Castles in the Clouds
by Myra Johnson
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Pub Date Aug 26 2016 | Archive Date Jan 03 2017
Description
Young and impressionable, Lark mistakes a college professor's interest for romantic love. When he offers her the chance to join his efforts to start a school in Kenya, she pictures herself bringing the light of knowledge to hundreds of African children eager to learn. But the menial tasks she's assigned at the school aren't so different from life on the farm where she grew up. Worse, her fragile heart is broken when she realizes her feelings for the charismatic professor are not returned. Miserable and deflated, she gives up and returns home.
Enter Professor Anson Schafer, whom she met briefly in Kenya. Partially blinded from an eye infection he contracted there, Professor Schafer cannot return to Africa. He has come to Lark's school to recruit teachers like her for a more modest venture—the founding of schools and relief efforts here in the U.S. for those struggling through the Depression.
Still stinging from her experience in Kenya, Lark is reluctant to risk leaving her familiar surroundings, but she knows how great the need has become, and—although this isn't the exciting life she'd envisioned—she finally agrees. As they work side by side, Lark begins to realize that the deepest satisfaction comes not so much from what you do, or where you do it, but from the attitude of your heart. She also slowly realizes that the gentle, determined Anson is the true love of her life.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781632530028 |
| PRICE | $14.99 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Meghan L, Reviewer
Castles in the Clouds was a pleasant read, with interesting historical details and multiple storylines to keep my interest. While Anson and Lark were the main characters, it wasn't hard to get to know the other members of the story. They were all well developed and unique, each having very realistic and relatable stories to tell.
Lark finds herself in Africa, after being swayed by her handsome professor to go there to teach the native children. She fancies herself in love with him, and thinks he feels the same, so it's an easy choice. However, she soon learns how wrong she is and retreats back to the States, heartbroken and wary. She eventually runs into an old acquaintance, Anson, who was in Africa alongside her until he began to lose his vision from a severe eye infection. Unable to afford continuing her education, Lark decides to help him set up a school in her hometown, Eden. They soon fall in love, with Lark fighting it every step of the way, but life has a way of complicating things. When Anson's school becomes the target of hate groups and tragedy strikes Lark's family, they have to find their way back to each other with the help of God and family.
Anson was a real gentleman! I loved his "voice", the way he spoke throughout the book to Lark and others. He had such a kind heart and truly cared about other people. Lark took a little more time for me to warm up to. She was kind and caring, but she was also was pretty blind to how her actions affected Anson. Thus the development of their romance was a little too odd for me. She was too flighty, even after what happened in Africa, so it was somewhat surprising that she wouldn't mature more with her responses to things. I would have wanted her either more resistant or less resistant. The "I like you, but go away" attitude got a little old. However, Anson made me keep reading, and I eventually warmed to Lark.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It was my first book by this author, and I'm sure it won't be the last!
Amanda M, Reviewer
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into Castles in the Clouds. I guess I would say that I didn't have many expectations at all. The cover caught my eye and the fact that is was a Catholic publisher made me want to pick this novel up.
Lark is an independent young woman. She loves her family very much and yet they don't completely define her. She is on the path to becoming a teacher, something she has always wanted. She is a bit naive sometimes and, once in awhile, completely clueless. I liked that about her because it made her more of a real person. She wasn't always self-assured and perfectly perceptive.
Lark is convinced by her college professor, Professor Keene, to join a mission to Kenya to teach for a year. She is promised this will give her valuable experience. Lark jumps at this chance to go to Africa and make a difference. However, the situation in Africa is not a good fit for Lark and she returns home to Arkansas.
In Arkansas, Lark again meets Anson Schafer, the director of the Kenyan school returned to the United States due to an eye infection. Anson is working on a new project to educate the poor in Arkansas since he is unable to return to Africa. He is willing to offer a spot in the project to Lark, should she choose to take it.
So Lark is left with some decisions to make. This is during the Great Depression and money is scarce. Can she afford to work for a meager salary? Arkansas has been in a drought for years and her grandfather could always use help on the farm. Should she stay and help her grandfather? Lark has just recently returned from Africa. Can she leave her sisters again so soon?
I really, really loved this book! We have some very real characters with some very real (dare I say relatable) circumstances. We have a historical setting that was all-encompassing and reminded me of things I sometimes forget (Jim Crow laws anyone? I don't think of them much since I have never lived in the South). The mentions of the Catholic Church made me happy. They weren't forceful references or anything but the characters do attend Latin Mass (I should add that the Mass was only in Latin at this time period).
To sum up this review, I leave you with the following: Go read this book! Especially if you like historical fiction. Double especially if you like Christain historical fiction. It was that good!
I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. This in no way affects my opinion of the title nor the content of this review.
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