Customer Reviews

No Dark Valley (The Derby Series #5)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Jamie Langston Turner, one of the best of the current crop of evangelical fiction writers, turns in another fine and richly detailed novel, this one tracing the interior lives of a woman burned out on faith and of her neighbor, a man learning what it takes to live according to his newfound faith. Their vastly different but parallel stories eventually intersect in a way that challenges both of them to take a risk and leave their "dark valleys" behind.

Celia Coleman seems to relish her dark valley, choosing to live in a basement apartment in a small South Carolina town and keep any socializing to a bare minimum. Orphaned as a teenager, Celia spent her remaining high school years in the Georgia home of her legalistic and grim grandmother. After attending college in Delaware, Celia moved to South Carolina and took a job in an art gallery.

When her grandmother dies, Celia is forced to keep her promise to return to Georgia for the funeral. The unhappy reunion with her relatives unsettles her, as does her discovery that she has inherited her grandmother's meager estate --- a rundown house and adjacent store, and assorted household possessions. Instead of making a final break with her Georgia past as she had wanted to do, Celia will remain connected to it, at least until the estate is settled.

Meanwhile, Bruce Healey's story is a bit tougher to tell without giving away too much of the plot line. Let's just say that he's not what he appears to be at first. He tries to befriend Celia but finds her to be surprisingly uncivil --- in fact, downright icy. Her behavior is perfectly understandable to the reader, although Bruce is baffled by it. But then, he knows a whole lot more than the reader does at first.

Which brings us to the end of the book, which will probably be a subject of debate among Turner fans until they get distracted by her next book. Some will no doubt consider it to be a pat ending, and I can understand that. But I thought she handled the ending well. It was so like God, in so many ways. The story begins to reach its conclusion in a wonderful scene --- or actually, a series of scenes --- in a Cracker Barrel restaurant, and from that point on, I had no trouble believing that the hand of God was completely involved in the lives of the characters.

One of the gifts that sets Turner apart as an author is the exquisite detail of her writing. She crafts every scene so meticulously that readers can easily become immersed in the setting. That's true of all of her books. Unlike her other novels, though, NO DARK VALLEY is much more character-driven than plot-driven, with much of the story developed through the interior thoughts of the point-of-view characters. That makes for a slower-paced novel, but that wasn't a problem for me and may not be for many of Turner's longtime fans as well. Regardless of where you place this in comparison with her previous novels, NO DARK VALLEY is a worthwhile read that underscores the many reasons why Turner is a favorite in the Christian market.

Several years ago for my birthday, my publisher sent me a copy of Jamie Langston Turner's fiction titled, Some Wildflower in My Heart. It was one of the most impacting novels I've read. Written tight, Turner boldly put a face on victimization. I frequently had to put the book down to catch my breath, but was soon drawn back to see what would happen next. That book earned great admiration for Turner, and when an acquaintance commented that Christian fiction often fell short of industry standard and life was too short for wimpy fiction, I sent her a copy.



My first experience with Turner's work made me eager to read another book from this author. Readers will glimpse characters from Some Wildflower in My Heart in her latest in this fiction series, No Dark Valley.



I'm glad I read Some Wildflower in My Heart first, because No Dark Valley didn't grip me. The story wanders, and by chapter eight I was still in the dark about where the plot was going. Throughout the book I was distracted by long descriptions of characters that were not heard from again, nor necessary to the story. The mundane thoughts of the main characters got a lot of space, as well.



In an interesting style, the author takes the reader right up to an action point, and then changes scenes. The reader is left to think nothing happened until later, when Turner refers back to the action that happened right after the reader was moved away. Rather like leaving a movie theater before the show begins and having a friend who stayed tell you about the movie later. Her writing style in this book is a lot of telling, rather than showing.



Throughout the narrative, Turner weaves in familiar hymn titles and lyrics. The last forty pages were my favorite part as she delivers action, a thinking and sensitive prince charming, and pokes good-humored fun at the writing clichés she dared to include. - PeggySue Wells, Christian Book Previews.com

I had never heard of Jamie Langston Turner before I read this book and honestly only bought it because it was on sale! I was pleasantly surprised though and have since purchased every other book that she has written. "No Dark Valley" tackles some of life's most difficult issues without the usual glib conclusions seen in most fiction. There is no bright light that shines from heaven, no sudden conversion at an alter, but a journey back to faith and God. Although Ms. Turner has been accused of drawing her stories out, I find her style refreshing. I think anyone who has been through simular dificulties (as the main character of this book) would know what I mean by that. Deep seated issues, as portrayed in this book, aren't resolved in 150 pages. I love the ending! After reading the book, I went back and re-read the last chapter probably five times. Ms. Turner has the true skill of a story teller and fine literary skill that could be likened to Jane Austin.

When Celia Coleman was fifteen, a DUI killed her parents in what the family forever called the "clothes dryer" day. Celia moved in with her dirt-poor pious grandmother. They did not get along as the younger felt God abandoned her while the older remained a fanatical believer. Celia leaves for college in Delaware and afterward becomes a South Carolina gallery art director, goes home to Dunmore, Georgia for the first time in fourteen years to attend her grandmother's funeral, but remains embarrassed by her roots.

After the funeral, Celia finds a new family moved in next door to her. She is attracted to her new neighbor Bruce, but she will not act on it because besides he is married. Bruce reciprocates the feelings, but has his own demons to contend with including caring for his sister and his niece. Celia concludes that her sour puss grandma was content with her life while she is not. She begins to seek solace with God even as heavenly matchmaking skills assist her and Bruce to relate starting with a toilet plunger.

NO DARK VALLEY is an intriguing character study that looks deep into the soul of a woman who lost all faith in the Lord when her parents were killed. The story line bares open Celia so that the audience can see her discontentment. The secondary characters furbish further insight into what Celia feels as some condemn her while others offer rejected sustenance. Though there is little action, Jamie Langston Turner provides her audience with a deep look at the impact of survivors when bad things happen to good loved ones.

Harriet Klausner

This book was about 2 people with troubled pasts, who end up living next door to each other.

I enjoyed the characters in the book. They were very well developed, people that you can easily relate to. We all have
things in our past that we are ashamed of, but being a Christian does not make you immune. I enjoy the author's writing
style a great deal. She has a poetic way of writing.

Sometimes, the past-present switch throughout the book got a little confusing. It was difficult, at times, to determine if
she was referring to something now or in the past.

The book was also a little wordy, which made it hard to follow the storyline.

I also would have liked to see more on how Celia and Bruce resolved the ghosts of the past. It seemed to end a little
abruptly. I do agree with the reviewer who said that the author took the reader to the peaking point, then changed scenes
from Celia's story to Bruce's.

But overall, the book was very enjoyable and interesting to read.

Once again, Jamie Langston Turner has written a novel that I was able to totally lose myself in....wishing it never to be over! I realize that some people complain about how "wordy" her novels are, but in my opinion that is part of their appeal. I love getting to know the characters so well. I also love the way characters from earlier books pop up throughout the story. '

If you have enjoyed any of her previous novels, you will like this one! I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite out of them all.

After reading this book I have all of her books ,wish she would write more ,my very favorite auther.Looking fore more of her books.

I am unenthusiastic about contemporary Christian fiction.

No Dark Valley is a phrase from a hymn (There'll be no dark valley when Jesus comes to gather his loved ones home). As a resolute lover of robust hymns, I found the best part of No Dark Valley to be Turner's employing hymn phrases into chapter titles and into her prose, e.g. Ten Thousand Charms; Where Bright Angel Feet Have Trod; Frail Children of Dust. I'm often snipping little phrases from hymns for a bouquet of words. This, alone, made the book worth reading.

There was a laugh out loud moment: "... Grandmother's pastor, who seemed to be trying to depict the concept of eternality by the length of his prayer."

The protagonist, Celia, is a director of an art gallery. The reference to famous paintings and poems inspired by them was engaging. When she isn't highlighting fine art, Turner pokes some fun at kitsch: "Their idea of good art was sticking a calendar picture or an old greeting card inside a frame from Kmart." And later: "Her idea of good art was the newest Precious Moments figurine."

But the writing did not win me. I wish Turner had trusted her readers to understand Celia's grief and remorse with subtle references.

Once again, Jamie Langston Turner has written a book that touches on areas of the heart that can strike a chord in any reader. I love Ms. Turner's style and have been quick to recommend her books to many of my Christian friends who want something a bit more challenging than the simplified writing that many Christian authors put out. No Dark Valley, and Ms. Turner's books overall, are not difficult to read, just more thought provoking and interwoven in a way that I've truly enjoyed.

Jamie Langston Turner has been one of my favorite authors for years, but this book was a major disappointment. While it starts out mildly enjoyable, it soon becomes almost painful to make it through to the nauseating ending. If you enjoy extremely sappy romances, then this book is for you; if not, save your money. Hopefully we can expect better from Ms. Turner in the future, more along the lines of her first books.