Unexpected Joy

by Cheryl Anne Tuggle

A striking new novel with heartfelt characters. Cheryl Tuggle’s first book is an engaging story of learning to open oneself to the possibilities nearby, of responding to the people and events around oneself and allowing God to reveal Himself. It’s a rare treat to read a good work of fiction with an Orthodox setting, and this book is also very good at introducing an Orthodox ethos to those who may not know much about it.

Genres: Fiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Cheryl Anne Tuggle was born in Oklahoma and spent her childhood in the hills of Western Pennsylvania. She is a writer of essays and novels, the author of Unexpected Joy: A Novel (Anaphora Press, 2011) and Lights on the Mountain: A Novel (Paraclete Press, 2019). She is a member of the Good Seed Writers Society and a featured writer on the blog Orthodox in the Ozarks. She lives in Ohio with her husband. Literary influences are Willa Cather, Harriette Arnow, Pearl S. Buck and Chaim Potok.

Reviews

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet, quick read about a woman who enters an Orthodox Church for a Comparative Religion class, and leaves with her life changed forever by an elderly woman in the parish.

[Nikole Hahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpected Joy by Cheryl A. Tuggle felt too real for fiction.

It’s a story about Annie, an atheist, who discovers while on a school assignment, a woman named Anna. Anna is a survivor from the Ukraine at the time of the Russian Genocide. Her wisdom shared with Annie begins to move through Annie’s searching mind. Annie’s fractured relationship with her mother and the grief of her grandmother dying has created in Annie the desire to belong.

Anna’s involvement in Annie’s life helps Annie deal with her many side issues like her friend, Lena’s penchant for partying, her friendship with Angelo (Lena’s brother), and a curious icon over Anna’s mantle. The questions about the icon’s origins propel Annie and Lena to the fringes of the country where they meet Father Elias.

With Father Elias’ guidance, Lena eventually leaves her partying ways. Angelo and Annie’s deepening relationship is obvious to all of us except for Annie. Anna grows frail as her health deteriorates. It’s a story written in first person using Annie’s point of view and it felt too real.

When I reached the end of the book, I discovered a note written by the author explaining that the character Anna was real. It made me wonder if Annie wasn’t Cheryl. Some novels are very autobiographical. Unexpected Joy was well-researched on the least taught aspect of history, the Ukrainian Genocide. Annie’s character’s emotional exploration of atheism had a touch of depth only written by someone who experienced that spiritual struggle.

Unexpected Joy began too slowly. I would not have included the prologue. The prologue didn’t add anything to the story. Chapter one also felt slow. Then, the beauty of the words and the story began to come together and the plot sped up.

Because this is a novel, I agreed not to touch upon the theological aspect of the book as a reason to deduct a star. For the most part, I found the religious aspect of the novel quite agreeable. For instance, when Angelo was explaining to Annie the “Jesus Prayer,” he said:

“It’s a meditative prayer. Orthodox Christians use it to center the mind in the heart and concentrate it on Jesus Christ.”

“Like a mantra,” I said understandingly.

“No,” he corrected me firmly. “Not like a mantra. A mantra is a meditative method used to alter consciousness. According to my spiritual Father, the Jesus Prayer is supposed to bring the mind into the heart and fill it with God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There’s a difference. The aim of the Jesus Prayer isn’t alteration. It’s transformation…”

I deducted a star because of the slow beginning. Otherwise, Unexpected Joy was exactly that—an unexpected joy. The end disappointed me because I wanted to see more of Angelo and Annie. Perhaps Cheryl will write a sequel? In any case, I gave this novel four stars.

*Book given by author to review.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"That what you felt is God," she said.
I studied her pleased expression. "Well, maybe…", I mused from behind my mug. "But like I said before, I don't believe in God."
She sat forward in her chair. "You don't believe in God?"
I shook my head. She searched my face for a moment and then sat back again with another reassuring smile.
"It's okay. He believes in you."

This book is very beautifully written - eloquent and easy. I knew from the end of the first chapter I was going to love the story. I found myself attached to Annie, and to Anna, from the start - as well as to Lena and Angelo later on. Incredible images were drawn of Annie's childhood memories, growing up on the farm with "Grandma Rosie", as well as the horrors that Anna endured before coming to America. The description of Anna's face as she lay on her hospital bed was so poignant that I was left mesmerized by it! I must have re-read it three times. :o)

I really did not feel that I needed affirmation that God is always present and guiding our lives- that fact has been drilled in to me since I was a child - but sometimes we really DO need those affirmations. This book came into my life when I least expected and in an unexpected manner, but when it was most needed.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, enjoyable read.

[Nicole Chilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A touching story about the different life-altering relationships a Midwestern college girl develops over the course of a year. It felt very real and familiar; I was rooting for everyone throughout.