Good Books Lift You!: 2022

The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Robert is a workaholic attorney who works long hours and seems bewildered when his wife Kate seeks a divorce. After all, he thinks he was making money only for them. His mother does some frank talking with him, and also motivates him to attempt a new start with family life. Nathan is an 8-year-old boy, and in contrast his family struggles to make ends meet. His dad Jack is a mechanic, and his mom Maggie is suffering from cancer. The sense of bonding among the family is very strong and there is nothing they want more than to be with and support each other. Maggie’s condition worsens rapidly and it does not seem like she has very long left. It is Christmas Eve – Robert and Nathan have a chance encounter at a store when they are both out shopping, and that Nathan is short of money to buy his mom a shoe brings about a change in Robert.

This is a simple story but I liked that the messages are powerful and yet conveyed in a subtle manner. Despite being a fairly small book, the character development is pretty good. There are many loveable characters, especially Maggie, Nathan & Jack. Maggie’s strength shines and the love in the family comes across strongly.

There is a touch of sadness at Maggie’s condition, and yet it is a lovely book – a good one to read before Christmas.

My rating: 4.5 / 5.

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