Author Wanda E. Brunstetter has become
one of my favorite writers. I appreciate
that her books are clean, without profanity and sexual immorality, and that the
characters are more fully developed.
That’s why I wanted to read her newest book Letters of Trust.
This book is
quite different from any other story I’ve read by this author. The subject is more difficult and a bit
darker. When I think of the Amish
community, I don’t think of alcoholism.
Wanda explained that she had Amish readers request that she write a
story that deals with alcoholism. Sadly,
alcohol abuse has impacted their communities as well. The story also had a personal touch because alcoholism
has touched Wanda’s life though a family member.
Letters of
Trust tells the story about newlyweds Vic and
Eleanor Lapp who are moving to Vic’s home state of Pennsylvania where his
family lives. Other than Vic and his
family, Eleanor had no family or friends there.
Eleanor loves Vic and wants to support his decision to move back
home. Like any newlywed couple the first
year of marriage can be a challenge.
Eleanor keeps in touch with family and friends through letters.
Vic is employed
by an English man and is surrounded by English workers as well. Vic finds himself under regular pressure by a
coworker to drink alcohol. He’s able to
resist until a crisis breaks down his resolve to not drink alcohol. Alcohol had been an issue in his youth, before
he had committed himself to the Amish community and church. Now Vic chooses not to resist the draw of alcohol.
Like every other
sin, alcoholism and drinking to excess, doesn’t just impact the one who is drinking. Vic’s drowning his sorrow impacted his
marriage, his family, his job, and most importantly his faith.
Will Eleanor find
support and wise counsel from her dear friend and family? Will she have the wherewithal to remain in her
marriage and help her husband? Will she
be strong enough to acknowledge the truth, get wise counsel, and the help and
support she needs? What will it take to
wake Vic up to the truth that alcohol is destroying his life and his
marriage? Will he realize it before it’s
too late?
Something I would
like to have seen, especially since faith is an integral part of the story and
character’s lives, is to see alcoholism in light of the truth of
Scripture. Secular society calls alcoholism
a disease, but a Christian believer knows it is a sin. There may be some beneficial secular programs
to help the alcoholic and their family. But
for a Christian believer, first and foremost, we need to recognize our sin and
repent. Like all sin, God has provide a
way for us to be forgiven through Christ Jesus.
If this had been a secular story, I would not have had that expectation.
Something that flowed
from the aspect of faith and seeing a character caught up in sin, was Vic a
true Christian? I don’t have good
understanding of the Amish faith. But I
wondered if there is some measure of legalism?
Is a person considered a true believer as long as he complies with the rules
of the Amish community? What is a
warning sign that a person’s outward confession is not genuine? Would an Amish Christian be concerned about
their witness and testimony to an unbelieving coworker?
I would like to
have seen the faith aspect of alcoholism dealt with, in addition to the
practical steps recommended by the secular world. I liked that Vic’s parents had a realistic understanding
of their son and didn’t try to make excuses for his choices and behavior.
If you like Wanda
E. Brunstetter’s writing, or have an interest in the topic of alcoholism,
you may want to read Letters of Trust. This was a hard book to read because of the
subject matter and the fact that too many lives are impacted by
alcoholism. I appreciate that the author
tackled this painful topic.
Letters of Trust will be published March 1, 2023.
I would like to
thank Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complementary
copy of Letters of Trust by Wanda E. Brunstetter. I was under no obligation to give a favorable
review.
