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The Air We Breathe
New from the Winner of ECPA's Fiction Book of the Year
Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She's ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. Yearning to live free but unable to overcome deep wounds from her past, she stays hidden away. Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything.
Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl--a silent girl who'll only talk to Claire--does she see the possibility of healing. But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. What happened that drove them away? And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding a life anew?
Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She's ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. Yearning to live free but unable to overcome deep wounds from her past, she stays hidden away. Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything.
Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl--a silent girl who'll only talk to Claire--does she see the possibility of healing. But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. What happened that drove them away? And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding a life anew?
348 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2012
57 people are currently reading
660 people want to read
About the author
Christa Parrish
5 books117 followersChrista Parrish is the award-winning author of five novels and founder of Narratology, a fair trade non-profit social enterprise. She is also a homeschool parent, speaker, and editor. She is currently at work on her sixth - and seventh! - novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
May 7, 2016
Rating 3.5
Ruled by fear and deep wounds, seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk stays hidden away. But everything changes when a woman from her past suddenly reappears.
This was a well written book, but I had a great deal of difficulty with the first half of the book. It seemed somewhat disjointed to me as the time jumped around as well as the characters. I couldn't quite figure out how the characters related, and I also found it moderately depressing. The second half was much better as I began to understand the relationship between the characters. Overall I just didn't feel a strong connection with this book.
The characters were interesting. I really felt sorry for Molly/Hanna as she was locked in to agoraphobia due to her past. It didn't seem that her mom was any help whatsoever as she was deep into her own problems. I loved Tobias and his patience and understanding for Molly's problem even though he didn't know the cause of it. Claire reached out to Molly in friendship and was a support for her because of Claire's previous experiences.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "I have no idea what to do next." "We usually don't. And that's usually where God wants us."
"....God always knows, and I've learned it's better to leave the details up to Him."
"I know God is good. I know His ways are perfect. I also know only He gives and takes life. No one else has ultimate control of that."
"...I think God put us where we're supposed to be, when we're supposed to be there.
"But I do it because that's what being faithful means, using each situation in a way that's pleasing to Him.
Ruled by fear and deep wounds, seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk stays hidden away. But everything changes when a woman from her past suddenly reappears.
This was a well written book, but I had a great deal of difficulty with the first half of the book. It seemed somewhat disjointed to me as the time jumped around as well as the characters. I couldn't quite figure out how the characters related, and I also found it moderately depressing. The second half was much better as I began to understand the relationship between the characters. Overall I just didn't feel a strong connection with this book.
The characters were interesting. I really felt sorry for Molly/Hanna as she was locked in to agoraphobia due to her past. It didn't seem that her mom was any help whatsoever as she was deep into her own problems. I loved Tobias and his patience and understanding for Molly's problem even though he didn't know the cause of it. Claire reached out to Molly in friendship and was a support for her because of Claire's previous experiences.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "I have no idea what to do next." "We usually don't. And that's usually where God wants us."
"....God always knows, and I've learned it's better to leave the details up to Him."
"I know God is good. I know His ways are perfect. I also know only He gives and takes life. No one else has ultimate control of that."
"...I think God put us where we're supposed to be, when we're supposed to be there.
"But I do it because that's what being faithful means, using each situation in a way that's pleasing to Him.
January 28, 2020
Molly Fisk is nearly 18, but never goes outside. She and her mother run a wax museum on an island in Maine, and while she used to run, she feels safe only in the museum. She finds herself attracted to a young boy who works in a pizza place across the street, but is unsure how he feels about her.
Seven years previously, Claire was grieving for her three dead children three years later, her husband had divorced her not long after they died in a car accident. She does crossword puzzles, constructs puzzles, but does little else until one day she feels drawn toward a silent girl on a swing in a park who talks to her. She becomes part of this little girl's therapy until one day the girl and her mother vanish.
Although the description on the book, not quite what I've written here, sounds a bit cheesy, the book is anything but. Not everything is a surprise, of course, nor is it really meant to be, but while it doesn't take long to connect the dots, it does take time for everything to unfold and there is more to this book than meets the eye. What I loved about this book were the people; I cared about them and was bawling more than once, but also happy more than once. This is definitely one of Parrish's better books.
May 24, 2018
Good story about redemption. Deals with some hard themes - child loss, trauma, PTSD.
January 13, 2013
Story Description:
Baker Publishing Group|November 1, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-0555-2
New from the Winner of ECPA’s Fiction Book of the Year.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She’s ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. Yearning to live free but unable to overcome deep wounds from her past, she stays hidden away. Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything.
Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl – a silent girl who’ll only talk to Claire – does she see the possibility of healing. But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. What happened that drove them away? And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding at new life?
My Review:
The Air We Breathe had me hooked from the very beginning! The character development in this novel is phenomenal. The author’s descriptions of the personalities of each character is flawless. I felt like I knew each person intimately as if I’d been a close friend for years.
Young Molly Fisk enters a bank with her father. Just as they are about to leave, bank robbers appear on the scene and Molly witnesses her father being shot and killed and is then kidnapped for two weeks before she manages to escape. This sends her into a world of “muteness” where she won’t talk to anyone. Molly and her mother, Susan, move away and change their names. Molly lives a secluded life, never even so much as stepping outside. It takes years for Molly to unravel what she experienced that day in the bank. To some, her fears and turmoil may seem irrational, but for Molly they are glaringly real. I could empathize and really ‘feel’ Molly’s pain, I felt so sorry for her.
Molly and her Mom end up in a small town where they live and run a wax museum. One day Molly runs into Claire, a woman who she knew six years ago and needs healing of her own. Soon Molly’s life begins to change. The unique and close friendship that Claire and Molly share is precious because in Molly’s muted world the ONLY person she will ‘speak’ to is, Claire. Then one day, Molly and her Mom are gone and the house is empty. Claire doesn’t know what to think, doesn’t know where they went, and wonders how she is going to continue to help Molly recover if she can’t find her. Where is she?
Christa Parrish has written a beautiful novel full of heartache and pain and healing and redemption. For sure, The Air We Breathe is a highly recommendable book. I’m going to be searching out more of this author’s work.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
Baker Publishing Group|November 1, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-0555-2
New from the Winner of ECPA’s Fiction Book of the Year.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Fisk does not go outside. She’s ruled by anxiety and only feels safe in the tiny tourist-town museum she and her mother run and call home. Yearning to live free but unable to overcome deep wounds from her past, she stays hidden away. Then the chance arrival of a woman Molly knew six years ago changes everything.
Six years ago, newly single Claire Rodriguez was an empty shell. Only in the unique friendship she strikes up with a young girl – a silent girl who’ll only talk to Claire – does she see the possibility of healing. But one day the girl and her mother vanish, their house abandoned. What happened that drove them away? And how can Claire now offer Molly the same chance at finding at new life?
My Review:
The Air We Breathe had me hooked from the very beginning! The character development in this novel is phenomenal. The author’s descriptions of the personalities of each character is flawless. I felt like I knew each person intimately as if I’d been a close friend for years.
Young Molly Fisk enters a bank with her father. Just as they are about to leave, bank robbers appear on the scene and Molly witnesses her father being shot and killed and is then kidnapped for two weeks before she manages to escape. This sends her into a world of “muteness” where she won’t talk to anyone. Molly and her mother, Susan, move away and change their names. Molly lives a secluded life, never even so much as stepping outside. It takes years for Molly to unravel what she experienced that day in the bank. To some, her fears and turmoil may seem irrational, but for Molly they are glaringly real. I could empathize and really ‘feel’ Molly’s pain, I felt so sorry for her.
Molly and her Mom end up in a small town where they live and run a wax museum. One day Molly runs into Claire, a woman who she knew six years ago and needs healing of her own. Soon Molly’s life begins to change. The unique and close friendship that Claire and Molly share is precious because in Molly’s muted world the ONLY person she will ‘speak’ to is, Claire. Then one day, Molly and her Mom are gone and the house is empty. Claire doesn’t know what to think, doesn’t know where they went, and wonders how she is going to continue to help Molly recover if she can’t find her. Where is she?
Christa Parrish has written a beautiful novel full of heartache and pain and healing and redemption. For sure, The Air We Breathe is a highly recommendable book. I’m going to be searching out more of this author’s work.
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".
August 6, 2017
This book has a lot of twists and has a unique plot. It was hard to connect with a teenager that won't leave the house. That may be the beauty of this book. Often times we think of "shut-ins" we think of older people but this book takes you into a different world.
March 11, 2017
The Air We Breathe is a contemporary Christian novel. I was pulled right into the story and enjoyed it overall, though the latter half the story drug a bit for me. It's nice to read a book without anything offensive in it.
January 18, 2013
I received The Air We Breathe for free from Bethany House for the purposes of this review.
The premise of the book--a teenage girl who will never venture outside--was intriguing. What made her this way? What happened in her life that she must stay within the confines of her home?
These questions were answered throughout the book, as the story weaves back and forth between the years 2002 and 2009, and between being told through chapters about the characters Molly, Hanna, and Claire. The book does a good job in showing the difficulty of having good relationships after traumatic events, the difficulty in healing from those events, and the slow process it takes to get there.
While the book kept me interested to the end, although there were some weak points:
Molly and her mother are caretakers for a wax museum; this is too obvious of a symbol.
When Molly and Claire run into each other in the museum and Claire stays to spend more time with Molly, the relationship feels much more forced than when Claire befriended the child Hanna. I also was expecting Molly to tell Claire everything before she explained her life to Tobias.
Claire's insecurities in her marriage detract from the rest of the story. While they are entirely plausible, they just don't fit.
Molly's mother was not a character one could really end up caring much about; it would have been good to have chapters from her perspective as well.
It's not obvious what exactly happened to Hanna during the two weeks. While references to the possibility of rape are made, it just isn't clear if that happened or not (this is probably due to Christian readers wanting nice, neat stories without violence).
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish. I read so many non-fiction books for review that it was--pardon the pun--a breath of fresh air to read a novel for a change.
The premise of the book--a teenage girl who will never venture outside--was intriguing. What made her this way? What happened in her life that she must stay within the confines of her home?
These questions were answered throughout the book, as the story weaves back and forth between the years 2002 and 2009, and between being told through chapters about the characters Molly, Hanna, and Claire. The book does a good job in showing the difficulty of having good relationships after traumatic events, the difficulty in healing from those events, and the slow process it takes to get there.
While the book kept me interested to the end, although there were some weak points:
Molly and her mother are caretakers for a wax museum; this is too obvious of a symbol.
When Molly and Claire run into each other in the museum and Claire stays to spend more time with Molly, the relationship feels much more forced than when Claire befriended the child Hanna. I also was expecting Molly to tell Claire everything before she explained her life to Tobias.
Claire's insecurities in her marriage detract from the rest of the story. While they are entirely plausible, they just don't fit.
Molly's mother was not a character one could really end up caring much about; it would have been good to have chapters from her perspective as well.
It's not obvious what exactly happened to Hanna during the two weeks. While references to the possibility of rape are made, it just isn't clear if that happened or not (this is probably due to Christian readers wanting nice, neat stories without violence).
Overall, I enjoyed reading The Air We Breathe by Christa Parrish. I read so many non-fiction books for review that it was--pardon the pun--a breath of fresh air to read a novel for a change.
June 30, 2013
I got this from the library and somehow completely missed that it was "Christian" fiction. The story was engrossing from the start, with interesting characters and a clever mystery. But the Jesus references were jarring and distracted from the story, for me. The characters' faith is central to the story, and I understood that, but it didn't need to be so overt with references to "Him", etc. otherwise would be 4 stars.
October 10, 2019
Had no idea this was a Christian book until the last 1/3, then the Jesus references were literally peppered every page. Otherwise, would have been a good read. The references became ad nauseam, to the extent it put me off finishing after 3/4 of the way. Realized it was the wrong book my friend kept telling me to read - The Air You Breath - What a difference one word makes!
January 20, 2013
Good story overall. Didnt realize it was christian fiction which comes on a bit too strong for me but story was good
July 2, 2016
A rather convoluted story...but a very good one! The themes may bother some people, though; proceed with caution.
August 14, 2023
Read in summer of 2023. The way the book was written was interesting as it gave you some of the characters information but left holes in the story that kept you reading on. Let discuss Hanna first - young 10 yrs girl running Saturday errands with her father - Henry gave Hanna choices, this or that first? She chose the bank before the post office and while they had just finished with the teller, the bank was held up by 3 guys and during the robbery, Henry was shot to death and Hanna was taken ( Hanna thought of them as Thin Man, the Fat Guy and Short One).-She was caged but was able to escape two weeks later when fat guy had a heart attack when we was opening the door to give her food. Didn't talk, Sally took her to shrink but still no talking. But while at park sitting on a swing, a woman, CLAIRE asked if she could push her and Hanna talked. Dr asked Claire to come to Hanna's session and she did- mom was jealous of their relationship. Claire had a car accident while turning left and her 3 children died- so , daughter and the baby girl she was expecting. Husband ending up divorcing her, married and they were expecting a baby. Then there was Molly and her mother Louise with Tobias who worked across the street at his family Pizza shop and who liked Molly who never would go outside, even was home schooled online. Stopping here, this is getting too long - spoiler coming: Molly was Hanna and mom ran away when Thin Man who was detective showed up at house, went to Maine to a wax museum and Claire who had remarried with a 19 yr old stepson and expecting new baby vacation there and saw Molly/Hanna. I felt around this time, book seemed a little rush as story was getting long and story needed to be wrapped up. Overall, good story
August 21, 2024
I would classify this book as just okay. First of all it does deal with some intense topics of kidnapping and extreme grief. However in terms of how the book has been organized it's very confusing until you're about halfway through the book. Time keeps switching from 2002 to 2009 and point of view switches every chapter. It took me a while to understand who actually is who and how they're related. I found myself mostly frustrated with the main characters and their poor decision making especially those that are adults and how they should be helping a young girl who is devastated by the loss of her father and her own kidnapping. At the end of the book there was some resolution but not to the extent I would have liked to have seen. There is a mention of God and a brief mention of Jesus, but there's no definition of who Jesus actually is, and no reference to salvation or hope in Christ. So if you're looking for a book that incorporates biblical truths this is not that book.
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
my ratings:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it. Couldn't put it down. I will probably read it again and it has a place in my library.
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Enjoyed it. Good characters, great story. if nonfiction, great information, interesting topic.
⭐⭐⭐: Liked it. Glad I read it, but won't read again.
⭐⭐: okay, I won't read it again, it will not be kept for my library.
⭐: I didn't like it, don't recommend it.
May 14, 2024
This book was difficult for me to piece together at the beginning. I could figure out how the stories were connected but I kept reading and it fit together. The author asks some of the most important question in religion like, Why do bad things happen to good people?" At the end she answers with the same answer that I would have made. I really liked that and and understood it.
It did keep me reading despite the confusion at the beginning. I felt that the narrative about Molly could have been dropped from the beginning and that would have cleared up the conclusion. The story handled PTSD, jealousy and loneliness very well.
It did keep me reading despite the confusion at the beginning. I felt that the narrative about Molly could have been dropped from the beginning and that would have cleared up the conclusion. The story handled PTSD, jealousy and loneliness very well.
June 30, 2018
The beautiful face of hope!
I have 3 of 6 daughters/sons-in-law in counseling, two more in teaching, so our lives have become soaked with stories. Thank you, Christa, for such a believable story, a real life story, for those who live with scars and sorrow. Thanks for showing the miraculous ways God uses bad things, and makes beauty from our messes. Thanks for showing Hope as not some trite easy answer, but as God's love process. Thanks for showing how the blessings continue!!!
I have 3 of 6 daughters/sons-in-law in counseling, two more in teaching, so our lives have become soaked with stories. Thank you, Christa, for such a believable story, a real life story, for those who live with scars and sorrow. Thanks for showing the miraculous ways God uses bad things, and makes beauty from our messes. Thanks for showing Hope as not some trite easy answer, but as God's love process. Thanks for showing how the blessings continue!!!
October 4, 2023
I loved Still Life, but the rest of this author's books have just not worked for me. This one was an interesting story, but there was just too much religion and God stuff throughout. I realize she writes Christian fiction, but I felt like the reader was kind of being hit over the head with it at every turn. Honestly, it kind of distracted from the storyline.
Molly/Hannah was my favorite character. Claire was pretty annoying. I mean, why did she get married to a man she only knew briefly and then basically mold herself into what she thought he wanted? Didn't make sense to me.
Molly/Hannah was my favorite character. Claire was pretty annoying. I mean, why did she get married to a man she only knew briefly and then basically mold herself into what she thought he wanted? Didn't make sense to me.
May 13, 2017
This book started off really slow and confusing. I almost gave up on it, but decided to keep going because I am to discuss it at an in-person book club. I am glad I stuck with it because I ended up really enjoying the book. The emotion in this book is really deep and strong. The characters were ripped from the headlines. I liked the writing style of this author once I got used to it. I will seek out this author again.
February 25, 2019
How refreshing to read well-written fiction, with a genuine Christian aspect that is authentic---not forced or corny! Hanna/Molly is traumatized by a horrific ordeal at the tender age of 11. But she cries out to God and He saves her, bringing a faithful friend into her life to nurture and begin her journey to healing. Lovely, tragic, believable, and inspiring.
May 27, 2020
I really enjoyed most of the characters and how the author told a story of trauma without being too graphic. I also liked that it was a Christian book but I never felt like that aspect was overly done. I read it in one day (stayed up most of the night finishing it). It was such an enjoyable book and I had not read a book in a long time that wasn't school related so I really dove into this one.
November 5, 2025
I would actually give it a 4.5. I felt it started out slow, but then you get into the intrigue. I haven’t been reading much Christian fiction lately so I found it refreshing to have my beliefs confirmed. I can’t remember the question of why does God allow bad things happen be addressed in fiction before.
February 11, 2020
Although it didn’t grab me in the first page and I found her switching between characters and years confusing at first, this great story captured me. The winding together of a complicated plot and God’s work in the characters’ lives kept me turning pages. I recommend it.
July 20, 2017
3 1/2 stars. This is only my second book by Christa Parrish. I enjoyed Stone for Bread a little bit more. Thus the 3 1/2 star rating.
December 29, 2023
First time reading this author! Really good story!
January 27, 2017
Another excellent Christian book by this author
July 31, 2017
Again, Christa Parrish is not afraid to tackle tough issues. A young girl experiences a horrible trauma, and is no longer able to leave her home. The book is not about the trauma, however, but about the healing.
October 25, 2025
Engaging YA novel about the healing of relationships and God's intervention in our lives.
January 4, 2013
This is the most recent book I was given to review for Bethany House Publishers.
It was a quick and mostly engrossing read, but I honestly can’t come up with a whole lot to say about it. The book is divided into chapters that each follow a different character in one of two years–Molly in 2009, Hanna in 2002, Claire in 2002, and the same Claire in 2009. It’s clear from the get-go that their stories are interconnected somehow, but it takes most of the book for the connections to be explained. For what it’s worth, I made the biggest leap well before the author explained it, so that made it sort of a letdown when Parrish finally spelled the connection out for me.
I had trouble accepting the underlying plot structure of the book. Hanna was out with her father when a horrific event occurred (I won’t say more than that for fear of ruining some of the surprise!). While I know events like this do occur, it was handled in such an understated way. It was simply part of everyday life for Hanna and her mother. But I felt like I needed it to be focused on a bit more–for someone to say, “Whoa, that is a really awful, unexpected thing! Let’s talk about it a little bit!” Hanna goes through counseling and has a chance meeting with a woman (Claire) who has lost both of her children in a car accident. The two have an immediate and inexplicable bond until another crazy, unbelievable event occurs. The resolution of the book depends on another chance occurrence, which was once again hard for me to swallow.
The relationships are what make this book, but I found even those to be a bit shallow for my liking. The bond between Hanna and Claire is beautiful. Claire is a Christian, though she is struggling with anger and doubt stemming from the accident that killed her, children, which I wanted the author to delve into more. However, this is the basis of the relationship they build, and it was cool to see how a child sought out someone to answer the deep questions she had. Molly and her mother had a lot of tension between them, walls that had grown thicker and thicker through years of anger, and I really wished that had been addressed more fully. Molly has a sweet friend named Tobias, and I liked watching their relationship develop throughout the pages. All of the characters were likeable and believable, which made me want to keep reading to find out what happened to them.
As with other Bethany House books I’ve reviewed, I was pleasantly surprised by how understated the Christianity was in this book. It didn’t try to beat you over the head with religion, but it was definitely an important theme in the book simply because it was an important part of the lives of several of the characters. I think including Christianity in that way will be instrumental in breaking down the barriers between “Christian fiction” and mainstream or literary fiction. That said, the writing itself in this book was nothing to write home about, as they say, and I’m not sure it would succeed outside of the comfy niche of Christian fiction.
I didn’t dislike this book, but I can’t offer much to strongly recommend it either.
It was a quick and mostly engrossing read, but I honestly can’t come up with a whole lot to say about it. The book is divided into chapters that each follow a different character in one of two years–Molly in 2009, Hanna in 2002, Claire in 2002, and the same Claire in 2009. It’s clear from the get-go that their stories are interconnected somehow, but it takes most of the book for the connections to be explained. For what it’s worth, I made the biggest leap well before the author explained it, so that made it sort of a letdown when Parrish finally spelled the connection out for me.
I had trouble accepting the underlying plot structure of the book. Hanna was out with her father when a horrific event occurred (I won’t say more than that for fear of ruining some of the surprise!). While I know events like this do occur, it was handled in such an understated way. It was simply part of everyday life for Hanna and her mother. But I felt like I needed it to be focused on a bit more–for someone to say, “Whoa, that is a really awful, unexpected thing! Let’s talk about it a little bit!” Hanna goes through counseling and has a chance meeting with a woman (Claire) who has lost both of her children in a car accident. The two have an immediate and inexplicable bond until another crazy, unbelievable event occurs. The resolution of the book depends on another chance occurrence, which was once again hard for me to swallow.
The relationships are what make this book, but I found even those to be a bit shallow for my liking. The bond between Hanna and Claire is beautiful. Claire is a Christian, though she is struggling with anger and doubt stemming from the accident that killed her, children, which I wanted the author to delve into more. However, this is the basis of the relationship they build, and it was cool to see how a child sought out someone to answer the deep questions she had. Molly and her mother had a lot of tension between them, walls that had grown thicker and thicker through years of anger, and I really wished that had been addressed more fully. Molly has a sweet friend named Tobias, and I liked watching their relationship develop throughout the pages. All of the characters were likeable and believable, which made me want to keep reading to find out what happened to them.
As with other Bethany House books I’ve reviewed, I was pleasantly surprised by how understated the Christianity was in this book. It didn’t try to beat you over the head with religion, but it was definitely an important theme in the book simply because it was an important part of the lives of several of the characters. I think including Christianity in that way will be instrumental in breaking down the barriers between “Christian fiction” and mainstream or literary fiction. That said, the writing itself in this book was nothing to write home about, as they say, and I’m not sure it would succeed outside of the comfy niche of Christian fiction.
I didn’t dislike this book, but I can’t offer much to strongly recommend it either.
January 24, 2013
Christa Parrish has one of the most unique voices in Christian fiction. Her writing is deeply descriptive, to the point that you see and smell and hear the surroundings. How the characters think and feel is also very personally detailed, and you feel like you're right there, almost a part of it all rather than an observer.
"The Air We Breathe" tells its story from a few different points of view. There is Molly in 2009, a teenaged girl who is terrified to leave her home. She hasn't stepped outside in years. Yet she's managed to make a friend in the pizza delivery boy who works across the street, and he's interested in helping her break out of the bonds that hold her captive.
There's also Claire in 2002. After losing both of her children in a tragic accident, and then her husband through divorce, Claire is a broken woman. Barely exisiting, she's only making it one day at a time. But then a little girl enters her life. Hanna, who has been through unspeakable horror. Hanna latches onto Claire because she sees something real and honest in all of Claire's pain.
There's a level of mystery in the way the story is layered. Each chapter peels back the plot to reveal a little more of the tapestry Parrish has woven. You can't look away through the sparks of gentle romance, the anguish of loss and fear, and the intrigue of how the two timelines work together to form one story. This wasn't a lighthearted read but it had a solid and real feel to it, the kind you would recognize from intense times in your own life. This is a book about connecting and how God puts the right people in our lives just when we need them. It's one of those stories that will stay with you for a while as you seek to find healing for the loss or grief in your own life.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
"The Air We Breathe" tells its story from a few different points of view. There is Molly in 2009, a teenaged girl who is terrified to leave her home. She hasn't stepped outside in years. Yet she's managed to make a friend in the pizza delivery boy who works across the street, and he's interested in helping her break out of the bonds that hold her captive.
There's also Claire in 2002. After losing both of her children in a tragic accident, and then her husband through divorce, Claire is a broken woman. Barely exisiting, she's only making it one day at a time. But then a little girl enters her life. Hanna, who has been through unspeakable horror. Hanna latches onto Claire because she sees something real and honest in all of Claire's pain.
There's a level of mystery in the way the story is layered. Each chapter peels back the plot to reveal a little more of the tapestry Parrish has woven. You can't look away through the sparks of gentle romance, the anguish of loss and fear, and the intrigue of how the two timelines work together to form one story. This wasn't a lighthearted read but it had a solid and real feel to it, the kind you would recognize from intense times in your own life. This is a book about connecting and how God puts the right people in our lives just when we need them. It's one of those stories that will stay with you for a while as you seek to find healing for the loss or grief in your own life.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.livejournal.com
November 12, 2012
I'd give this 3.5 stars. Normally, I love Christa Parrish's work. I read a fair amount of inspirational romance and fiction, and one thing I like about Parrish's books are that her characters don't seem like something out of an idealized vision of the 1950's. She fills her books with people who seem modern, real, and often quite flawed. That's true of The Air We Breathe, and I did enjoy parts of this book, but somehow the narrative didn't flow as naturally here as in her previous novels.
This book really tells more than 1 story. We see much of the action through the eyes of 17 year old Molly Fisk, daughter of a museum caretaker in rural Maine. Molly is terrified to go outside,and so she lives inside the museum. As the novel unfolds, we see bits and pieces of Molly's past, some through her eyes and some through the eyes of people that knew her, including Connie Rodriguez, a woman who connects with Molly as she struggles to overcome her own tragedies.
I had sympathy for the characters in this book, but I had a much harder time getting drawn into the story than I did when reading Home Another Way or Watch Over Me. Something about this story just felt disjointed, and the characters felt a bit distant and frustratingly difficult to understand at times. I still enjoyed Parrish's writing style, and I think she has a very distinctive voice that sets her apart from much that I find in the inspirational market. I'll certainly be interested in picking up another of her books in future even though this wasn't my favorite of her novels. However, for someone interested in trying her work for the first time, I'd recommend reading one of her other books first.
This book really tells more than 1 story. We see much of the action through the eyes of 17 year old Molly Fisk, daughter of a museum caretaker in rural Maine. Molly is terrified to go outside,and so she lives inside the museum. As the novel unfolds, we see bits and pieces of Molly's past, some through her eyes and some through the eyes of people that knew her, including Connie Rodriguez, a woman who connects with Molly as she struggles to overcome her own tragedies.
I had sympathy for the characters in this book, but I had a much harder time getting drawn into the story than I did when reading Home Another Way or Watch Over Me. Something about this story just felt disjointed, and the characters felt a bit distant and frustratingly difficult to understand at times. I still enjoyed Parrish's writing style, and I think she has a very distinctive voice that sets her apart from much that I find in the inspirational market. I'll certainly be interested in picking up another of her books in future even though this wasn't my favorite of her novels. However, for someone interested in trying her work for the first time, I'd recommend reading one of her other books first.
January 9, 2013
Eleven-year-old Hanna is excited about her day in town with her Dad. Every Saturday is their day. They walk into the bank completely oblivious to what they were about to experience. Next thing she knows, Hanna has witnessed a bank robbery, her father’s murder, and been kidnapped. Weeks later, by God’s grace, Hanna escapes and is reunited with her mother. But she is never the same. She doesn’t even talk…until she meets Claire. Claire, who is also hurting from past loss, strikes an unlikely friendship with Hanna, and soon finds that this little girl is helping her to heal from the pain. But then Hanna and her mother vanish Claire, has no idea where they are or what happened. Several years later, Claire encounters Molly Fisk. Can Claire help Molly heal from her past in the same way that Hanna helped her to?
I cannot explain how much I loved this book! The storyline, characters and non-stop questions left me hungry for more. My mind constantly drifted back to the story, curious of what would happen next. These are the signs of a good book! One of the aspects of the books I liked would be Parrish’s writing style. She switches back and forth between Claire, Hanna, and Molly to give you more insight and details of the story. I also liked the fact that Parrish doesn’t drag things out until they get boring, or use clichés frequently.
Overall, I loved this book and would highly recommend it. The plot is original, the writing is interesting, and the story is one of love, healing, and trust in God’s sovereign plan.
Note: I received a copy of this free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, however, my opinions are my own.
I cannot explain how much I loved this book! The storyline, characters and non-stop questions left me hungry for more. My mind constantly drifted back to the story, curious of what would happen next. These are the signs of a good book! One of the aspects of the books I liked would be Parrish’s writing style. She switches back and forth between Claire, Hanna, and Molly to give you more insight and details of the story. I also liked the fact that Parrish doesn’t drag things out until they get boring, or use clichés frequently.
Overall, I loved this book and would highly recommend it. The plot is original, the writing is interesting, and the story is one of love, healing, and trust in God’s sovereign plan.
Note: I received a copy of this free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review, however, my opinions are my own.
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