By: Amy Lynn Green
Dakota County Library paperback 370 pages plus author's note and discussion questions
Published: 2024
Genre: Christian historical fiction
This WWII book focused on a USO troop of performers. It was enjoyable and interesting - a fairly quick read. I liked it and we had a nice discussion about it at book club. My favorite character was Maggie.
Page 65:
When Maggie and her dad (a dedicated soldier in the Salvation Army) are talking about her love of music, I was struck both by the notion of some music being "devil's music" and also his question to her about doing something that matters with her life.
Page 66: "God bless Paulette.
And God would, she figured. After all, Paulette didn't disappoint him."
How often do we conflate what our parents say and think about us with what our Heavenly Father does?! I know what it feels like to compare yourself to someone else and see yourself as lacking. In this case, Maggie is sure that her older sister is in the right and deserving of blessing while she perceives herself as undeserving. My heart broke for her!
Page 94: "Farewell orders were what transferred officers to a new place. Maggie was good at sorting out the Salvation Army code by now. Her mother hadn't died two years ago, she was promoted to Glory. Churches were corps, preachers were officers, and the parsonage provided by the Salvation Army was their quarters. It was only when she went to school for the first time that Maggie had learned there were different civilian words for the things and people that filled her life."
Although I had heard some of these expressions before, I found it interesting to think of a child growing up with what is normal being viewed as different from the outside looking in. I love language and playing with words!
Page 160: "'I haven't the slightest doubt God can be found in both illusions and in music. After all, David described God as a shepherd in his psalm. Maybe we all understand God better through the pursuit we're most familiar with.'"
Gabriel and Maggie are having a serious and heartfelt conversation. Gabriel is offering wisdom. This resonated for me because we are all so different. Some people are passionate about sports and others don't care about sports at all. I love how Jesus taught with so many parables and illustrations. He wants all to come to forgiveness and salvation. (2 Peter 3:9)
Page 232: "'Everyone deserves the simple human dignity of being seen.'"
Maggie is referring to her father's wise advice. In this case, she is borrowing binoculars to see into a prisoner camp. I loved how her heart went out to these men and she was able to put her compassion into action. Seeing people is so important!
Page 333: "Her father had put his beliefs into action, that much could always be said of James McCleod. 'There's another battle still going on,' he'd always told her, 'for these men and for all of us. One on the inside.'"
So true! The battle in our heads and hearts wages on - to be selfish or to serve God. Daily pick up your cross.
Page 366: "'Even before I read your letter, I knew you were right all along. The devil doesn't have any tunes, at least, not any good ones. Everything beautiful is of God.'"
I love that Maggie and her dad had a full circle moment toward the end of the book. I haven't blogged about Catherine (virtuoso violinist) and her parents' tug-o-war over her life, or Gabriel the illusionist, or Judith the jaded singer with a 15 year old son, or Ernie, the Vaudeville performer who still is haunted by WWI. Or their manager . . . there was a lot going on in this story, but I definitely liked Maggie's arc the best.
This isn't a very focused entry because I'm trying to be fast! Lots to do today and I need to get this book back to the library.
