When I heard about this book, I had mixed feelings. The description sounded intriguing, especially the parallels between physical and spiritual healing. However, the date and the setting made me hesitate before pressing the buy button. I generally don’t read historical novels set further back than the late eighteen hundreds, as I get bogged down by detailed accounts of events and a way of life I cannot understand. The Healing was set at a much earlier time, so would it baffle me? And did I want to read about monasteries and monks?
If you are approaching Joy Margetts’ debut novel with these or similar misgivings, let me reassure you that once you begin, it is hard to put down. The characters are engaging, and you will soon become invested in their stories. I believe we will all see something of ourselves in Philip. Consumed by anger and despair, he welcomes death until a loving and obedient monk obeys the call of God. Brother Hywel shows Philip that internal and lasting transformation is only possible through a relationship with Jesus.
Invaluable Christian teaching is woven throughout this beautifully told story. The patient monk uses images from nature to instruct Philip, and through Hywel, Joy guides us. Healing comes slowly to the wounded, and those seeking to help must be sensitive to their shifting moods and to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I felt that sensitivity as I read this book. The author says it was birthed from personal experiences, and this is probably why she wrote with such a gentle and tender touch.
I recommend the healing to anyone longing for a more tangible sense of God’s presence and peace, or to those struggling with issues of despair, anger, and unforgiveness. Even if historical fiction isn’t your preferred genre, the author has done her research to make her story believable for its time period, but at no point did I get lost in the detail.
The healing also gave me greater respect and appreciation for those who choose to give themselves in service to God. Sometimes, we see their lives as rigidly based around endless rule keeping, but the fictional brother Hywel encourages us to look beneath the surface. I look forward to reading The Pilgrim and getting to know this interesting, deep-thinking monk even more.
Read more about The Healing on GoodReads here