Customer Reviews

A Place Called Trinity: A Novel

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Some of us remember tales of a more innocent time in history, when men tried with variable success to live by God's laws and the practice of religion was not widely relegated to those who made it a career. Difficult as it may be to believe, prayer and devotion used to be part of the daily lives of the majority in this nation. Sadly, many of us have never known personally anyone who still lives by such absolute faith.

Parr invites us to follow the daily life of one such woman who seeks to do right rather than walk the easy road. She reminds us of the heritage of our forebearers, the satisfaction of dealing honestly with the world and with God even in those difficult times that come to all.

From her protagonist, a midwife in 1830 western Pennsylvania, we learn how she deals with heartbreak and still unselfishly encourages and helps her neighbors. The rigors of her daily work, the miles she travels to serve, her discretion and diplomacy in dealing with a doctor and his new-fangled theories, the physical aches as well as her loneliness seem to be more easily tolerated by a self-confidence, born of her faith in God.

This tale is gently told without preaching to the reader in a style similar to Jan Karon's Mitford series, perhaps surpassing Karon in the emotional involvement evoked here. Parr leaves us wondering whether progress can successfully be measured against all society has given up in exchange for easy transportation, social security checks, cynicism, serial mates, instant meals, instant pleasures that often seem to send us moving faster and farther seeking more, never satisfied.

For three generations, fiftyish Martha Cade's family has served as the midwives for the people living in and around Trinity, Pennsylvania. However, Martha struggles with the realities of the modern world. Her daughter Victoria has fled home joining a traveling acting troupe rather than take on her "natural" role as the heir apparent midwife. Also that newfangled professional, a doctor, has come to her small town, leaving Martha to wonder how many of her clients will continue to use her services.

In spite of her feelings of failure and inadequacy, Martha continues to make rounds caring for the physical and emotional needs of her patients and a few other individuals. Martha finds her faith helps her through this confidence crisis. However, her inner turmoil is on hold when she becomes embroiled with the shenanigans of the chaplain of Hampton Academy whose courses would leave 1830s educators shocked and dismayed if known. How to prove the chaplain is grooming a bunch of future thieves without getting killed is Martha's dilemma, but her belief in God will help her carry her burden.

A PLACE CALLED TRINITY is a sweet engaging Americana novel starring a kind compassionate individual who turns to faith when her comfortable world seems near collapse. Perhaps a bit too Mother Teresa in outlook, Martha's abilities to surmount her doubts serve as a lesson for anyone struggling with apparently impossible trials and tribulations. Few writers are on a par with Delia Parr, whose latest homespun tale will delight those in the audience relishing an uplifting historical story and will desire more inspirational yarns starring Martha and the townsfolk.

Harriet Klausner

Another very good novel. Ms Parr draws her characters to be very realistic and down to earth.

Delia Parr first took me by storm with EVERGREEN. I've followed her book by book, and never been disappointed. Thought-provoking and more indepth than many romances, her work has always been rich and full. Her venture into TRINITY is a different kind of work for this writer, but every bit as provoking and rich and of the caliber I've come to expect out of a top-notch novelist. TRINITY is a book of hope. Maybe I appreciate it a little more than I would have before 9/11 because collectively we need a lot more healing now than we did then. But then or now, I appreciate the value and worth of healing and hope to readers. Thank you, Ms. Parr--and please, write more--fast!

Life is too short to read books of this caliber, and I am simply not engaged in this story after 50 pages and am giving up. While there is nothing wrong with the writing, the story is not compelling, believable or anything other than boring. Not for me!