Customer Reviews

The Silent Harp: 1935 (The House of Winslow #33)

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"The Silent Harp" is an epic story about love and faith and how the two different concepts are truly entwined into how a life is lived.

Sarah Winslow is from "new money" and her parents are rather anxious for her to marry and to marry well. Names like Astor, Vanderbilt, and Morgen are families that are respectible and worthy of her. Sarah on the other hand finds social rules dull and pretentious. She finds love with a young man that although talented and loves her comes from more humble beginnings. Despite this Robert and Sarah plan to marry...until war breaks out in Europe and her sweetheart leaves with "I love you" on his lips. Sarah knows in her heart that she should have married Robert before he shipped out and this would be an everlasting regret. Especially when Robert is killed in action.

Sarah slips into a deep depression and her family is at the end of their tether on how to pull her back into the land of the living. One special doctor with unusual ideas works his magic and sets Sarah on a new path...but still she keeps herself isolated and protected. Again Sarah thinks she has met a man that could awaken her heart but finds out sooner rather than later that he is not what he seems. Twice bitten Sarah builds another wall around her heart. She will not allow the phantom emotion of "love" to touch her. How will she know that it's true? Will a man lover her for herself or for her bank account. She is tested one more time when Temple Smith rides into her life. Will she have the faith she needs to accept what he offers at face value or will she keep herself hidden away and silent. Like "The Silent Harp?"

This story will tug on your emotional heart strings! Sarah is a unique character that readers should be able to identify with. Her tragedies as well as her triumphs will have the reader alternatly crying and cheering. Just when you think that Robert is the best that could happen to her Mr. Morris introduces Temple. Now here is truly a wonderful hero. This was a wonderful read that explores so many different issues, that the reader will come away not only entertained by the characters but will also be given food for thought as well. This is a first rate read and one that I highly recommend.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

During World War I wealthy Sharon Winslow believes she has met the love of her life, Buffalo's Robert Tyson, while both try out for parts in an opera. Though her parents are a bit disappointed that she chose someone from the working class, they love and support Sharon's choice. The lovebirds become engaged, but agree to hold off on marriage and the conjugal bed until he returns from the war. However, he dies in combat. Sharon falls into a deep into depression to the point that her parents worry about her mental health. She vows never to marry.

During the depression grungy Temple Smith rides into her life. Her parents and her younger brother Clayton find Temple unacceptable as an uncouth pauper, but reconsider their impression as they see he has brought back the spark of life to their beloved daughter who had not shown any vigor since her fiancé died. While Temple must overcome her pledge to his ghostly rival and her parents' belief he is beneath her, Sharon is concerned with her family firm nearing bankruptcy.

THE SILENT HARP is an engaging first half twentieth century historical family drama that follows the exploits of the Winslow family from World War I through just before the onset of World War II. The story line mostly concentrates on Sharon, but also contains subplots involving her much younger brother Clayton as well as her parents. Although the action is limited as this is more of a character study, Gilbert Morris cleverly uses the backdrop of major events like the war to end all wars and the Great Depression to showcase a perceptive Americana tale.

Harriet Klausner

We enjoy all of the House of Winslow series. I would recomend everyone to read them as they are very well written.

Sharon Winslow's finance never makes it back from WWI. The book as a whole covers many many years. As usual, there are some rather nice twists. The part that dragged a bit was her depression. Most of the time I was like "okay, get over it" - maybe that's just me being cynical.

A decent addition to the House of Winslow series.

I especially liked... The fact that it ended - eventually!

I didn't like... The characters, the dialogue, the story, the theme ...

When I finished reading this Book I wanted to... Rip it into shreds and throw it in the garbage.

This Book made me feel... Disgusted! A woman needs a man to realize her full potential??? And this coming from a former pastor, who apparently has some familiarity with the Bible. Apparently, however, he is not familiar with the passage in 1 Corinthians 7:1,34 (NIV): It is good for a man [or woman] not to marry ... An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can please her husband.

I don't recommend this Book because... It's a total waste of time. There are many other much better books out there for you to read. And they aren't all that difficult to find.

I only read this because it was part of my job. I actually got paid to read this. Otherwise, I wouldn't have made it past the first chapter, and I really would have torn the book up and thrown it away!