Impressions: ‘Jacob’ delivers diverse message

Deborah Tompkins Johnson/Columnist
Published: April 5, 2008

Don't you appreciate when you find a good book, one of substance that you know you can confidently pass on to your child or another young person with no fear of too much violence, ex-plicit sex or profanity?

Well, here's a good book, that's wholesome: "Jacob's List," by best-selling author Stephanie Grace Whitson. We learn from her biography that she is a respected writer having won awards for her novels and having twice been a finalist for the Christy Awards, for excellence in Christian fiction writing.

I would say "Jacob's List" is a family-themed book targeted more to women. But there's ample attention to men with four main characters, including the title character. "Jacob's List" tells the fictional story of a young man's list of extreme adventures and how those adventures are carried out.

Adventure, tragedy and compassion mark "Jacob's List." The greatest message in the book is its depiction of people—young and old—who pursue their dreams for a feeling of fulfillment and fill a commitment.

"Jacob's List" also deals with lots of issues, namely marital relations, infidelity, grief, friendships, illness, emotional and physical healing, forgiveness and restoration.

One issue does not crowd the other. Author Stephanie Grace Whitson is able to give ample attention to each issue without getting bogged down.

Something else I like about "Jacob's List" is its choice of characters. For ex-ample, I find it particularly refreshing that Whitson places two women in this book, who are not just good friends, but best friends of different ethnic heritage. So many times, maybe most times, we get all of one or the other. Thankfully, that's not the way it always is in real life and I appreciate that diversity in the story line.

REALITY CHECK

You know I only write about books I would recommend you read. This one stands out for its realism. Grief grips families and friends in Jacob's List. Grief is something most of us have experienced. Many of us have also had difficulty describing our pain. Well, Whitson gives us words for feelings we may have had, but perhaps could not articulate, "His absence seeped into the nooks and crannies of her life until Pam felt like someone who'd gone swimming in the ocean with an open wound. Everything hurt."

PERK FOR BOOK CLUBS

Whitson steps out from her book by inviting clubs to ask her to meetings via speakerphone. See her Web site, StephanieWhitson.com, for more information.

Please let me know if you decide to read "Jacob's List."

Deborah Tompkins Johnson's Impressions appear in the Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger every first and third Saturday. She can be reached at .