Rain Song [Paperback]

Alice J. Wisler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2008

Nicole Michelin avoids airplanes, motorcycles, and most of all, Japan, where her parents once were missionaries. Something happened in Japan...something that sent Nicole and her father back to America alone...something of which Nicole knows only bits and pieces. But she is content with life in little Mount Olive, North Carolina, with her quirky relatives, tank of lively fish, and plenty of homemade pineapple chutney. Through her online column for the Pretty Fishy Web site, she meets Harrison Michaels, who, much to her dismay, lives in Japan. She attempts to avoid him, but his e-mails tug at her heart. Then Harrison reveals that he knew her as a child in Japan. In fact, he knows more about her childhood than she does...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Wisler's likable debut, a young woman is offered a chance to find romance and make peace with her past. After her missionary mother dies under mysterious circumstances in Japan, young Nicole Michelin returns to North Carolina to live with her depressed father and loving grandmother. Now 31, and a middle school English teacher, Nicole bears the scars of a time she can't remember. She sleeps with her cloth kimono doll and nurses phobias ranging from anxiety about flying to a fear of commitment. But when she meets an intriguing man through a Web site column, her yearning for love encourages her to risk getting to know him even though he lives in Japan. Wisler's cast of Southern women is lightly sketched but no less charming for this, and her development of the relationship between Nicole and her three-year-old autistic cousin strikes poignant notes throughout. Faith fiction fans will appreciate the strong faith of Nicole's influential grandmother, Ducee Dubois, who helps Nicole face her fears. (Oct.) ""
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Review

"Wisler's debut novel.... leaves one feeling good about God's limitless ability to provide strength, courage and answers to prayer." -- Susan Miura, FaithfulReader.com

"Alice Wisler tells this story of Rain Song in the slow, deliberate style of Southern tradition." -- Kim Ford, NovelReviews.blogspot.com

"...an astonishing debut ... Wisler writes with a tremendous amount of talent." -- Annabelle Robertson, Crosswalk.com

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House; 1ST edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764204777
• ISBN-13: 978-0764204777
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,106,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born and raised in Japan, I love sushi! I also enjoyed walks to the stationer's store to purchase notebooks, scented erasers and pencils when I was in elementary school. With each purchase, I was sure I was going to write a bestseller!

Now, I live in Durham, North Carolina, USA with my new husband Carl and three kids. I write, blog and enjoy crafting fun characters. All of my novels are set in North Carolina. Rain Song (Christy Finalist 2009) is my first novel and How Sweet It Is was released in April 2009. (Also a Christy Finalist in 2010). Hatteras Girl made her debut October 2010. My fourth novel, A Wedding Invitation, set in Winston-Salem, NC, is out, and this is exciting! For me, this newest novel represents the need we all have to belong and be accepted, just like the Amerasian girl Lien, one of my characters, feels.

In addition to speaking at conferences and retreats across the country, I teach online grief-writing classes---Writing the Heartache---and design and sell remembrance cards. Since my four-year-old son Daniel's death in 1997, I've written articles on coping with grief. Many of these can be read at the Open to Hope website at http://www.opentohope.com. Be sure to visit my website at http://www.alicewisler.com and my blogs: http://www.alicewisler.blogspot.com/ and http://www.writingtheheartache.blogspot.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Already Waiting For the Sequel!, September 14, 2008

By 

Susan A. Palumbo (Durham, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain Song (Paperback)

Rain Song was an absolute pleasure to read and absorb. Alice Wisler does a marvelous job taking the reader to Nicole's world in N. Carolina. I couldn't wait for each new chapter to see what would happen next. It was a refreshing change from so many Christian novels that are, let's be honest, full of nothingness.

Each character came alive for me while I read. It reminded me a lot of my own family. I believe that everyone has an Aunt Iva in their family, a Monet, and if we're lucky enough, a Harrison.

As a middle school English teacher in N. Carolina, I appreciated every facet of the book. I am actually going to see about having it read by my eighth graders in the spring. With the discussion questions at the end of the book, it's perfect! The questions are initially posed with regard to the book, afterwhich, they tie into the reader's personal life. An opportunity for personal growth are at hand if one is wise enough to respond with an open and honest heart.

I only have one thing that I didn't really like about the book ... when it ended. I am ready for the sequel, Ms. Wisler! Thank you for sharing this part of you with the world. We await the next, impatiently!

49 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Rain Song, August 7, 2010

By 

Jolene S. Arrant (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain Song (Paperback)

Nicole Michelin lives in fear. She avoids airplanes, motorcycles, her past and Japan - the land where her mother died. She lives in fear of her grandmother's death and only finds solace in her fish and her writing. Her online column at the Pretty Fishy Website attracts the attention of one Harrison Michaels. As Nicole and Harrison correspond, he reveals that he knew her as a child and that their parents were friends. Nicole is intrigued, but very hesitant when Harrison suggests that she visit him in Japan. After all, that would require riding in an airplane. Ultimately, this story is about confronting fear and experiencing liberty.

I quite liked the main character narrating the story. The author gave her a unique and pleasing sense of humor. Unfortunately, I was quite dissatisfied with the book. I try to not be overly critical in my book reviews, but there were some issues that bothered me. The synopsis of this book made it sound like a romance. There was little to none. There was potential in the concept, but the author chose not to execute it. Also, I noticed at that author slipped from present tense to past tense writing at points where it should not have been done. I can understand the change if the the narrator were to begin recounting an event from her past. However, this particular slip was not made at such a point. Not only was it poor grammar, but it made for uncomfortable reading. But my biggest complaint about the book is that it stopped right in the middle of her visit to Japan. There was no epilogue, no sequel. Just a bunch of openness and things that were unresolved. (Her relationship with Harrison, her relationship with her father, etc.)

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, authentic family relationships, October 7, 2008

By 

Jane Latta - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rain Song (Paperback)

Absolutely delightful! This book brims with interesting characters set in a small Southern town, some of whom you may recognize from your own family experience. I enjoyed following Nicole through her major decision to return to Japan, something she had firmly avoided. Her family trials were believable and heartwarming. Her visit to Japan answers questions and allows her to experience a bit of her past which had been lost to her.

An excellent first novel from this author and I eagerly await the next one!