What do you think?
Rate this book
The Birthday Portrait
As Kate's eleventh birthday approaches, she fears no one will remember her tradition of dressing up in her mother's heirloom wedding gown for her birthday portrait. She grieves that their handprints won't be on the back of the birthday photograph, and there'll be no special letter from her mother to go in her Book of My Life this year. Precocious Kate gets a few more life's-not-always-fair lessons as she struggles and finds the courage to ask the hard questions about life.A divinely-appointed encounter with the mysterious and elusive Mr. Josh aids in her dilemma but requires of her an innocent faith that will satisfy her deepest questions, will raise a few more, and will change her life forever. Kate's story is the story of a family-a story blending joy and sorrow, death and new life, the joys and hope that children bring, the wisdom elders offer, the value of family traditions, and the mystery of life that remains unanswered.
160 pages, Paperback
Published August 4, 2019
17 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Clark Nichols
19 books38 followersPhyllis Clark Nichols’s character-driven Southern fiction explores profound human questions using the imagined residents of small town communities you just know you’ve visited before. With a strong faith and a love for nature, art, music, and ordinary people, she tells redemptive tales of loss and recovery, estrangement and connection, longing and fulfillment . . . often through surprisingly serendipitous events.
Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling.
She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman.
Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband.
Website: PhyllisClarkNichols.com
Facebook: facebook.com/PhyllisCNichols
Twitter: twitter.com/PhyllisCNichols
Phyllis grew up in the deep shade of magnolia trees in South Georgia. Born during a hurricane, she is no stranger to the winds of change: In addition to her life as a novelist, Phyllis is a seminary graduate, concert pianist, and cofounder of a national cable network with health- and disability-related programming. Regardless of the role she’s playing, Phyllis brings creativity and compelling storytelling.
She frequently appears at conventions, conferences, civic groups, and churches, performing half-hour musical monologues that express her faith, joy, and thoughts about life—all with the homespun humor and gentility of a true Southern woman.
Phyllis currently serves on several nonprofit boards. She lives in the Texas Hill Country with her portrait-artist husband.
Website: PhyllisClarkNichols.com
Facebook: facebook.com/PhyllisCNichols
Twitter: twitter.com/PhyllisCNichols
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 14, 2019
This book left me with such a warm feeling in my heart. I recommend it for young and old alike. Kate is a young girl that has gone through so much so early in her life that she tries to think as an adult. Her late mother has left a legacy that will live on forever through Kate. It is inspirational and uplifting.
June 30, 2020
A heartwarming story
Set in contemporary times this book portrays the experiences of an artistic young girl grieving the loss of her mother, dealing with school bullies, embracing the reality of poverty in the world and her country neighborhood, and learning of miraculous and unexplainable realities of life. I could hear the Kentucky accents as the characters lived out their thoughts and conversations. A hauntingly beautiful and heartwarming story with lovely family traditions, and the learning and living out of faith.
Set in contemporary times this book portrays the experiences of an artistic young girl grieving the loss of her mother, dealing with school bullies, embracing the reality of poverty in the world and her country neighborhood, and learning of miraculous and unexplainable realities of life. I could hear the Kentucky accents as the characters lived out their thoughts and conversations. A hauntingly beautiful and heartwarming story with lovely family traditions, and the learning and living out of faith.
October 10, 2020
Great Read!
This book was so well written! It is has all the elements of a good book but more. It is heartwarming, and sweet, and sad, and joyful. It reminds you of what it was like to grow up in the 80's and 90's in a small town and in a close knit family. It reminds you of what it's like to have and not have and how we need to be mindful of those who don't have the necessities of life. But most of all, the book reminds you of how important family is and how important it is to have faith in God and to know that there is life after death.
This book was so well written! It is has all the elements of a good book but more. It is heartwarming, and sweet, and sad, and joyful. It reminds you of what it was like to grow up in the 80's and 90's in a small town and in a close knit family. It reminds you of what it's like to have and not have and how we need to be mindful of those who don't have the necessities of life. But most of all, the book reminds you of how important family is and how important it is to have faith in God and to know that there is life after death.
May 1, 2021
Loved the way she told the story in first person.
I loved the way she told word pictures with her descriptions. I love the way she described the events & thoughts from a child’s mind but from a mature point of view. I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was the first book I have read but it won’t be the last. I will look for more of her books! I received this book free from Kindle Unlimited.
I loved the way she told word pictures with her descriptions. I love the way she described the events & thoughts from a child’s mind but from a mature point of view. I truly enjoyed reading this book. This was the first book I have read but it won’t be the last. I will look for more of her books! I received this book free from Kindle Unlimited.
July 1, 2020
Unusual but real I could have been this little girl. I loved the way the author brought out the significance of birds, flowers, and family and friends. We get so wrapped up in stuff that we overlook what really makes our life on earth special
Let’s take more time and look for the beauty all around that God designs. Thank you Phyllis for this book
Let’s take more time and look for the beauty all around that God designs. Thank you Phyllis for this book
July 11, 2020
Uplifting and happy.
Enjoy the story. It is thoughtful. The characters are kind and loving. The main character faces her sadness, stands up for what is right and grows into a loving adult. You may even cry happy years yourself. Well crafted story. A world I would adore to visit again. Jeanne (not Peter).
Enjoy the story. It is thoughtful. The characters are kind and loving. The main character faces her sadness, stands up for what is right and grows into a loving adult. You may even cry happy years yourself. Well crafted story. A world I would adore to visit again. Jeanne (not Peter).
December 29, 2024
This was a feel good book. I loved all the characters, especially the main character, Kate. I was surprised of the Christian background of the family and loved their message. The description of the characters by the author just jumped off the page.
August 16, 2019
Through her engaging, beautiful, and insightful rhetoric, story-teller extraordinaire, Phyllis Clark Nichols, offers us a welcomed and refreshing respite from the world’s harsh moments as we escape between the covers of her latest book, THE BIRTHDAY PORTRAIT.
Phyllis tenderly lets us enter Kate’s life as she is almost eleven years old and her beloved mama has recently gone to Heaven. Throughout her life, Kate’s mama possessed an inner joy that was contagious and a nurturing nature that was consistently revealed through her actions. Kate and Mama cherished their close bond and felt pure delight as they shared special occasions, projects, and interests and created memories. When the time came, with devotion and wisdom, Mama gently helped Kate prepare for the days ahead when she would no longer be at her side.
While an involuntary or sudden surfacing of memories of Mama could trigger Kate’s sadness, they also served as an impetus for positive actions and interactions that mimicked Mama’s desires for her and heightened her disciplined sense of purpose and usefulness.
Through Kate’s story, Phyllis skillfully depicts the interactions of supportive, caring, creative, and industrious family members whose togetherness and intrinsic values form a cohesive sense of well being, happiness, comfort, and stability within the family unit and impact the circumstances of others whose lives they touch.
What a wealth of relevant examples of wise parenting and wholesome family life may be discovered as we relish the beautifully descriptive passages in this compelling story.
Phyllis tenderly lets us enter Kate’s life as she is almost eleven years old and her beloved mama has recently gone to Heaven. Throughout her life, Kate’s mama possessed an inner joy that was contagious and a nurturing nature that was consistently revealed through her actions. Kate and Mama cherished their close bond and felt pure delight as they shared special occasions, projects, and interests and created memories. When the time came, with devotion and wisdom, Mama gently helped Kate prepare for the days ahead when she would no longer be at her side.
While an involuntary or sudden surfacing of memories of Mama could trigger Kate’s sadness, they also served as an impetus for positive actions and interactions that mimicked Mama’s desires for her and heightened her disciplined sense of purpose and usefulness.
Through Kate’s story, Phyllis skillfully depicts the interactions of supportive, caring, creative, and industrious family members whose togetherness and intrinsic values form a cohesive sense of well being, happiness, comfort, and stability within the family unit and impact the circumstances of others whose lives they touch.
What a wealth of relevant examples of wise parenting and wholesome family life may be discovered as we relish the beautifully descriptive passages in this compelling story.
September 10, 2019
It has taken me a couple days to decide what to say in this review of The Birthday Portrait because I needed to absorb my feelings. And I still might not be able to express myself :)
First off, don't start this book at night or you won't stop reading til you finish...there just isn't a good stopping place! My DH kept waking up, giving me the eye, whenever I would laugh over Ms. Nichols' Southern-isms or cry when her poignant words regarding her mother.
I cannot really tell you about the actual story without giving away the premise, but please know this author thinks about every word she places on the page. I felt strongly the family was MY family (altho I became jealous of the Birthday Portrait). I felt like I was 10 and I felt like I was an adult. And you won't understand this right now, but I look for red birds everywhere now. These kinds of feelings are what justifies my 5 star rating (something I rarely give). I highly recommend this inspirational novel!
First off, don't start this book at night or you won't stop reading til you finish...there just isn't a good stopping place! My DH kept waking up, giving me the eye, whenever I would laugh over Ms. Nichols' Southern-isms or cry when her poignant words regarding her mother.
I cannot really tell you about the actual story without giving away the premise, but please know this author thinks about every word she places on the page. I felt strongly the family was MY family (altho I became jealous of the Birthday Portrait). I felt like I was 10 and I felt like I was an adult. And you won't understand this right now, but I look for red birds everywhere now. These kinds of feelings are what justifies my 5 star rating (something I rarely give). I highly recommend this inspirational novel!
August 15, 2019
This is a precious story of memories, family traditions, and intergenerational love even in the midst of bullying, poverty, and grief. The characters ring true with distinct personalities, and the author is careful to bring out quirks that are humorous (sometimes missing in Christian fiction). The heartbreak of poverty and condescension is countered by sacrificial giving of not only physical needs but also the giving of time and presence. The story carefully shows how some family traditions are vital even after a beloved family member is gone. This book would be great to read together as a parent and child, but the teacher in me sees great potential for a classroom read. The discussions may go a long way to heal a student's brokenness.
Read
August 16, 2019This is delightful book, reminiscent of Jan Karon's writings. The chief value I found in the book was the value of establishing traditions within families, carrying on value systems and world view, human responsibility to care for others. Characters are well drawn, interest is maintained by the "Mr. Josh" mystery, who is creating the problem at the church and the question of how Kate's birthday would turn out. You see people at their worst and best. I love how Kate stands up for the boy who was being humiliated. The plot weaves through typical stresses and joys of family and community life but most of all is a study of grief's effect upon a young, sensitive child. I read it over 2 days and found it refreshing.
August 14, 2019
It isn’t my birthday but The Birthday Portrait, the latest book by my friend and favorite author Phyllis Nichols, feels like a beautiful gift. The story line of Kate and her family caught my attention right away. Well drawn characters with distinct personalities came flying off each page and drew me into this heart-warming tale. I wasn’t ready for this wonderful story to end! I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fiction that is thought-provoking AND entertaining.
August 26, 2019
From the very first page the reader is drawn into the world of 10-year-old Kate who is questioning life after a tragic event. We journey with her as she displays her feelings, emotions, and questions about fairness in this world. What a heart-warming story...you won't be able to put it down! Thank you for allowing the reader to journey with Kate as she navigates the importance of faith, family, friends and traditions.
August 27, 2019
What a wonderful read! This charming page-turner introduces characters that you will recognize in your neighborhood. Young Kate has the usual trials of childhood but they are complicated by the grief she carries. Surrounded by loving family and friends, plus a mysterious man who keeps showing up, Kate learns to give joy to others. And in doing so, discovers that she can have happiness in spite of grief.
August 16, 2019
Just finished reading The Birthday Portrait in only 2 days, as I couldn't put it down! The wonderful story and Phyllis's writing style is so easy to read and characters are so realistic and just come alive, I was so looking forward to what was happening with Kate at the conclusion of The Christmas Portrait and I was not disappointed! A wonderful story of family and relationships!
August 26, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Birthday Portrait. It had "all the feels" - sadness and loss, tenderness and love, childhood trust, anger at a bully, faith in God, and even some mystery. I highly recommend it. It's wonderful!
August 29, 2019
I loved this story of young Kate and her family. It reminded me of how important family and family traditions are. This author does a remarkable job of character development and I felt like I was actually in the story. A must read!!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews