Book Review : The Blackberry Bush by David Householder

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Two separate continents...

two unfinished stories...
two connected destinies

The Blackberry Bush
The Blackberry Bush by David Housholder

Product Details

Who are You, and what are you doing here?

Two babies—Kati and Josh—are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls. You'd think such a potent freedom metaphor would become the soundtrack for their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Despite his flawless image, Josh, an artistic and gifted California skateboarder, struggles to find his true role in the world, and his growing aggression eventually breaks him.

Kati, a German with a penchant for classic Swiss watches and attic treasure-hunting, is crushed with disappointment for never being “enough” for anyone—most especially her mother.

Craving liberation, Kati and Josh seem destined to claim their birthright of freedom together. After all, don't the “chance” encounters transform your life…or are they really chance?



When David asked me whether or not I would like to review his upcoming novel, The Blackberry Bush, I read the synopsis on Goodreads, and the very first line caught my attention: Two babies, —Kati and Josh, —are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls.

This is actually a novel about family relationships, interweaving destinies, and journeys of self-discovery. David successfully brings out this story in a creative way - the story is layered with words of wisdom and the plot moves on with a suitable pace with the help of passages of the past and current events. Although this book has something to do with Christianity, it is not written in a "preachy" style, so readers of other religions can read it without problems of any sort.

I can totally relate to Kati's hurt that involves her not being pretty and likable enough. She has pale skin, black hair and a big nose, and her mother, mutti is never proud of her. She is always comparing her with her beautiful elder sister, Johanna. She always chastises Kati's appearance without even trying to see her good points. Kati's (only) best friend is her grandfather, Opa Harald who looks past her appearance and loves her unconditionally. Opa teaches her all sorts of things, and she loves hanging out with him. The loving relationship between grandfather and granddaughter is really heart-warming.

On the other hand, Josh is a gifted child, but he seems a bit unsure about how he should live his life. I'm not sure how to describe him, but I feel like I'm a little like him in some ways. I'm glad that both Josh and Kati eventually find their ways in life, discover the goodness of God's love and the beauty of life itself.

In a few words, The Blackberry Bush is a moving, thought-provoking novel in which lies a powerful message. It is a book to read and keep.

"Life is like a coin with two sides--destiny and random chance. The truth is, each side grows out of the other. Quantum stuff. And life spins and spins."

Rating: 4.500

David Housholder, Fulbright Scholar (University Bonn ’88–’89) and international conference speaker, speaks three languages and earned his M.Div. at Chicago’s Lutheran School of Theology.

An avid philosophical-spiritual influencer, sponsored snowboarder, and surfing instructor at his home break, he enjoys tinkering on his ’71 VW Bus. Currently he leads an indie-warehouse California beach-church, where he dreams and works for a better world. He has been happily married to Wendy for all of his adult life. They have raised one son together. They can’t do life very well without cats around.



Official site of The Blackberry Bush Novel
ThornHeart.com
RobinwoodChurch.com


2 creative remarks:

TheGirlOnFire said...

Thanks for the review, I will add this to my wishlist.

MemeMeRachel said...

Looks like an interesting book 0x0