I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Pittman has done it again. A story about chosing what is God's will for your life. Great romance, interesting well written story with great characters. I will definately recommend this to my friends.
Feeling like she's been pushed into a life she's not sure she entirely wanted, Dorothy Lynn Dunbar escapes home for a few days and goes to St. Louis to spend time with her sister and family. Her heart seems torn between the love she has for her fiance and family and church, and the longing she has deep inside for something more. While in St. Louis, Dorothy Lynn encounters the modern temptations of the Roaring Twenties, the movies and music and fashion. She also meets Aimee Semple McPherson, a charismatic evangelist, and her manager Roland. When Dorothy Lynn's passion for singing and playing her guitar in free-spirited worship results in an invitation to join McPherson's crusade team, Dorothy Lynn finds herself confronted with difficult choices and an uncertainty about God's calling on her life.
Allison Pittman's latest novel is a delight to read, having been woven together with beautiful narrative, stirring faith, and characters you will connect with. I loved the interplay between the scenes of Dorothy Lynn in the Twenties, wrestling with her feelings and her choices, and the scenes of Dorothy Lynn as a 107-year-old woman who isn't entirely sure why God has allowed her to stay on Earth for so long. As with her earlier novels, the author easily drew me into the story, displaying her gift with the pen, and stirring up within me deep emotions as I ventured ever deeper into the tale of Dorothy coming of age and trying to discover God's plan for her life. Aimee Semple McPherson is a fascinating character, and whether or not a reader fully agrees with all of her beliefs, you cannot help but admire a woman who was so passionate about sharing Jesus Christ with a nation flirting with moral anarchy. And yet her story also serves as a warning of how easily power can corrupt, that something well-intentioned can take on overtones of pride and selfishness and personal gain. All for a Song is a book that will not only entertain you, but will leave you thinking about why we make the choices we do, and even how we use the gifts God has given us.
I award this book my highest recommendation, and a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Tyndale House, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
"All For a Song" was a story about options. What if you dare to take the road less traveled? To take the unsafe road; the one where you can't predict what will happen two steps ahead. Dorothy Lynn Dunbar is a small-town girl with a lot of talent. Her talent takes her on a wild journey -- one which will help her discover if her current path of security and predictability, is the one she really wants to be on. It was also a story about family. How far will we go out of our comfort zone when our love of a family member is involved?
I won't spoil all of the fun, but it was entertaining to get an insider's glimpse of what life was like during the roaring twenties, both in rural areas and urban ones. I was also not very aware of the history of early female evangelists. Unfortunately for our heroine, she finds out all too easily how many temptations are present when you are living life on the road away from your family. You'll have to read the story to see how she handles it!
* This book was received for review by the publisher with no promise of a positive review.
All for a Song is set during the Roaring Twenties, when a small-town southern girl finds herself tempted as she travels with Aimee Semple McPherson. She's never left her small spot on the map, and as the world opens up for her, she has to decide what role her faith plays in her life. She's always done what's expected of her, and now as her wedding is barreling down on her, she wonders if she'll ever get to live.
This story is beautifully written in a way that drew me deep into its pages. The characters are rich and varied, and I felt transported to a time period I don't know much about, but enjoyed visiting. If you have never read one of Allison's books, please allow yourself a treat and settle in for a read that will leave your mind satisfied and your soul touched.
Dorothy has her family, faith in God, loving fiance, and her music. She thought that was enough. Little did she know she would embark on a journey of a lifetime, leaving the nest and flying out a bit before marriage ties her down again. All For a Song is not your typical novel.
Dorothy was a great character! She was different from your average perfect main character. The author crafted her with such a sincerity and honesty that her struggles were felt deep. Dorothy having been sheltered all her life chooses to leave all that she knows behind and experience "life." I somewhat understood her reasons for wanting to see the world over the next hill, but I could not throughoughly bond with her reasons. I also thought she was a bit naive. "Where was her discernment" was the common thought with the choices she made. Her flaws made her easier to relate to, but made for a somewhat sorrowful read.
Most of the characters professed to be Christians, but to me the were truly laking in their morals, especially Aimee Semple McPhearson.
This was such an emotional tale. You witnessed how the main character experienced freedom in the Lord, how the effects of the world influence her either for good or bad, and the redeeming love found in Jesus Christ. I definitely enjoyed reading this book, and would recommend it to those who enjoy emotionally bound books and a good read.
I was provided this book, for free from Tyndale Publishers, in exchange for this independent and unbiased review.
"All for a Song" is a melodic new release, reminding me of the many reasons Allison Pittman is one of my favorite authors. Like most of the her other novels, "All for a Song" is filled with depth, faith, and discovery. I've learned from Pittman's previous novels that her plots are not completely predictable and rarely do her stories have fairy tale endings. Their realism and pain always linger with a poignancy unique to Pittman's work.
The novel opens on the eve of Dorothy Lynn's 107th birthday. Throughout the novel, we see Dorothy's life as a young woman of 19 and as an old woman of 107. The dual perspective is unique and provides a complete story. By the end of the novel, Dorothy Lynn's life and faith have come full circle. Building parts of the plot around the life of a woman over 100 is a fresh concept. The chapters focusing on Dorothy Lynn's present day life are just as enjoyable as those portraying the adventures of her youth. Her recollections often build anticipation about the upcoming events in the life of 19-year-old Dorothy Lynn. Both stories, past and present, grasped my attention and created an unforgettable tale.
"All for a Song" is lyrical novel with resonating chords of hope, grace, and direction. Pittman sets her scenes on vastly different stages: St. Louis, Los Angeles, and a small town in the 1920s and an retirement home in 2010. Her depiction of the 1920s takes center stage, shining through Pittman's use of clear descriptions and imagery. She captures the temptations that defined the roaring 20s, but also introduces readers to the movements of faith that grew during the same era. I loved the historical detail and the scenes of Los Angeles and St. Louis in the glamour of an earlier era. I often wish that I could transport myself back to an earlier time period, and the pages of a book like "All for a Song" allows me to do just that.
Whenever I pick-up a Allison Pittman novel, I know that I am about to begin a journey that transcends a printed page. "All for a Song" is no exception, and I will keep it on my bookshelf alongside her other novels.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dorothy Lynn Dunbar has it all; a loving family and a fiance that is a preacher just like her daddy. Hours spent in the woods playing her brother's guitar make her life complete, but she aches to know more of the outside world and all it has to offer. She feels claustrophobic and tied down to the small town of Heron's Nest that is her birthplace and home, yet imagines life in the big city.
When an opportunity rises to go visit her sister in St. Louis, she is fascinated by the fancy cars, movies, dancing, and daring fashions of the Roaring Twenties. She meets an evangelist who happens to be a woman, and like a moth to flame, Dorothy is drawn to her. Will she join the McPherson evangelistic team or go home to her family and fiance? Will the temptations of the times prove to be too great for a small town girl like herself?
As with every generation, there is a curiosity about the world. Whether you grew up in a Christian home or not, young people always want to know what's on the other side of the fence. Dorothy is faced with all these curiosities and more, and Pittman takes us on a journey that could be any one of us. No matter which generation you are from, or even where you're from, you will relate to Dorothy's struggles and temptations. All of us were there at one point; the desire to grow up, to find who we are, and to discover what we truly believe. The line of morality is either crossed or respected. But in the end, it is the choices Dorothy makes that essentially make her who she is and who she became. A very good novel about growing up, relevant to either gender of any age.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review.