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Cracking Grace
After the death of her mother, young Audrey is left to explore a secret world for answers to her loss. Little does she know, the strange inhabitants of the cemetery she wanders are watching and listening.
Aided by her faithful companion, a bluebird named Bluebell, Mary, a seemingly lifeless cemetery statue, sets out on her own mission of discovery—despite chiding from the cemetery’s other residents: the cynical statue of Jesus, two wisecracking gargoyles, and the curmudgeonly ghost of Mrs. Grant.
Part fable, part dark fantasy, 'Cracking Grace' is the story of loss and of newfound friendships for a young, wounded girl. It’s the story of a father bound to the flesh, unable to accept death. It’s the story of a woman trapped in stone, determined to understand her existence.
Aided by her faithful companion, a bluebird named Bluebell, Mary, a seemingly lifeless cemetery statue, sets out on her own mission of discovery—despite chiding from the cemetery’s other residents: the cynical statue of Jesus, two wisecracking gargoyles, and the curmudgeonly ghost of Mrs. Grant.
Part fable, part dark fantasy, 'Cracking Grace' is the story of loss and of newfound friendships for a young, wounded girl. It’s the story of a father bound to the flesh, unable to accept death. It’s the story of a woman trapped in stone, determined to understand her existence.
- GenresFantasy
164 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2006
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362 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 9, 2014
I won this book for free in the Library Thing giveaway
DNF at 25%
I seem to be the only person who didn't particularly like this book, for me I think it was the fact the writer wrote in third person which ultimately put me off. I'm not saying I don't like third person books, in fact I quite enjoy a lot of them, but for me the writing style just grated me the wrong way, and I didn't like the way the story headed. I'm not saying this is a bad story it just didn't particularly hit me with any feels, and I didn't really feel any strong connections with the characters.
Overall this book just wasn't for me, but everyone's been giving it good reviews so I seem to be the black sheep in this.
DNF at 25%
I seem to be the only person who didn't particularly like this book, for me I think it was the fact the writer wrote in third person which ultimately put me off. I'm not saying I don't like third person books, in fact I quite enjoy a lot of them, but for me the writing style just grated me the wrong way, and I didn't like the way the story headed. I'm not saying this is a bad story it just didn't particularly hit me with any feels, and I didn't really feel any strong connections with the characters.
Overall this book just wasn't for me, but everyone's been giving it good reviews so I seem to be the black sheep in this.
July 18, 2018
Cracking Grace by Stephen Stromp is a story of three worlds. Audrey and her father, Richard Lansly, appear at the beginning of the story and inhabit the world of the living. Audrey’s father is a sculptor and caretaker at a local cemetery. He is proud and conscientious in his job as a caretaker and proud of his skill as a sculptor. Many of the tombstones are his creations. Richard has even sculpted the statue of Jesus out of a block of marble. Audrey and Richard live in a caretaker’s cottage near the cemetery. The two had always enjoyed walks through the woods and picnics by the nearby river until Audrey’s mom died. Now, whenever Audrey and her father agree to go to the river for a picnic or even just for relaxation, Audrey’s father stops at the cemetery to talk to his wife, Pat and contemplates the meaning of life at the site of his wife’s grave. He never goes further. Audrey misses her mother but also misses the times she had at the river with her father.
Statues of Mary, Jesus, and a couple of Gargoyles (Arthur and Gareth) occupy a second world, one of statues constructed by Audrey’s father and who act as witnesses to the life of Audrey, her father, and a spirit being, Mrs. Grant, in transition from life to final death. The statues have conversations between each other but these conversations cannot be labeled face-to-face conversations. Mary can only stare straight ahead, she cannot turn to see Jesus. Mary, Jesus, and the two Gargoyles can hear and talk to each other. Visual contact is dependent on their positioning as statues.
The third world is that of the dead. Audrey and her father speculate on this world and discuss the state of the dead mother and wife. Audrey’s father stresses the importance of remembering and honoring his wife. He does this by frequent and lengthy visits to his wife’s grave. Audrey agrees and wants to honor her mother. She also visits the cemetery but feels that her life should go forward. Audrey thinks a good step forward is further visits to the river. She makes these visits but does so alone. The statues also contemplate the relationship between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Mary wants to know why humans visit a nearby church and through the Strange Man, an inhabitant of the church, ask for the help of Mary and Jesus. Mary seeks clarification and information from Bluebell, a bluebird which acts as an information exchange between the statues, the living world that includes the church, Audrey, and her father; and the spirit in transition, Mrs. Grant. Bluebell communicates mostly with Mary and “alternate Mary” who resembles the statue Mary in the cemetery but has her own place on an altar in the church of the Strange Man.
One day the beloved river, the one admired by Mary, the one she desires so much to visit, comes to visit Audrey and Richard in their cottage. As it advances on the cottage, it threatens the grave of Audrey’s mom. This is unacceptable to Audrey’s father; he must rescue his wife. The impending flood also threatens the cemetery’s statues and gargoyles. Bluebell communicates information to all actors on the progress of the flood and efforts made to manage it. Will further tragedies happen? This novella is worth reading to find out.
I gave this story four Amazon stars. It is not an exciting action novella. It invites thought about what happens after life. It invites thoughts about religion, the importance of religious icons, and the importance of the church on routines of the daily lives of the living. There are four small sections after the end of the story which reveal the author’s research or inspiration to write this story. The section on Audrey’s family, the Grant family, and the church in the story almost give a sense of non-fiction to the story. Then Stromp included a section on the talking bluebird which carries the story back firmly into the fiction realm. This novel is available for free reading through a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
Statues of Mary, Jesus, and a couple of Gargoyles (Arthur and Gareth) occupy a second world, one of statues constructed by Audrey’s father and who act as witnesses to the life of Audrey, her father, and a spirit being, Mrs. Grant, in transition from life to final death. The statues have conversations between each other but these conversations cannot be labeled face-to-face conversations. Mary can only stare straight ahead, she cannot turn to see Jesus. Mary, Jesus, and the two Gargoyles can hear and talk to each other. Visual contact is dependent on their positioning as statues.
The third world is that of the dead. Audrey and her father speculate on this world and discuss the state of the dead mother and wife. Audrey’s father stresses the importance of remembering and honoring his wife. He does this by frequent and lengthy visits to his wife’s grave. Audrey agrees and wants to honor her mother. She also visits the cemetery but feels that her life should go forward. Audrey thinks a good step forward is further visits to the river. She makes these visits but does so alone. The statues also contemplate the relationship between the world of the living and the world of the dead. Mary wants to know why humans visit a nearby church and through the Strange Man, an inhabitant of the church, ask for the help of Mary and Jesus. Mary seeks clarification and information from Bluebell, a bluebird which acts as an information exchange between the statues, the living world that includes the church, Audrey, and her father; and the spirit in transition, Mrs. Grant. Bluebell communicates mostly with Mary and “alternate Mary” who resembles the statue Mary in the cemetery but has her own place on an altar in the church of the Strange Man.
One day the beloved river, the one admired by Mary, the one she desires so much to visit, comes to visit Audrey and Richard in their cottage. As it advances on the cottage, it threatens the grave of Audrey’s mom. This is unacceptable to Audrey’s father; he must rescue his wife. The impending flood also threatens the cemetery’s statues and gargoyles. Bluebell communicates information to all actors on the progress of the flood and efforts made to manage it. Will further tragedies happen? This novella is worth reading to find out.
I gave this story four Amazon stars. It is not an exciting action novella. It invites thought about what happens after life. It invites thoughts about religion, the importance of religious icons, and the importance of the church on routines of the daily lives of the living. There are four small sections after the end of the story which reveal the author’s research or inspiration to write this story. The section on Audrey’s family, the Grant family, and the church in the story almost give a sense of non-fiction to the story. Then Stromp included a section on the talking bluebird which carries the story back firmly into the fiction realm. This novel is available for free reading through a Kindle Unlimited subscription.
October 2, 2014
I received a copy of this title via the LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Audrey's dad is the caretaker of a cemetery. After his wife is interred there (posthumously...he's not that crazy), Audrey's dad goes a bit bonkers. It's not surprising therefore, that the cemetery statues are having difficulty working out this thing called life.
I really enjoyed the originality of this tale. While it's not going to be to everyone's tastes given the naivete that runs through a lot of the dialogue, it appealed to me for its depictions of the desperation and tragedy that can plague reality, coupled with the unknowing and lack of change and growth that can ruin the land of fantasy. Underlying all this was the simple logic of Audrey and her willingness to move on from grief without regret, in that way that children seem to be able to manage.
I enjoyed the personalities that Stromp ascribed to the statues of Mary and Jesus - cranky Jesus is great fun and Mary, while she could be annoying in her perpetual curiosity, also embraced a bit of rebelliousness that was unexpected and life-giving. The cast of living, inanimate and undead characters that populate the cemetery is varied and provides both comic relief and existential musing.
I feel that I must defend my species here, as Stromp has painted a bleak picture indeed of Gargoyle-Human relations and gargoyle manners in general (although there is a reason for this that becomes apparent in a sneaky, cheeky twist at the end).
I did feel that the plotline regarding the father's decline jarred a bit in the believability stakes (although I had no trouble with the talking statues...). It didn't quite ring true to me that no one in the town would have noticed (or cared) that Audrey and her dad were clearly not coping well after the mother's death, but I was able to forgive this in the end because I suspect it doesn't really matter. The heart of this story is in the process, and in nutting out the big questions of existence.
Once again, this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are looking for a reasonably short read that hides a lot of philosophical musing, with a waft of the ethereal and twinge or two of a modern fable, then I highly recommend giving this a go.
Ten Second Synopsis:
Audrey's dad is the caretaker of a cemetery. After his wife is interred there (posthumously...he's not that crazy), Audrey's dad goes a bit bonkers. It's not surprising therefore, that the cemetery statues are having difficulty working out this thing called life.
I really enjoyed the originality of this tale. While it's not going to be to everyone's tastes given the naivete that runs through a lot of the dialogue, it appealed to me for its depictions of the desperation and tragedy that can plague reality, coupled with the unknowing and lack of change and growth that can ruin the land of fantasy. Underlying all this was the simple logic of Audrey and her willingness to move on from grief without regret, in that way that children seem to be able to manage.
I enjoyed the personalities that Stromp ascribed to the statues of Mary and Jesus - cranky Jesus is great fun and Mary, while she could be annoying in her perpetual curiosity, also embraced a bit of rebelliousness that was unexpected and life-giving. The cast of living, inanimate and undead characters that populate the cemetery is varied and provides both comic relief and existential musing.
I feel that I must defend my species here, as Stromp has painted a bleak picture indeed of Gargoyle-Human relations and gargoyle manners in general (although there is a reason for this that becomes apparent in a sneaky, cheeky twist at the end).
I did feel that the plotline regarding the father's decline jarred a bit in the believability stakes (although I had no trouble with the talking statues...). It didn't quite ring true to me that no one in the town would have noticed (or cared) that Audrey and her dad were clearly not coping well after the mother's death, but I was able to forgive this in the end because I suspect it doesn't really matter. The heart of this story is in the process, and in nutting out the big questions of existence.
Once again, this isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea, but if you are looking for a reasonably short read that hides a lot of philosophical musing, with a waft of the ethereal and twinge or two of a modern fable, then I highly recommend giving this a go.
August 24, 2014
This was a cute and unique book. I've never read a story like it, and I love its premise. Unfortunately, it kind of fell short for me in the delivery. I'm not sure why, really. It's one of those books that is enjoyable to read, but once I put it down, I don't really feel compelled to pick it back up.
I especially liked Mrs. Grant, and Mary with her innocent optimism and curiosity. The Dad irked me a little. I think he was kind of inconsistent in his grief. I don't want to say more than that for fear of spoilers. I don't think his problem was "madness" as described in the summary, but rather a need for a swift kick in the pants. But, hey, there's no right or wrong way to deal with grief, so I guess that was his way.
Overall though, an enjoyable book. I'd be interested in reading future work by this author.
I received this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
I especially liked Mrs. Grant, and Mary with her innocent optimism and curiosity. The Dad irked me a little. I think he was kind of inconsistent in his grief. I don't want to say more than that for fear of spoilers. I don't think his problem was "madness" as described in the summary, but rather a need for a swift kick in the pants. But, hey, there's no right or wrong way to deal with grief, so I guess that was his way.
Overall though, an enjoyable book. I'd be interested in reading future work by this author.
I received this book through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2014
Cracking Grace is an interesting tale that explores that question we all think about occasionally, Why are we here? Mr. Stromp has a talent for building characters with depth. I love the dynamic between the graveyard characters. I didn't always agree with some of the character motivations, but in the end I fell in love with the story. It's a short, but sweet tale. I would love to read more stuff by Stromp & hope to see more stories by him like this one in the near future. I have read various other stories about graveyards & in all those the children were completely fine with their surroundings & the graveyard inhabitants. It was kind of nice to read a different take on the same kind of idea, but this time the child was wary of the graveyard at the start of the story. For a first time novel I think it was a great start. Stephen Stromp can only improve from here.
August 6, 2016
When you lose someone it’s hard but when you lose the one person you love more than your own life its heart wrenching. When his wife and the mother of his daughter passes on, how can he possibly move on? His 10 year old daughter is determined to get her father back from the black abyss he has fallen into but is it too late? This author brings a new way to look at life, death and the afterlife. He tells about it from a very young mind and sees how things could easily been seen in the eyes of the innocent. The ending is a bit on the stranger side but it gives it the more innocent feel. I cannot wait to see what this author comes up with next. Recommended for the spiritualty open minded of about 14 and up.
April 24, 2014
Others have described this story as dark, but my feeling is that there is only an overwhelming sense of grief and loneliness from both Audry and her father who have lost a mother and a wife. Each of them find solace in the small cemetery that Audry's father takes care of - where Audry's mother is buried. Audry finds comfort in communing with the statues of Jesus and Mary and Audry's father takes his comfort from the creation of the statues that he makes for the cemetery and other people who grieve, ultimately creating a statue of Audry after her death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2014
I won this through LibraryThing. This book floored me with the hidden emotion behind every page, and it was hard to put down. It has an almost dark, and sinister feeling to it, but it lightens the mood with very developed characters and a great plot line. This book was going places and it was a fairly quick read. I hope that this author continues to write and finds this review helpful. The only thing I didn't care for was some parts seemed a bit redundant to me.
December 9, 2015
I had almost no idea what to expect when I started reading this book. To my surprise it was really good. The main character lives near the cemetery that her father works in. There's a Statue of the Virgin Mary, Jesus, two gargoyles and a ghost. The statues are alive (there not the person they are made after) and can communicate with each other and ponder the meaning of life. It's funny,sad, and insightful.
September 10, 2016
A little different, but an interesting read. It's pretty much entirely about death and a graveyard, but it still manages to be light and thought provoking rather than morbid. I think this would be an incredible book for a young adult learning to deal with a loss. I do need to disclose that I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
March 14, 2015
I see all the good reviews on this book so I had high hopes. Not quite sure what it was but I could not get into the book. I made myself finish (only because I thought I would feel different). I might go back and try again later on. I will say there are so many great reviews on the book so I am sure more people will enjoy. I will look for other books by this author.
February 10, 2008
The implications of not dealing with the loss of a loved one and how we relate to God and faith are put together in an interesting manner. This story really made me think about my relationship with God.
April 10, 2014
I received this book from the author on Librarything. Thank you Stephen Stromp!! I really enjoyed this short novel. It was dark, but it could definitely help someone get through the loss of a loved one. I would love to read more by this author!!
April 2, 2014
Cracking Grace is written from an unusual but very interesting perspective. It is a very quick and delightfully dark read! I received this outstanding book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
May 25, 2016
Beautiful, insightful and healing Can't wait to read more from Stephen Stromp!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews