Elizabeth Byler Younts' novel The Solace of Water is a story of friendship despite differences. Delilah's family has just moved to Pennsylvania from Montgomery, Alabama to start fresh after the loss of a son. Things are different for them there, not just because it's the North versus the South but because they are an African-American family and the year is 1956.Delilah, the matriarch of the family, is grieving hard over losing her young son and can't seem to move past her grief or forgive who needs to be forgiven. And this causes problems with the relationships in her family.
A walk through the woods leads you to Delilah's new neighbor Emma. Emma lives with her husband and son within the Amish community, but they are set apart due to their small family size and the secrets that husband and wife keep.
Usually the Amish keep to themselves and don't mingle with the Englishers, especially the Negroes, but when Emma helps Delilah find one of her missing kids, their worlds are brought together. Both women soon realize that even though they come from different backgrounds, they have more in common than they know, and it's their shared understanding that allows them to let their guards down and become friends.
I really enjoyed this book! It was heartbreaking at times and very sweet at others. The story was one the kept me wanting to turn the page and read on. I would definitely recommend it for a book club! It has religious themes without being too heavy-handed, so you don't have to be a Christian to read the book and enjoy it. It's just a good story about a hard time in history that makes you evaluate race, forgiveness, friendship, and keeping the ones you love close.
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