A Novel, by Melinda Johnson Lydia's life is turning upside down. Her family has converted to Orthodox Christianity without her, she's just about to leave home for college, one of her friends is pregnant, and soon she'll be facing all the trials and temptations encountered by every young adult who is on her own for the first time. Lydia needs a friend badly and she finds one in the most unexpected place: an icon of St. Lydia. Young Lydia pours out her troubles in letters to St. Lydia, who (invisibly to Lydia) answers, guiding her through her time of troubles with deep love and compassion.
Letters to Saint Lydia
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Editorial Reviews
Review
Jane G. Meyer reviews Letters to Saint Lydia for "Speaking of Books" on Ancient Faith Radio.
ancientfaith.com/podcasts/speakingofbooks/letters_to_st._lydia
--Ancient Faith Radio, Speaking of Books
ancientfaith.com/podcasts/speakingofbooks/letters_to_st._lydia
--Ancient Faith Radio, Speaking of Books
From the Back Cover
"Highly recommended to teens and adults alike...Melinda Johnson captures the mind and heart of the reader and draws them in, as current-day Lydia and the timeless Saint Lydia explore their lives, struggles, desires, and needs." ---V. Rev. Dr. Joseph F. Purpura, Chairman, Department of Youth Ministry, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America
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More About the Author
Melinda Johnson began life in a small town in upstate New York. Her literary imagination evolved from this point through an introspective childhood, a master's in English literature, and a confirmed habit of observing her fellow human beings. When she isn't writing, her favorite activity is collecting and supporting other writers. She is the blog chief of The Sounding at Orthodox Christian Network, and she is an active member of the Orthodox literary community. Her novels, Letters to Saint Lydia and The Other Side of the Bonfire, are available on Amazon.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Keith Massey
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Letters to Saint Lydia grabbed me on page one and would not let me go. It's told in a bright and accessible style--in the format of letters written by a young woman to a Saint she doesn't even know is responding. Every time I picked it up, I found myself reading more of these exchanges than I had planned, because I just had to know what would happen next as the narrative of this young woman's life unfolded. And it would not be an exaggeration to say that my eyes were filled with tears a hundred times while I read. And there were just as many huge smiles.
I teach high school and I can testify that the book will certainly ring true for young people today. Johnson does not avoid the moral controversies and outright dangers confronting young people in the modern world. Letters to Saint Lydia is certainly Christian in its outlook, but it is by no means simplistic or moralistic. On the contrary, the religious characters in the book are real people (living or dead) who face the same struggles as everyone else, just with a different perspective on it.
This book is the perfect gift for any loving parent, grandparent, or godparent to give to the young people in their lives. But they should also read it themselves. Letters to Saint Lydia imparts a grace-filled message of hope and love in a world that is at once both dark and dangerous, yet also redeemed and beautiful.
I teach high school and I can testify that the book will certainly ring true for young people today. Johnson does not avoid the moral controversies and outright dangers confronting young people in the modern world. Letters to Saint Lydia is certainly Christian in its outlook, but it is by no means simplistic or moralistic. On the contrary, the religious characters in the book are real people (living or dead) who face the same struggles as everyone else, just with a different perspective on it.
This book is the perfect gift for any loving parent, grandparent, or godparent to give to the young people in their lives. But they should also read it themselves. Letters to Saint Lydia imparts a grace-filled message of hope and love in a world that is at once both dark and dangerous, yet also redeemed and beautiful.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I truly enjoyed this book, personally in a time where faith seems to be scarce except under the banner of fanaticism, this book brings to the reader a sense of true comfort though faith. I was struck by the simple understandings that paved the way to personal insight.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Wonderful spiritual journey with highly relatable characters. I got sucked in to Lydia's life and looked forward to reading it each day. The voices in the book are believable and the writing flows.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Believable, charming, helpful, and touching
I'm not (any longer) a teenager nor (yet) a saint, but I'm impressed how well "Letters to Saint Lydia" depicts believably the inner world of both - not an easy task! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Stephen Schumacher
5.0 out of 5 stars
Highly Recommend!
After reading Letters to St. Lydia, I purchased copies for my daughter, my 3 goddaughters, and my niece, as well as our church and school libraries. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jake_Lakeside
5.0 out of 5 stars
Letters to Saint Lydia
Letters to Saint Lydia
I wish I had read this book when I was a teenager. I could have used the insights in my life challenges then and would have accepted them better... Read more
I wish I had read this book when I was a teenager. I could have used the insights in my life challenges then and would have accepted them better... Read more
Published 10 months ago by buyer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exceeded my Expectations!
Although I'm a Christian, I'm not a big fan of Christian literature; it's often too precious, simplistic and preachy, and just doesn't square with the way people experience things... Read more
Published 13 months ago by R. King
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book to love -- seriously
I just finished reading Letters to Saint Lydia, and I want to start all over again. This portrait of a young woman's journey into Orthodoxy is everything it should be -- warm,... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Orthodox Grace
