Freddie was raised on faith. It's in her blood. Yet rather than seeking solace from the Almighty when she loses her husband of many years, she enters a state of quiet contemplation-until her daughter, and then her sister, each come home with a host of problems of their own, and her solitude is brought to an end.
As Freddie helps her daughter and sister deal with their troubles, her own painful past-a wretched childhood at the hands of an unbalanced, pious mother-begins to occupy her thoughts more than ever, as does Anna, the grandmother she's always wished she'd known better. Freddie feels that she and Anna are connected, not just through blood but through the raising of difficult daughters, and it's a kinship that makes her wonder what unseen forces have shaped her life. With all that to hand, a new family crisis rears its head-and it forces Freddie to confront the questions she's asked so many times: What does it mean to believe in God? And does God even care?
Freddie is a recent widow. She grieves alone. Though faith is in her blood, she's reluctant to seek solace from the Almighty. Then her daughter comes home with a host of problems. Soon after, her sister has a crisis of her own. Freddie rises to the occasion, as she always does. In the process, her painful past, an unbalanced mother, and a grandmother she wanted to know better occupy her thoughts more than ever. Finally, she confronts the same the questions she's asked all her life. What does it mean to believe in God? And does God even care?
"Anne Leigh Parrish's fine debut novel,
What Is Found, What Is Lost, is a moving and graceful tale that delves deeply into the histories of two sisters, Freddie and Holly. The women reinvent their lives and fortunes as adults, but despite new identities, find they must learn to navigate the complex network of family ties and family lies that bind them together. Parrish, in clear, deft prose, explores the meaning of motherhood, faith, loyalty, and tenderness; effortless, she carries her readers through four generations of one family's checkered history of love."
-Mary Akers, author of
Bones Of An Inland Sea
"In
What Is Found, What Is Lost, Anne Leigh Parrish ruminates on faith and lack of, as well as family and love. With writing akin to the comfort of a conversation over a familiar kitchen table, she takes us on a journey through the years-both skeptical and believing, both hard and bright-to get at the hearts of these women, marriages, mothers and daughters, these relationships. Parrish isn't afraid to let us drift to the darkness, but we can trust that we will find her on her hands and knees, looking for the lost flashlight to guide our way. What Is Found, What Is Lost, is a deft novel full of rich characters and even richer emotions that will leave a pleasant ache in your bones."
-Leesa Cross-Smith, author of
Every Kiss A War
