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katherinezee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My REVIEW of
THE PRAYER BOX
By Lisa Wingate. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my second Wingate novel, and I already started on my third! I was first drawn to this book because of the title…I had heard of prayer boxes before and was intrigued to find out how the author would weave a novel around a box filled with the prayers of an elderly woman. The main character, Tandy, a mother of two whose life is a tangled mess at the beginning of the novel, moves into the cottage next to Iola Poole’s Victorian manse in the Outer Banks to escape the torment and abuse of her ex in Texas. One morning, Tandy stopped over to visit Iola and found her dead in her bed. After offering to take care of the property which Iola willed to the church until the church took possession, Tandy comes across Iola’s 81 elaborately decorated prayer boxes—one per year since she began the spiritual practice. Tandy begins to read the hundreds of letters written to Iola’s Father God in the form of prayers. As Tandy continues to read, the letters gradually reveal that Iola’s reputation as a squatter who was not entitled to that which she inherited could not have been more wrong. And as Tandy learns more about Iola’s lessons in faith, Tandy begins to awaken to the power of faith and hope in her own life. This is an exquisite story that has inspired me to decorate my own prayer box and reinstitute the practice of writing out my daily prayers to Father God.
THE PRAYER BOX
By Lisa Wingate. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my second Wingate novel, and I already started on my third! I was first drawn to this book because of the title…I had heard of prayer boxes before and was intrigued to find out how the author would weave a novel around a box filled with the prayers of an elderly woman. The main character, Tandy, a mother of two whose life is a tangled mess at the beginning of the novel, moves into the cottage next to Iola Poole’s Victorian manse in the Outer Banks to escape the torment and abuse of her ex in Texas. One morning, Tandy stopped over to visit Iola and found her dead in her bed. After offering to take care of the property which Iola willed to the church until the church took possession, Tandy comes across Iola’s 81 elaborately decorated prayer boxes—one per year since she began the spiritual practice. Tandy begins to read the hundreds of letters written to Iola’s Father God in the form of prayers. As Tandy continues to read, the letters gradually reveal that Iola’s reputation as a squatter who was not entitled to that which she inherited could not have been more wrong. And as Tandy learns more about Iola’s lessons in faith, Tandy begins to awaken to the power of faith and hope in her own life. This is an exquisite story that has inspired me to decorate my own prayer box and reinstitute the practice of writing out my daily prayers to Father God.
rebeccasarine's review against another edition
5.0
This was a great read. It was a book about redemption, healing from the past, the hand of providence, and how all that we face weaves together a picture of who we are--like a quilt. It also made me want to know more about the Outer Banks. It was a well written book with some many interesting characters. I look forward to the rest of the series and more by this auther. I would highly recommend it.
olyapro's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
brynners89's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tx_corey's review against another edition
Read 4 chapters and couldn’t get interested. Too many detailed descriptions and unrealistic characters.
nic_fish's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting story of a single mom making a fresh start, finding some inspiring letters from her late landlady.
ashleyhatton's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
austin7's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
debs4jc's review against another edition
3.0
A unique habit--recording prayers on scraps of paper and placing them in a prayer box--is at the crux of this story. The boxes, which belonged to a deceased woman named Iola, are discovered by a young woman named Tandi who is given the job of cleaning out Iola's house. Tandi, a single mother on the run, has numerous problems of her own--one of the biggest being that she is not sure how long she will be able to remain in the cottage that she was renting from Iola. With little money and a fear that her past will catch up with her she none-the-less becomes distracted by the boxes, which form a sort of diary of Iola's life--one in which she performed many acts of secret charity. As Tandi's story unfolds, Iola seems to be speaking to her from beyond the grave and helping her to find a new direction for her life.
This is a thoughtful and inspiring story which shows how a person's life can have a great impact, even from beyond the grave. I enjoyed the concept of the prayer box and I could see readers, especially if they were in a book group, wanting to make one of their own. This would be a great read for church groups or anyone who enjoys an uplifting story which showcases the power of prayer.
This is a thoughtful and inspiring story which shows how a person's life can have a great impact, even from beyond the grave. I enjoyed the concept of the prayer box and I could see readers, especially if they were in a book group, wanting to make one of their own. This would be a great read for church groups or anyone who enjoys an uplifting story which showcases the power of prayer.
katrenia's review against another edition
4.0
A heart warming story. Predictable ending. I love the idea of a prayer box. What a tangible way to let go and give it to God!