Christian Fiction Devourers discussion

The Additional Group read for August is the book Wings of Glass
by Gina Holmes.

Here is a synopsis-

Library Journal Starred Review

Romantic Times 4 1/2 stars~Top Pick

2013 Southern Indie Booksellers Alliance Okra Pick

Southern Lit Review Read of the Month

From the best-selling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heartrending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of adulthood, eighteen-year-old Penny Carson is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign town, Penny’s happily-ever-after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to find her own.

Gina Holmes ’ stunning literary talent glistens like crystal in Wings of Glass. With subtle brilliance, she takes us into the very heart of what makes us hungry to love and be loved. Simply stellar!” Susan Meissner, Author of A Sound Among the Trees


This discussion will take place until September 14th. Please remember to label all spoiler comments **SPOILER** so as not to give away anything as we will all read it at different times.

Have you all read any other books by Gina Holmes?

I've never read any other books by Gina Holmes, but I can't wait to start reading this one. :)

I haven't! I hope I can join in on this one.

This was my first book by her and I absolutely loved it!! I couldn't put it down; it was that good. It was so beautifully written and felt like it was a true story. I loved the relationships between the three women and Penny became special to me - I wanted the best for her. Enjoy, prepare to laugh and bring tissues, fellow readers!

Wow - When I first started this book, I didn't think I was going to like it or finish it. The topic was just to depressing. But I am glad I continued as this book was one of the best reads of 2014 for me. Can't wait to discuss it and some of the gems of quotes from it.

Awesome book... Made me laugh throughout then cry at the end. I would recommend this book to many others. I cannot relate personally but this book FORCED you to empathize with Penny and hope that she would be alive at the end. I was soooo angry at Trent for the majority of the book but also at Penny for first excusing his behavior but also for enduring it.

I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'symptoms' are all the same. I could really empathize with Callie Mae with her frustration, especially after learning about her daughter. It's something that blinds you, and the author did a wonderful job portraying all the characters in their situations.

One part that really bothered me was when Penny went to speak with her pastor. I was so disgusted not only by what his reactions were, but that this actually happens in churches. It's yet another reminder that although our pastors are called by God (or at least we hope they are) they are not Him. No one can replace Him, and no one can fill that void within our souls but Him. Pastors are only human. Many don't act that way, but they are.

I also loved the way the novel was written, as a letter to her son. Or a memoir of sorts. I think it gave it a unique perspective, rather than just simply first person.

N.M. wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'symptoms' are all the same. I co..."

I was really bothered by the scene with the pastor as well. His training should have alerted him to the fact that she was being abused from what she shared.

Loraine wrote: "N.M. wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'symptoms' are all t..."

From the brief mention of the church by Callie Mae and Fati, we were already given the idea that the church wasn't really up to par. But I have heard of pastors telling my friends to grin and bear it, because their marriage was of God. So, it does happen. It shouldn't, and you're right that the training should alert them. Heck, common sense should alert them.

N.M. wrote: "Loraine wrote: "N.M. wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'sym..."

I'm a retired teacher and know how important it was to be aware of anything a child told us or we saw that might be a sign of abuse and we were required to report it. I know that it's different with spousal abuse since it involves an adult and you can't force them to report or leave, but this pastor should have been much more supportive. This incident indeed should have told her this wasn't the right church for her.

I could relate to how Penny felt though as a woman who took her vows seriously. I went through similar turmoil while married because my husband wouldn't stop cheating on me. I felt that even though I vowed before God to stay with him til death do us part... I didn't wanna be the reason his death came early.

Nicola wrote: "I could relate to how Penny felt though as a woman who took her vows seriously. I went through similar turmoil while married because my husband wouldn't stop cheating on me. I felt that even though..."

And I think that's why it's so important to have a Christian group of friends who are able to support you, as Penny had. Because while we want to stay true to our vows, if they're broken sometimes we need to have that pointed out to us.

N.M. wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'symptoms' are all the same. I co..."

I also was so repelled by what the pastor said to Penny! It's sad that there are pastors out there that won't take abuse seriously.

N.M. wrote: "I actually really enjoyed this novel. I haven't been in Penny's shoes, but I've had friends who have been (at least emotionally, thankfully not physically) and the 'symptoms' are all the same. I co..."

I agree about the pastor, I was very disheartened by it... surely most pastors would flag this as suspicious

Well, I just finished this book- honestly, I didn't think I was gonna have time to read it, but wow, I'm so glad that I did. What a beautifully written and very impactful book. My goodness, this one was a 5 star read for me as I found it incredibly difficult to put down and very well done- the character development was so spot on.

One of the discussion questions in the back that caught my attention that I thought I would throw out to all of you is when Callie Mae tells Penny- "You're addicted to an abusive man." Do you agree with Callie's assessment?

@cheryl: yes I believe u can be addicted to an abusive man. And addictive relationships. I believe that's why some can rationalize until death... Because the first step in overcoming any addiction is to first realize u have a problem

Cheryl wrote: "Well, I just finished this book- honestly, I didn't think I was gonna have time to read it, but wow, I'm so glad that I did. What a beautifully written and very impactful book. My goodness, this on..."

I agree that you can be addicted in a relationship. Co-dependency is a very difficult problem for many to overcome. Self image can have a large role in this especially for someone who feels they don't deserve any better and this is what they should expect.

I have to agree with Nicola and Loraine.
I believe Penny is addicted to Trent (who's an abusive man), because she doesn't believe she can live without him.
In fact, her self confidence is so low that she can't see herself as a whole person. She is convinced that she needs him and that she couldn't make it on her own.
Since she is completely dependent of him, well she is addicted to him.

By the way, this was my first Christian book.
It's a 5 star for me too. It was such a touching story!

I have been blessed with a loving husband so it is a testament to Gina Holmes's writing that I could so vividly put myself into Penny's shoes. She was in a so-hard-to-break cycle--father who devalues her then a husband--until she believes she deserves what she gets. How wonderful God's providence that he brought Fatimah and Callie Mae into her life--they allowed her to finally see herself as a Child of God, worthy of cherishing. I think the addictive part comes from the victim believing this is all she deserves--as Holmes says " trying desperately to get a man to cherish me who didn't have it in him". She was so afraid of being alone but was really so alone with Trent.

I liked how all Gina's characters were not only believably three-dimensional, but so unusual. And, she captured that unusualness so well. I wonder if this was a product of exceptional research or personal experience.

I agree Zoe- her characters had real depth and had a very "real factor to them"- I just loved Fatimah as a character- her emphatic ways of expressing herself and how your heart just broke for Callie Mae when you learn her story with her own daughter. How very like God to bring Penny into Callie Mae's so that she could have a do-over so to speak in helping someone else when she couldn't go back and help her own daughter. Wow- really good stuff!

I felt the same way about the characters and absolutely love Fatimah. I agree Cheryl that I felt so sad for Callie Mae but loved that God used her to help Penny when she wasn't able to help her own daughter. This was a really powerful book.

What an insightful thought Joyce- I do wonder for those that have been in similar circumstances if there is benefit to reading it as fiction. My thoughts are as a writer, that it would be a somewhat cathartic experience, but as a reader, I'm not sure. I don't know if it opens up the personal pain of the reader's own situation or on the flip side- perhaps gratitude that they aren't there anymore or maybe a little bit of both. I agree with your thoughts on Gina's writing completely- I believe her amazing writing skills really make this story come to life.

I think we all have different thresholds on what is beneficial to read and what is not. For instance my threshold is very low in terms of reading things that inflict harm on children whether it be physical, emotional or sexual abuse. I haven't experienced things myself but my mom's heart is incredibly sensitive to those situations and so when I read books that contain those types of situations I tend to struggle more. I'm not saying I don't read books with those elements in them, I do , and sadly it is an ugly and real part of life, it's just tough for me to read. As someone once said- that made me chuckle- I don't want fictional stress in my life haha

Cheryl wrote: "What an insightful thought Joyce- I do wonder for those that have been in similar circumstances if there is benefit to reading it as fiction. My thoughts are as a writer, that it would be a somewha..."

Since denial is such a part of the whole battered wife syndrome, maybe reading about another character's struggles might help a victim see her situation as it really is---I don't know though if she would be likely to read it.----At any rate, it might help to see a victim finally escape or stand up for herself--if the fictional character can get away, maybe the real life victim could see hope out there.
Certainly, such a book helps other readers gain a little more understanding and empathy for a woman's inability to get herself rid of the abuser.

Joyce wrote: "I think if I had read it when I was being battered, I would have thought my situation was different from Penny's, which it was, but I still needed to get away. I didn't deny the abuse, but thought..."

I hope you were able to find friends to support you like Fatimah and Callie Mae and that life now is full and complete. God bless you.