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The Cave
The Cave: a novella is no longer in print, having been replaced with the full-length novel "How Sweet the Sound."
- GenresFictionTime Travel
106 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2014
About the author
Deborah Heal
18 books163 followersI was born in Eldorado, Illinois (Be sure to pronounce that with a long A.) but grew up in Woodburn, a tiny village in Macoupin County. We lived in a house over 100 years old and I often wondered about the people who had lived there so long before.
My husband Bob and I farmed and raised a family there in Macoupin County. When the kids were old enough I went back to college, majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. Afterwards, I taught high school English, including creative writing, composition, grammar, and literature. I loved teaching young people, except for grading compositions of writers who didn't want to write, leaving me no time to do what I had always wanted to do—write.
I remember one time when I was four. I scribbled furiously on my paper, and then took it to show Mommy. “Is it writing?” I asked. “No, not yet,” she answered. I went busily back to scribbling with my stubby pencil in just the same way, it seemed to me, grownup writers did, hopeful that the next time I showed her, the lead on the paper would have been transmuted into fine words.
I was in 8th grade when I first began to get the dream of being a published author. We had to write a story and mine was a scary one about being unjustly confined to a mental hospital. (The author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may have stolen my idea.) My teacher wrote on the top of my paper:
Be sure to give me a signed copy of your first book!
It's been a long time since 8th grade, but that dream at last came true with my first book Time and Again.
My husband Bob and I farmed and raised a family there in Macoupin County. When the kids were old enough I went back to college, majoring in English with a minor in Creative Writing. Afterwards, I taught high school English, including creative writing, composition, grammar, and literature. I loved teaching young people, except for grading compositions of writers who didn't want to write, leaving me no time to do what I had always wanted to do—write.
I remember one time when I was four. I scribbled furiously on my paper, and then took it to show Mommy. “Is it writing?” I asked. “No, not yet,” she answered. I went busily back to scribbling with my stubby pencil in just the same way, it seemed to me, grownup writers did, hopeful that the next time I showed her, the lead on the paper would have been transmuted into fine words.
I was in 8th grade when I first began to get the dream of being a published author. We had to write a story and mine was a scary one about being unjustly confined to a mental hospital. (The author of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may have stolen my idea.) My teacher wrote on the top of my paper:
Be sure to give me a signed copy of your first book!
It's been a long time since 8th grade, but that dream at last came true with my first book Time and Again.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 3, 2014
The Cave is the third book I have read by Deborah Heal, although it’s the fifth in her Time again series. And yes, this is an omission I will have to remedy very soon. In this book, Merri has restarted the Beautiful Houses program that enables her to virtually experience and explore the past on her computer. Drawn by her own curiosity and as an aide to her college students, Merri is researching the Ohio River and the stories of 19th century pirates who preyed on river travellers heading for a better life.
As always, The Cave has a cast of finely sculpted characters. Indeed, I would see this as a hallmark of Deborah Heal’s writing – every character, no matter how insignificant or fleeting, exudes personality and individuality. It’s so easy to believe that they are living breathing people, not creations of the author’s imagination. In the Cave, Heal uses her characters and their reactions to present her theme of not judging by appearances, and I must say I love this theme and the way she has layered it throughout The Cave. Not once did my preaching alert alarm sound. Instead, I was lured into it by the characters and the story itself.
I can’t vouch for the historical accuracy of The Cave, not having followed up my reading with my own research, but it certainly rings of authenticity. One aspect I do appreciate in the Cave, as in all of Heal’s books, is her choice of historical material. I’ve read many Christian fiction novels that use the hackneyed and well-trodden setting of the American Civil war and other such major historical events in America. In contrast Heal chooses historical events and people that are less well known, and might ordinarily go unnoticed. (Admittedly she touched on the Civil war in Time and Again, but even here the perspective and events she used were different to those I have encountered elsewhere.) I find this rather refreshing, especially after having read a plethora of Christian fiction novels in the past that centre on these events.
I thoroughly recommend The Cave to readers who enjoy historical fiction, with a spice of something different. And please note, while Heal’s previous books were written for a Young Adult audience (although they are enjoyed by adult readers), The Cave is written for an adult audience, and would not be suitable for younger teens.
I received a free copy of The Cave from the author for the purpose of review. I was not asked to give a positive review and my thoughts and observations on this novel are entirely my own.
As always, The Cave has a cast of finely sculpted characters. Indeed, I would see this as a hallmark of Deborah Heal’s writing – every character, no matter how insignificant or fleeting, exudes personality and individuality. It’s so easy to believe that they are living breathing people, not creations of the author’s imagination. In the Cave, Heal uses her characters and their reactions to present her theme of not judging by appearances, and I must say I love this theme and the way she has layered it throughout The Cave. Not once did my preaching alert alarm sound. Instead, I was lured into it by the characters and the story itself.
I can’t vouch for the historical accuracy of The Cave, not having followed up my reading with my own research, but it certainly rings of authenticity. One aspect I do appreciate in the Cave, as in all of Heal’s books, is her choice of historical material. I’ve read many Christian fiction novels that use the hackneyed and well-trodden setting of the American Civil war and other such major historical events in America. In contrast Heal chooses historical events and people that are less well known, and might ordinarily go unnoticed. (Admittedly she touched on the Civil war in Time and Again, but even here the perspective and events she used were different to those I have encountered elsewhere.) I find this rather refreshing, especially after having read a plethora of Christian fiction novels in the past that centre on these events.
I thoroughly recommend The Cave to readers who enjoy historical fiction, with a spice of something different. And please note, while Heal’s previous books were written for a Young Adult audience (although they are enjoyed by adult readers), The Cave is written for an adult audience, and would not be suitable for younger teens.
I received a free copy of The Cave from the author for the purpose of review. I was not asked to give a positive review and my thoughts and observations on this novel are entirely my own.
September 8, 2014
Such interesting facts I learn from these historical time travel books!
March 28, 2014
The Cave is a great addition to the Time and Again series. The main character is Merri Randall, who I have loved throughout the series. I found it interesting that she used the special computer program in a cave, not a house this time.
I found The Cave to be full of intrigue, adventure, mystery, suspense, and fun. What a great read! I cannot wait until the next installment of the series.
5 stars
I found The Cave to be full of intrigue, adventure, mystery, suspense, and fun. What a great read! I cannot wait until the next installment of the series.
5 stars
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews