Reviews

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley

hnbb's review

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3.0

I am thinking I shouldn't have chosen this book. It really wasn't my kind of book to begin with. However, I was intrigued.
The story is about a young widowed mother of 6 children. She is a member of a fundamental Christian church. She feels trapped in the church and can't figure out how to leave. When she gets hurt unexpectedly, her brother in law comes to the rescue. He tries to help her stay true to her beliefs but leave her church behind.
It did not start out well. About 20 pages in I wanted to quit and give up. I kept going and sure enough it was just a slow start. But, it was a rough ride for me. It felt like she hinted at secrets but wouldn't give them to you. It was frustrating after a while instead of intriguing. It felt like she was trying for false suspense or something. It all ended neatly, though. I am not sure if I would recommend the book, but it was worth reading. This book will be available May 2011.

reneesmith's review

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4.0

Because of personal issues I struggled with since a child and my early years in a ministry run by controlling, joyless leaders, it took years for me to believe that God is just as delighted in seeing me joyful as He was in giving me life. That He reserves good gifts for me. That He cherishes me. That following Him isn’t all about a list of do’s and don’t's. That I am free to delight in and cherish Him.

This is the central issue of Meg Moseley’s debut novel, When Sparrows Fall.

Her main character, Miranda Hanford, is in the process of breaking free from a narrow community run by wolf-in-sheep’s-clothing Mason Chandler. The problem is Miranda’s so used to hiding her true self and denying her dreams that she barely knows who she is anymore. And what scares her is that freeing herself involves bringing all things into the light—including the secrets she buried deep long ago.

Miranda’s charming children–six of them–provide strong motivation for her to take the necessary steps to save herself and her family. Though her journey is filled with pain and fear, it’s also buoyed by surprising touches of joy–which brings us to her handsome brother-in-law, Jack. (Miranda is a widow). Jack adds just the right amount of protection and romance to keep Miranda moving forward in spite of Mason Chandler’s threats and intimidation. I turned pages quickly to discover what secrets were binding Miranda and to enjoy the relationship developing between her and Jack!

God used this book to remind me that sometimes He allows His sparrows to fall. But it may be His way of freeing a stubborn child from a life-draining situation and drawing her to Himself. Though the fall might involve fear and pain, never doubt that underneath are the Everlasting Arms!

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” ~Matthew 10:29-31

reneesuz's review

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4.0

Miranda is a widow and mother of five children. Her pastor has just announced that the entire congregation is going to sell their homes and move to another state. Miranda is anything but excited about this idea as her property has been in her husband's family for generations.

Miranda, although one always submissive to her husband, is not feeling the same toward her pastor. Before she has a chance to express her feelings fully, she is injured in a fall and her brother-in-law is contacted (as per her written instructions) to come care for the children while she's hospitalized.

When Sparrows Fall in many ways is about their relationship but also about secrets from the past. Each has something they must confront and deal with prior to being able to move ahead.

I mostly liked this book although at times the family was shown to be socially backwards and isolated and it seemed to be blamed on homeschooling (or maybe I just am more sensitive because we homeschool). I was also torn between wanting to hug Miranda for the hurt in her life and wanting to slap her for being so ignorant to not think for herself for so many years.

felinity's review

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4.0

Really a 4.5. I loved the interactions between the children, which felt so real! Miranda's love for her children and the fear she felt were very apparent, as was her frustration at the situation which meant she required help from "Uncle Jack". One of the most important things for me was showing how Pastor Mason's cult-like church was twisting Biblical principles without saying their lifestyle (homeschooling, dressing modestly, requiring obedience) was wrong.

plettr's review

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3.0

This book was hard to read. I grew up in a very conservative community, so I found myself triggered at a few parts. But, as always, Meg Moseley is an excellent author.

briar_rose_reads's review

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4.75

*Review also posted at Briar Rose Reads

One of my favorite books of all time. Moseley's prose is gorgeous and evocative (the landscape is a character in itself), and there are no stereotypes here, no caricatures; the characters are complex and interesting. The main ones are Miranda, widow, mother of 6, struggling to escape from her oppressive, legalistic, cult-like church; and Jack, divorced college professor, a man of both faith and reason, who is equal parts angry and sad to see the life in which Miranda and her children are trapped. Both characters are intelligent, capable of great kindess and love, and like most people, struggling with their own kinds of damage.

This book isn't just exceptionally well-written. (I'm normally not a fan of romance, but the one in this book was so well-done that I didn't mind it one bit.) This book is important. It addresses a world that needs to be better known: the world of Quiverfull fundamentalist homeschooling separatists. Now, Moseley is not implying that all homeschoolers are like this. Obviously not; she herself homeschooled her 3 children. But she is shining a light on a homeschooling subculture that exists, and is a prison to everyone within it. I know. I have a number of friends who grew up in it. Some are still struggling years later.

The Quiverfull movement at its most extreme gives all women, regardless of temperament or gifting or ability, exactly one role in life: to have as many babies as possible, homeschool them all, cook and clean and practice extreme submission. Men are the ultimate, unquestionable authority. (Which many of them feel trapped into, as well--imagine being a sensitive, indecisive guy in a system like this!) Children are harshly forced into unqualified, unquestioning obedience, rather than being taught how to think for themselves and make good choices. Performance and conformity are valued far above grace and courage.

Moseley does a tremendous job of writing a vivid story set against the backdrop of that world, without infodumps and without reducing the characters to bland, powerless stereotypes. Miranda and her children are all so believable that I felt like I knew them, by the end; and despite being trapped in such a stifling world, none of them are without agency. Miranda in particular is done with being controlled; when Jack tries to give her orders, though they come from the opposite of the Quiverfull mentality, she lets him know that her life will no longer be run by men. She will be making her own decisions. She is discovering grace and freedom, the way we all must: not at anyone else's behest, but between herself and God.

I will be leaping to buy any further books by this author.

colls's review

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3.0

I have not read a lot of Christian fiction, and was a bit wary of diving into this story about a widow with six children who is at odds with her preacher. However, I liked both Miranda and her brother-in-law, Jack, right away. Their story had flaws, and the characters could've used a bit more fleshing out, but overall I liked the book.

I have no idea if children raised without television or fiction really are so well-behaved or not - but they seemed entirely too mature to me, especially the 10-year-old daughter. They started acting like children only when exposed to things like Green Eggs & Ham and Wal-Mart? Not sure what that's supposed to say about our society these days.

I would've liked to hear more about Jack's character. He seemed a bit too ready-made to fit into this household of a widow and her six children. I think the author attempted to give him some baggage in the form of his ex-wife, but it never came across as weighing heavily on him. His fear of Friday's and his heartache over his mother's death didn't go far enough for me.

And Miranda. Well, at first I was angry that she didn't confide her fears about social services to Jack. I thought she was being naive and that her silence would be her undoing. Upon reflection, I suppose that she is a woman with very little life experience. Married at 19 to an over-bearing man and then sucked into a cult-like atmosphere by a domineering preacher, I don't suppose she's had occasion to trust much in her life. Of course, then I felt distanced from her character even more. Although I did like her, I didn't really connect with her.

All this makes it sound like I didn't like the book -- which isn't the case at all. It was entertaining enough to keep me engaged and was a great weekend read. It is not a genre I would've picked up on my own and I was pleasantly surprised.

Thank you, goodreads.com, for sending me this book as one of your giveaway deals. What a great experience! :D

joannal7's review

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4.0

I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program and I'm so glad that I did, because I'm not quite sure that I would have picked it up on my own in a bookstore. I'm generally not drawn to books dealing with religion so much, but Miranda's plight was so unique and intriguing that I really had a hard time putting it down. However, I do feel that some of the mysterious aspects of the novel were drawn out a tad bit too long, but this really did not affect the story. I recommend this book, especially to people who are familiar with the TN/GA area and will further understand the geography and the cultural climate that the characters are living in during the novel. I love how Moseley is able to be culturally sensitive to the people and spiritual beliefs of that area, but also add a believable shady spiritual element to the community. Overall, a great, quick read that will make you think a bit.

pixieauthoress's review

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5.0

Loved this book SO much! Simply perfect. This was one of those stories where I was so captivated by it that I honestly can't find any faults. 10/10

gothamgal's review

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4.0

Freedom. Safety. Love. Miranda vows to reclaim them--for herself, and for her children.

A widow and mother of six, Miranda Hanford leads a quiet, private life. When the pastor of her close-knit church announces his plans to move the entire congregation to another state, Miranda jumps at the opportunity to dissolve ties with Mason Chandler and his controlling method of ruling his flock. But then Mason threatens to unearth secrets from her past, and Miranda feels trapped, terrified she’ll be unable to protect her children.

College professor Jack Hanford is more than surprised when he gets a call from his estranged sister-in-law’s oldest son, Timothy, informing him that Miranda has taken a serious fall and he has been named legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Quickly charmed by Miranda’s children, Jack brings some much-needed life into the sheltered household. But his constant challenging of the family’s conservative lifestyle makes the recovering mother uneasy and defensive—despite Jack’s unnerving appeal.

As Jack tries to make sense of the mysterious Miranda and the secrets she holds so tightly, Mason’s pressure on her increases. With her emotions stirring and freedom calling, can Miranda find a way to unshackle her family without losing everything?


I was excited to read this book after reading the blurb. I thought it sounded interesting, but also seemed to bring up some questions—what could be so bad that Miranda can’t reveal a secret? And, why on earth, would a pastor be such a villain in a Christian novel?

It was very hard for me to put this novel down, in fact, I read it within a day of getting it—about 4 hours of time I could sneak, in bed and during work breaks. I found the characters and story compelling, and I definitely recommend checking out this book (and looking forward to this debuters second novel—hopefully a sequel).

I don’t know if I necessarily have a favorite character, but if I had to pick, I would probably say it was the character of Jack, or Martha. Martha is more cute and less restricted of all of the children, but Jack has lived and is really a kind, handsome man. As well as educated and a gentleman.

The romance went at a great pace as well—I was constantly wondering when it might happen, but it was believable and understandable when it did happen.

My only real complaint is the ending, I felt like one of the main focuses of the novel wasn’t really revisited in a way that made me satisfied (no spoilers, though).

All in all, author Meg Moseley presents an interesting debut, with some wonderful writing and a very good story. I think it would get a dialogue going with readers and I am interested in reading more from this author.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through the Blogging for Books program they offer. A copy of the book was provided for my truthful review.


When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley
Paperback, Retail: $13.99
352 pages; May 3, 2011 (Multnomah books)
ISBN: 978-1601423559