“I was desperate. . . . I couldn’t turn off the dark thoughts, no matter how hard I tried or how much I prayed. And then I spent a whole weekend in bed, and the crying wouldn’t stop, and I got really scared. I’ve had bouts with depression before–it’s kind of a cloud I’ve learned to live with–but this time was different. I felt like I was going under, like I’d never feel hopeful again, and then … then that just made my anxiety worse and it all spiraled from there.”Wren Crawford is a social worker who finds herself overwhelmed with the troubles of the world. Her lifelong struggles with anxiety and depression are starting to overcome her. She finds solace in art, spiritual formation, and pastoral care along with traditional therapeutic interventions. But a complicated relationship from her past also threatens to undo her progress. Fans of Sharon Brown’s bestselling Sensible Shoes Series will be delighted to discover some old friends along the way. As Wren seeks healing in this beautifully written novel, readers are invited to move beyond pat answers and shallow theology into an experience of hope and presence that illuminates even the darkness.
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This book is a little hard to describe. It follows two best friends who both struggle with mental illness; one has family support; the other one does not. They threaten to drag each other down. While that sounds like a maudlin downer, it is not. It is full of hope that a non Christian might find hard to understand, but not sappy Christianese. It is also full of references to Vincent VanGogh, both his letters to his brother and his well-known paintings. I enjoyed the book and will probably go to the library to look up some books on VanGogh!
Insightful, penetrating, and heartbreaking, Shades of Light takes the reader into the world of mental illness through the eyes of Wren, hospitalized for clinical depression and panic attacks, and her mother, Jamie, who worries and loves from a distance.
As Wren begins to heal through studying the life and works of the artist Vincent Van Gogh, she finds a companion in sorrow. The sufferings of Christ as He journeys to the cross are also an important part of her healing.
This novel skillfully tackles the dark topics of depression and suicide as well as the often-misguided way Christians treat mental illness. It asks the hard questions: how to support a loved-one who deals with this disease and what to do when our best intentions are ineffective in providing help and solace.
Readers will also appreciate the appearances of the much-loved characters from the Sensible Shoes series. Beautiful and haunting, Shades of Light is a heart-wrenching and necessary read that ultimately offers hope.
I’ve waited for a book like this for a long time and I was not disappointed. I’ve journeyed with depression and have felt at times quite misunderstood in Christian circles. Sharon has beautifully expressed these struggles and the wrestling with depression and faith and how they fit together. Some parts of the book I truly struggled with, but that was possibly because it was resonating with my own experiences. I know this is a book that I will read many times and find precious pearls of wisdom each time.
I recommend this to anyone who is journeying with a friend with mental illness and to those supporting loved ones. It’s an emotional read but definitely worth reading.
This is a wonderful book very heartfelt writting . Touched on many emotions in this story. It shows how the struggle of depression and anxiety can cripple a person but even though the character has to learn to deal with the crushing weight of life and old relationships with determination and friends there is hope. a touching book that sucked me into the characters life and made me cry and laugh and cheer her on. this is the first book by this author I have read and I am so glad that I did.
Sharon Garlough Brown does an excellent job of weaving faith and depression into a meaningful conversation. I felt this story and the characters came alive in a meaningful way for me. Even though it is a novel, there are Spiritual lessons to be learned. I definitely feel this is a book worth reading.
Healing Light
Reading Shades of Light felt like a journey. Some of the travel with Wren was difficult because mental illness is a tough path. There were many green pastures full of grace and compassion that were tended to by loving people like Kit, Hannah, and Mara. I was refreshed each time I learned a bit more about Vincent Van Gogh, his letter, and his art. I was most comforted by the gentle soothing of Wren thru the Master’s touch on her heart.
This is a book about mental illness. The author deals with how hard life is for the person who has it and the pain it causes the family and friends. This was a hard book for me to read but it was worth it. Thank you IVP Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.