Marlo Schalesky's Beyond the Night~Reviewed

BEYOND THE NIGHT

By Marlo Schalesky
Published by Multnomah Books
296 pages

Back Cover:

They say love is blind.

This time, they’re right.

As a woman lies unconscious in a hospital bed, her doting husband waits patiently beside her, urging her to wake up and come home.

“Maddie, remember with me. Remember the day I fell in love.”

An innocent, playful kiss between friends ignites an extraordinary romance despite an ocean of fear that threatens to destroy it.

“Fight the darkness. Don’t be afraid. There’s always hope…”

Together, they build a life filled with laughter and trust, music, starlit walks, and a precious daughter.

And then came the night that changed everything.

In the absence of light, hope and love still prevail. Two hearts joined as one discover that love – real love – can survive even the enormity of profound darkness. And a beautiful, wondrous mystery awaits…beyond the night.

Review:

This book reminded me of the movie “Notebook” based on a book by Nicholas Sparks. This too is a story where Paul helps his wife remember their amazing love story!

Maddie, Paul’s wife lies in a hospital bed fighting for her life. Paul decided to remind her of how they met, the adventures in college, and how their friendship blossomed into love.

Each time Paul tells her part their story he stops and asks, “Remember Maddie?”

He hopes helping her remember will keep her alive. Remembering will give her something to live for.

There are many powerful revelations in this book but one really stays with me “Hope. It was a strong thing. Invisible. And real. Soft as a flowing stream, strong as a ragging torrent.”

I love how the author gives a word picture of hope. Marlo has her characters come to this revelation of hope in the story as well. Powerful.

Get your tissues ready before you start reading this heartfelt story of friendship, hope, deep love, and the discovery that God doesn’t leave us in darkness but longs to love us in it!

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent