The Sound of My Voice

by Jo Kadlecek

Big City Dreams, Small Town Hopes

Their worlds couldn’t be farther apart, but they share a common mission.
Jordan Riddle, an aspiring playwright and part-time waitress, revels in the pulse and rumble, the joy and pain of life in New York City. While waiting for her big break, she embraces every chance to speak grace to those around her. Peter Riddle, her father, is assistant pastor at the Second Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Here, he first found faith as a child and now feels called to articulate mercy to the members of his community. Despite their shared calling, each manages to disappoint and misunderstand the other, and five years of silence between them has reached the breaking point.

In this compelling story, father and daughter struggle to find the words that give hope to the people around them, but the different ways they pursue this passion destroys their relationship. As a shared grief emerges from the past, neither is prepared for the cost required to heal the painful disappointment that separates them.
Mirroring the tension that arises when art and faith collide, The Sound of My Voice provides a penetrating exploration of questions vital to our search for truth in a postmodern world.

Genres: Christian Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

First published May 17, 2005

About the author

Jo Kadlecek is a journalist, author, retreat and conference teacher, and creative and editorial consultant based in Bradley Beach, New Jersey. She is the author of eight books, including Feast of Life and her first novel, The Sound of My Voice.

Reviews

[Meredith Hooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved this book. The story was good, the characters were relatable, but there were certain plot lines that were almost not quite explained enough. And then the ending that I was looking forward to so much was literally wrapped up in the last three sentence of the book and that was a huge let down because the rest of the book was so good that I was really looking forward to it.

[Beth Peninger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a good portrayal of what happens when you forget that the Lord of the work is much more important than the work of the Lord. You can, and will, lose your family, your faith, your sanity. I read a review in which the reader was disappointed in the portrayal of the Dad. I thought it was spot on in terms of the guilt, anger, fear, etc that was built up inside of him and his refusal to deal with it. And I really loved the character development of the daughter. I feel like the author did a great job of bringing her back around to who she is at her core. The question of whether art and faith can co-exist and even compliment each other is not a new tension, it has been around since the beginning of time. How the author addresses it in this work is realistic. I was wishing for some resolution to the tension presented in this book but perhaps it is also best left to the reader to decide if it gets resolved.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Jordan's chapters, but slogged through Peter's. He was just an awful character - he couldn't say no to anybody but his wife and daughter. The author never explained his point of view either, just that he thought it that theater was the devil's work or something. And he had never even seen theater! How do you get through life without ever being exposed to the theater?! Even churches have Christmas pageants, for crying out loud!

And, Jeanie was starting to act all confused, and nobody ever seemed to notice. It was always, "Oh, she must be tired!"

Then, the ending, my goodness! His wife basically drove herself into a concrete wall to get away from him! Then, by the end of the funeral, everybody was laughing, like it was some sitcom.

I'd rather have read a book just about Jordan's New York adventures.

[Patricia Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I previously had read the Lightfoot Trilogy by Jo Kadlecek. Then I read "the Sound of My Voice." This book was incredibly powerful! It had a stronger Christian message than the mystery Lightfoot Trilogy. I literally cried probably the last ten pages. And all day, I keep thinking about the ending of the book. The author powerfully involves the reader in her character Jordan. I also understood Jordan's pastor father. It was sad but realistic. And Kadlecek wisely does not make any theological conclusions about things such as her gay neighbor. I can understand him being her friend; I would have had great issue if she'd swept him into some sort of spiritually ok net. Likewise, I had to smile that she doesn't tell us the conclusion of Jordan's play concerning love between an unbeliever and believer. I like Christian fiction only so long as it does not violate my faith. This book did not. It just made me feel every character's emotions deeply - the sign of a truly good writer! The Sound of My Voice, in my opinion, is Kadlecek's finest writing. But I haven't read her "teaching" books. The Sound of My Voice is one I heartily recommend for alll to read!

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since Bible College this book has been a favorite of mine. I love the NYC setting, complete with a coterie of colorful characters. I love all the scenes having to do with theatre. I like the part where Jordan and her mom and aunt watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

I even like the scenes with Jordan's dad, Peter. He's always dashing off in every direction, busybusybusy, and you can just see him stifle that grief of his at every turn and ignore his daughter and even his beloved wife.

This is a story of heartbreak, pain, loss, and also redemption. It's a beautiful painting of healing.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tough book. Setting: Jackson,MS & NYC
Good message.

[Marlene Kossila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching story that rang true to the truth about families. Religious without being over the top or preachy.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although not among my favorites, it was an ok story. In some ways it was painful to read, seeing just how wrong and fallable Christians are and people can be, how blind we are and how insidious sin is when it disguises itself as righteous anger and justifiable bitterness

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked this book a lot more if the Father character had not been so shallow and stereotypical, and more development of the storyline of the pastor who has lost his faith would have been welcome. The ending was predictable.

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I wanted more from this book. Especially more character development. And the ending... I just thought it was a weird place to end, and I wasn't sure if the characters were reconciled. There just seemed to be something missing, and I wish the author has written more.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember a thing about it, but it had engaging characters and I know I enjoyed it at the time.

[Chloe Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, but didn't love it.
I liked how it didn't really have a happy ending, like most books.
It was an easy read.

[Lili · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this my least favorite book I have ever read