Higher Hope is book two in Robert Whitlow’s Tides of Truth series. Tami Taylor, homeschool graduate and law student clerking in Savannah, is assigned to a case where an outspoken local preacher with a gift for prophecy has publicly reprimanded one of the law firm’s clients. The client wants to use the opportunity to sue her for everything she is worth, in hopes of being able to claim and develop her church property for commercial purposes.
When this book came out, I requested it from Thomas Nelson’s Book Review Bloggers Program—but not without some trepidation.
On the one hand, Robert Whitlow is one of the greatest contemporary novelists in Christianity. The List, a story of multi-generational curses and redemption, and Jimmy, the story of a mentally handicapped boy who can see the angelic realm, are absolute gems. (For those of you who have only experienced The List movie, that adaption doesn’t even halfway do the book justice.)
But on the other hand, book one in this series, Deeper Water, is the only Robert Whitlow novel I’ve ever quit reading.
At points, Higher Hope reminded me why I quit book one. At others, it reminded me why I place Robert Whitlow in the top 5 novelists today. And the odd thing is that it was the same section of the book that did both.
The book starts with Tami and her suitor, Zach, driving to her childhood home to introduce him to her family. The first 132 pages of the book take place there; then they drive back to Savannah, where the rest of the novel takes place.
Part of the reason I quit reading book one was that the plot didn’t exactly hook me within the first few chapters. But the larger, underlying reason was that Whitlow’s portrait of Tami’s homeschooling roots seems too much like a stereotype. In the better than fifteen years I’ve spent in the homeschooling movement, I have come to know dozens of homeschooling families well. Even though a number of those families have been from holiness and fundamentalist backgrounds, so few even came close to the portrayal of the Taylor family (in either book 1 or 2) that it just didn’t come off as an authentic portrayal of a conservative holiness or fundamentalist homeschooling family.
Despite my qualms about authenticity, Whitlow is such a master storyteller that this warm, engaging section is also my favorite part of the book. In particular, Tami’s younger twin siblings Ellie and Emma are delightful characters, so real that it’s a letdown when their only appearance for the rest of the book is a brief cameo on a phone call. The modern Christian publishing industry likes to tie novelists down to genres (Whitlow’s being Christian legal fiction), but Whitlow should really try his hand at a family comedy.
The book ends abruptly. The case that provides the central plot is resolved, but all the character arcs are left unresolved. The most effective books in a series are complete stories, satisfying in and of themselves, but this book takes the alternate approach. It isn’t really a complete story in and of itself, and that can be frustrating unless you approach the book expecting it. Higher Hope needs to be read in the context of the series.
Despite my mild frustration over authenticity and incomplete character arcs, my reaction can best be measured by two little facts. I’m going to go back and give book one another try. And I’ll probably read book three.
6 Responses to “Book Review: Higher Hope (Robert Whitlow)”
Daniel, I agree – wasn’t impressed with book one, and I didn’t care for book two either – they are a far cry from his earlier books.
If you haven’t already, check out Randy Singer – same style, better writing
I just finished this book today. I read “Higher Hope” because I really liked and was impressed with the movie “The List” and enjoy good Christian novels. My friend gave this book to me after she’d read it. I especially love the setting in South Carolina.
My opinion is that the last third of this book, “Higher Hope” is much more interesting than the first two-thirds of it. I almost quit reading the book during the first 100 pages. I kept thinking, “ok, enough, when are we going to get to the meat of this book?” My view is that while holiness is extremely important, it was quite exaggerated in this book – a little fake and taken to the extreme. I’m sure that back hills people act and believe like this but Tami sometimes came across as being holier than thou. You have to respect her strong beliefs but she was just a little too fake…..She had already gone to the beach with Zack before seeking her parents permission to “court”. So that seemed contradictory to the “rules” she lived by. That was confusing as to why she’d do that before she got her parents permission. Also there was way too much dependency upon her parents at age 23 and yet she was portrayed as being fiesty in law dealings and taking chances. I was confused at times with what the author was trying to portray her as. Seems that Tami didn’t attend church in Savannah until she went to Sister Dabney’s to visit so that raised a big question while reading. If she was brought up so strict, why was she not attending a church. I loved Mrs. Fairmont and Flip and Tami’s devotion. If you can make it through the first two-thirds of the book and overlook the inconsistencies in some places, it is better reading towards the end. Left hanging, we can only see what happens in the next book. I will read it – if nothing else but to find out what Tami’s future holds.
Gina – this was book 2 in the series. Book 1 explains the background better.
I got the first book “Deeper Water” and going to read it – starting today. Thanks for the clarification.
No problem!