardom. But with this life of fame comes temptation, the same temptation that lured his father so many years ago.

Set in the fertile mid-South, this quest for success leads Jed and Rose on a journey that will force them to deal with the pain of loss, failure, and the desire to be who God created them to be.

Lyrical and deeply honest, The Song asks the hard questions of love and forgiveness. When even the wisest of men are fools in love, can true love persevere?


My thoughts

The Song is an unusual book, one that I enjoyed and don't hesitate to recommend. Inspired by Song of Solomon and based on the motion picture screenplay by Richard L. Ramsey, it's a love story that shows what happens when God doesn't have first place on the throne of our hearts. The Song is a beautiful way to reach a new audience with God's message of sin, forgiveness and redemption.

It must be difficult to write a novel drawn from a screenplay because I've never read one with high literary quality - yet Chris does a very good job in this area. And anything it might lack as a novel is more than made up for in its theme and relevance for us today. The Song is a mature story, sincere and honest, and in no way glosses over sin and its devastating effects. In fact, I thought the strongest part of this story was the second half, where we walk with Jed and Rose through their own "Song of Songs." Most people have a visual image in mind as to the extent of King Solomon's extravagances, so let me quickly say that while The Song is realistic and raw at times, there is nothing graphic or inappropriate. Readers will know what happened behind closed doors, but the message of God's forgiveness and redemption is supreme.

Jed King, talented singer and songwriter, books concert tours in order to provide for his family, but gets his self-worth from the adoring crowds. Rose is a people pleaser, "the one who simply went along with the program and tried to make people happy." Together, Rose and Jed become busy doing good things, but in different directions, and soon discovered that "separate lives with separate agendas going separate ways did not knit hearts together." I liked how it was brought out that while Jed's sins were glaring and in the public eye, Rose wasn't totally without fault. That's very true to life.

The idea (or lie) that happiness at all cost should be our goal is so prevalent in the world today. "Do what you want and don't feel guilty." I groaned when I saw Jed being enticed by these words of advice, yet I can't help but wonder how often we also fall prey to this way of thinking.

In closing, I'd like to share these words of Chris Fabry from his website:  "My hope is that someone who has made mistakes will pick it up and see that there really is forgiveness and new life available. The abundant life is not one devoid of pain or struggle or wrong choices. The abundant life is found when we align our lives with the one who made us to be who we are."

I enjoyed The Song and think adult readers will be entertained and inspired by the story of Jed and Rose. To learn more about The Song, visit Chris's Q&A page on his website.

Chris Fabry

        Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live! on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.
        Chris's novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and Not in the Heart, have won two Christy Awards and an ECPA Christian Book Award, but it's his lyrical prose and tales of redemption that keep readers returning for more.
        He has also published more than 65 other books, including nonfiction and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. RPM is his latest series for kids and explores the exciting world of NASCAR.

Meet Chris Fabry online at www.chrisfabry.com and Twitter.

Thank you to Tyndale for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Shared at Book Musing Mondays