When people in Marion think of the perfect couple, John and Abby Reynolds automatically sprang to mind. After twenty-two years of marriage, everyone who knows them laud their idyllic relationship. But John and Abby have a secret - they can no longer stand each other. And when they bring their children together to break the news, their daughter shares news of her own - she's getting married. Reluctantly, John and Abby decide to keep their problems to themselves so as not to ruin their child's special moment. In A Time to Dance, Karen Kingsbury paints a portrait of a Christian family with a crumbling foundation. As John and Abby struggle to avoid each other through the course of their daughter's engagement, they turn not only from one another but also from God. They ignore or refute his promptings, even while wondering why He no longer cares to give them comfort. Both are mired deeply in a web of pride and self-pity, refusing to give, becoming more and more bitter. The characters Kingsbury created were so realistic, I could easily see them. As they struggled to present the perfect spiritual faade - especially to their children - they turned their back on the one who could best help them maintain it. The steps they took were not great leaps and bounds, but instead small, tiny babysteps away from each other and from the Lord. When we meet John and Abby, they both struggle on the brink of an affair. But through various flashbacks and comments, Kingsbury helps us understand that the problem was that slowly, slowly, became more focused on themselves and less focused on one another. Their thoughts and worries turned to the world - work, children, community - and they stopped connecting with each other. Those steps led them to gradually turn their backs on the one they promised years ago to cherish. Kingsbury's writing is strong, and she manages great images and parallels. I particularly loved the introduction of the eagle and the great parallels created. The flashbacks seemed a little heavy-handed, but conveying three years of slow separation - and twenty-five years of relationship - is a difficult chore at best, and I'm not sure she could have managed it any other way. Otherwise, I enjoyed the novel. The tension between John and Abby was well-created and believable, and their journey was one that many could benefit from. Once again, Kingsbury has created and emotional and spiritual journey that was a joy to take. |
