Sarah's Still Life: A Novel

by Matthew Kopf

When you fall down, you pick yourself back up. But what happens when you fall too many times?

Sarah Hall wasn’t dealt the best hand. With an alcoholic father and a mentally ill mother, Sarah had obstacles from day one. Now, at thirty years old, she’s stuck in the monotonous routine of working at the local tea shop and limping through school. With only a dim light at the end of a long tunnel, Sarah is afraid her dreams of exploration and opportunity may remain just that — dreams. That is until the worldly, charismatic Michael Kensington returns to town and reignites a flame she’d thought stifled. Could Michael be the one to change everything for Sarah? And if so, would it be for the better?

In Sarah’s Still Life, readers are invited to meet the multi-dimensional characters of Sarah’s world as her journey to self-discovery unfolds and takes her across the globe. This captivating coming-of-age story reminds us that “life is difficult, love is hard to find, and yet, despite that — there is happiness.”

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2021

About the author

Matthew Kopf is the author of Sarah’s Still Life (2021) and the upcoming The Giants of Hildebrandt Meyer. His fiction is character-driven, often lingering on the struggles of chasing one’s dreams, the ache of loneliness, and the longing for connection. Beyond writing, Matthew is an attorney and photographer—pursuits that shape his attention to detail and sharpen his perspective, echoes of which run through his fiction.

Matthew lives with his wife and their two daughters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. When not spending time with his family, he can typically be found behind a piano or a drum set on a search for musical enlightenment.

Reviews

[John Marszalkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creatively descriptive, Kopf's articulate narrative transports readers into Sarah's world where they join her on a path seldom traveled. Her experiences of heartbreak and victory pair well with a vicarious wanderlust and a fresh cup of chamomile.

[Chris Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a meaningful story with characters as real as your next door neighbor and a plot that is unique but achingly familiar, open up your heart and mind to "Sarah's Still Life," a first novel by Matthew Kopf (but clearly not his last). The story begins in a cozy neighborhood tea shop where Sarah works with the wise and grounded shop owner, Loretta, who provides stability in Sarah's otherwise tumultuous home life. Sarah's life -- family, love and career -- evolves unexpectedly into a not-so-still life, even as she sees herself in the treasured print of Miro's still life that accompanies her on her life journey. Kopf's ability to evoke powerful images with his language such as ""as if someone had tipped rainbow sherbet across the sky" and "The trees, completely relieved of their leaves, stood naked in front of the world; the spindly spires of their upturned branches stabbed at the sky like a dead spider's useless legs" heightens the pathos and triumphs of Sarah's internal and external journey to self-discovery and actualization. I found this book as satisfying as a hot cup of tea and scone on a chilly autumn morning, and I think you will, too!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew brings abundant vocabulary-boosting dimension to every page. The descriptions, imagery, and heart-felt analogies throughout the story lead the reader through the life of a lost girl who finds her way. Fantastic read, and highly recommended.

[Faye Hively · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. It was a nice read. The narrative about spices and teas was quite interesting! High recommend this book.