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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

Will Leaving Darkness Offer You Hope?

by Challice Neipp · 12 Comments

“Aren’t you afraid that he’ll start up with the porn again?”

To this day, I don’t know what made me ask the question. First, it was none of my business. Second, what a way to slap a friend in the face!

I don’t recall her exact reply. In fact, when we talked about it a few years later, and I brought up what I remembered her saying, she said, “That sounds more like you than me.” And she was right. I’d somehow taken her words and “translated” them into Chautona-ese.

Basically, she said, “What right do I have to bring up the sins that God says He ‘remembers no more’?”

That alone was a great lesson, but she taught me a greater one that I didn’t “get” for quite a few years. The power of letting the past go—forgiveness.

A lot of men would have beaten themselves up for their mistakes. I don’t know if her husband did or not. What I do know is that she gave him such a beautiful gift in “remembering his past no more” that way.

Not all mental illness comes out of a past full of regret, but some does. My experience is more with watching genetic depression attack and wound those who have had a “trouble-free” past. Still, when I had a chance to request a novel that dealt with depression and its effects on our lives, I had to take it. I requested Leaving Darkness with a heavy heart.

After all, it wouldn’t be an easy read.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Will Leaving Darkness Offer You Hope?

Written in a natural, relational style, Leaving Darkness tells one man’s journey through his pain to healing. Greg Schaffer creates a protagonist you care about, and his supporting characters are equally interesting and relatable. That said, the antagonist—if he is that–is a different matter.

It’s hard to tell what “Allan’s” role in the story is. Still, that character was the most stereotypical of them all. I could predict his moves not because I got to know a character super well but because he behaved like every other selfish, successful man in fiction.

After a minor inconsistency in the beginning, everything fell into place. Actually, that’s one of the problems with it. With little time and effort, change happened and things just seemed to magically fall into place. Even before conversion (which I was thankful for, actually), after a couple of visits, Lowell nearly changes his entire way of thinking overnight.

As a whole, understanding, change, and repentance all fell a little “on the nose” for me. That and a particular line, something like, “How do you expect God to forgive you if you won’t forgive yourself?” were some of my biggest complaints.

Oddly enough, one of the book’s biggest weaknesses could be one of it’s greatest strengths.

I don’t know how else to describe it, but the book reads a bit like someone took a “how to” book on dealing with depression and addiction and fictionalized it. Instead of “anecdotes” to illustrate a point, the entire manual was laid out for the reader in a fictional setting.

I don’t exaggerate. One meeting is told in such precise detail that I didn’t feel I was “emotionally there” as much as I was intellectually present to learn the day’s lesson. It’s better than that sounds, but it’s still… textbook.

I so wanted to love this book.

And I can’t say I dislike it. I don’t. Leaving Darkness just feels a little too neat and tidy. The people I know who deal with depression cannot ask for help. Most aren’t capable of it. They wouldn’t see a flyer on the wall and think, “Maybe I should see what that’s about.” They can’t choose to leave the darkness behind. They don’t even try. Instead, others have to bring the light to them, set it nearby, and be with them, helping without being asked.

Because they won’t ask. It will never happen.

In case that sounds too dark and fatalistic, I got that from someone who lives with it daily. Who sees it in her extended family—who knows just how bad it gets. From someone who has to bring that light when even hers begins to dim from the constant darkness she tries to fight in those she loves.

So maybe I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would.

Still, I have to applaud Mr. Schaffer for addressing a difficult topic. Yet another non-fiction, self-help book wouldn’t likely make an impact, but maybe a novel like this, even if it’s a little “convenient” at times, would help someone see that they aren’t alone.

And if one person sees that, perhaps he or she will also see that there’s hope and help to get through the darkness. It likely won’t happen as neatly or quickly as in this book, but I think most people understand that sometimes this is how things happen in fiction.

This is my prayer for this book.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews

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Comments

  1. Linda Moffitt says

    March 2, 2019 at 1:44 pm

    Thanks for sharing this Book’s Blog Tour on your blog. Sounds like a Great Book ?

    Reply
  2. Dianna says

    February 28, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    Loved this post. It’s so much more than a book review!
    I’m that skeptic sitting in the background thinking, “But what if….”
    You’re right — when God says He forgets it, so should I!

    Reply
  3. Rita Wray says

    February 28, 2019 at 3:44 pm

    Sounds like a good book.

    Reply
  4. Debbie P says

    February 28, 2019 at 3:42 pm

    This sounds like a very good and important read.

    Reply
  5. Amelia says

    February 28, 2019 at 1:45 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply
  6. Faith Creech says

    February 28, 2019 at 10:31 am

    I am really looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win this giveaway.

    Reply
  7. Vicki Hancock says

    February 28, 2019 at 9:49 am

    As someone that has struggled with depression my whole life, no it’s not easy to just find a group and be good. I’ve been on meds since my early thirties but struggled long before that. Another problem with depression is people (as in my son) get on meds, start to feel better, and stop them. It’s a life long struggle for a lot of people including myself. Also a lot of people don’t want to be associated with “depression”. It’s not something you can help and the stigma can be very hard. I’ve just learned that I have to take meds and that’s what it is.

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 28, 2019 at 2:21 pm

      This is SOOOOOOO true. We’ve watched this cycle in our family and while I understand that no one likes taking “extra chemicals” you do what you have to do to keep your mind healthy.

      Reply
    • REBEKAH WALKER says

      February 28, 2019 at 2:32 pm

      I just wanted to send a virtual ((hug)) to you, Vicki. There is definitely still a stigma, but I know that as I began to share my story, God led me to so many who understand and support me and to so many who I can help the way I’ve been helped. I’ll pray for you and your son to find that as well.

      Reply
  8. Rebekah Walker says

    February 28, 2019 at 8:45 am

    This is interesting. As someone who has a past with depression, anxiety, and borderline suicidal thoughts, I too would be skeptical of “nice, neat, and tied with a bow” yet I also KNOW that finally speaking aloud what was going on in my head is what began to break its power over me. I found the answers, support, and physical help I needed. I appreciate anyone who is shedding light on a subject that is still taboo, especially among Christians and in church’s where “prayer and God’s Word should be enough.” Prayer and Scripture are powerful, yet they are often not enough for full deliverance when there is a very real need for physical and nutritional support. I’m grateful God brought me through that darkness and gave me tools in ALL areas to put down what was going on in my body. My desire is to reach as many others as I can now. Those who are suffering behind closed doors like I was. I hope this book does impact lives. Those who are suffering need to know there IS hope and their lives have purpose. ??

    Reply
    • Chautona Havig says

      February 28, 2019 at 2:26 pm

      AMEN. While the solutions were a bit convenient and “quick” compared to what I’ve seen play out in real lives, I’m not sure what the author could have done without having the book take place over much longer periods of time. Perhaps just journal entries in the interim between long, terribly long gaps? I don’t know. I think with what he had to work with, he did a reasonably good job, and more importantly, HE TACKLED IT. that alone is huge.

      Reply
      • REBEKAH WALKER says

        February 28, 2019 at 2:33 pm

        Yes, I agree! Just in tackling it and showing that there’s hope is a HUGE undertaking. I’m grateful he did. I hope to get to read this one day.

        Reply

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The Because Fiction Podcast

The Because Fiction Podcast
The Because Fiction Podcast

Taking the pulse of Christian fiction

Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
byChautona Havig

Nothing says fairy tale like a sweet western romance by an author like Karen Witemeyer… unless it’s a fairytale retelling set in Texas in the late 19th century, right?  Fairest of Heart takes the familiar “Snow White” and turns it on its head with retired cowboys, a self-absorbed actress, a Texas Ranger, and a sweet girl who knows the true Source of her beauty.  Listen in to see all the genius Easter eggs Witemeyer planted in this book.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you.

Sometimes All a Girl Needs Is a True Change of Heart

I fell in love with the cover of Karen Witemeyer’s Head Over Heels a few years back (only to learn it’s much older than that, even), and meant to read that book.  I didn’t.  #BecauseIdiot. Well, that’ll be rectified just as soon as I’m done listening to her first book in a trilogy of fairytale retellings. I loaded it up on my Audible app tonight and wheeeeeeee. Here I go! So much for no new books until October. HA! 

Karen talks about her heart for young women today and how they’re taught by every bit of media blasting at them that they need to use their bodies to get what they need or want when the Lord has a better plan. And I can’t guarantee it, but I strongly suspect she does it without preaching. SQUEE!

Fairest of Heart by Karen Witemeyer

Once upon a time in Texas . . .

Beauty has been nothing but a curse to Penelope Snow. When she becomes a personal maid for a famous actress whose troupe is leaving Chicago to tour the West, she hides her figure beneath shapeless dresses and keeps her head down. But she still manages to attract the wrong attention, leaving her prospects in tatters–and her jealous mistress plotting her demise.

After his brother lost his life over a woman, Texas Ranger Titus Kingsley has learned to expect the worst from women and is rarely disappointed. So when a young lady found in suspicious circumstances takes up residence with the seven old drovers living at his grandfather’s ranch, Titus is determined to keep a close eye on her.

With a promotion hanging in the balance, Titus is assigned to investigate a robbery case tied to Penelope’s acting troupe, and all evidence points to Penelope’s guilt. But Titus might just be convinced that the fairest woman of all has a heart as pure as her last name . . . if only he can prove it.

You can learn more about Karen Witemeyer and her books on her WEBSITE. Don’t forget the book is 30% off on BakerBookHouse.com.  

Follow Karen on BookBub and GoodReads.

And don’t forget her Posse Group on Facebook.

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Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
Episode 265: A Chat with Karen Witemeyer
September 29, 2023
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Episode 262: Chatting about The Legacy of Longdale Manor with Carrie Turansky
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Episode 261: Chatting with Christian Youth Fiction Author, Candice Yamnitz
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Episode 260: A Chat with Rachel Hauck
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