Book Review: "Rain Song" by Alice Wisler

A Stirring Debut

Nicole does not remember her past. She is living in North Carolina with members of her extended family, planning reunions and making pineapple chutney. Then one day, through a website she created, she meets a man named Harrison whom she has a connection to. Through talking they discover that they knew each other growing up in Japan. Soon Nicole begins to discover the secrets of her childhood, the story of her mother and discovers a love she never knew existed.

This book was nothing at all what I was expecting. The cover, while unique and inviting, does not begin to hint about the depth of this story. I was drawn immediately into the mystery of the story as Nicole takes us along to figure out her past. The finding of her website by Harrison just makes the story even more amazing. Some may see situations like this as coincidence but it's more about a plan that God always had in mind. I loved reading about the Japanese culture throughout the book. I felt like I could see the two different worlds that Nicole was a part of, the one she knew vs the one she couldn't remember. Her family is unique as a whole, they definitely make me want to try their famous pineapple chutney (thank goodness there's a recipe included in the back of the book). My only minor gripe is that I felt a little annoyed with the way Monet acted sometimes, but then I felt immediately bad and I felt sympathetic towards her mother. The style of writing just pulls the reader in and connects you with the characters. This was a wonderful debut by Alice Wisler and it shows how she has made her mark in the fiction world. I am looking forward to reading any future book by her.

Rain Song by Alice Wisler is published by Bethany House (2008)