Shades of Light: A Novel

Sharon Brown has done it again. I loved the Sensible Shoes series. Now, in Shades of Light, she brilliantly brings the topic of mental illness to the forefront in a fiction book with realistic concepts. I immediately connected with the main characters and was involved throughout the book. She accurately describes the main character, Wren’s, depressive periods and anxiety attacks. It was interesting how she brought in spiritual formation, mental illness, art from Vincent Van Gogh, and even cameo appearances by characters from the Sensible Shoes series. Some characters in Shades of Light took a stance, telling Wren simplistic ways to get rid of mental illness. She was told by some to pray it away, do better at spiritual warfare, or read the Bible more. Many who suffer are made to feel shame or embarrassment because of their lack of faith to rid themselves of the trials. The book flows along so seamlessly and naturally. It is enjoyable to read even though the topic is heavy and important. I am going through it a second time and underlining interesting points and things I want to remember. The accompanying study guide would steer group discussions and book clubs. Many in the church today are just beginning to be more aware and empathetic about the facts of mental illness, and learning to understand and not be judgmental. I highly recommend this book. Sharon brings us before our heavenly Father, who knows, loves, and walks with us through all of life’s trials, and holds us in the palm of His hand.

Hope. A four letter word that can transform a life. Hope shines through this book through sorrow, struggles, and suffering. Anxiety, depression, mental illness surround us in life. How do we respond? How do we deal with it if it one of us? Sharon Garlough Brown beautifully illustrates ways we can respond. Wren discovers in many of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings his view of compassion. Art has such healing effects. After all, God illustrated in word pictures. God uses images to reach us in many ways, such as “rivers of life.” Visio divina was a new term for me. “It’s about how art opens us to prayerful contemplation as we notice details that stir us, something that comforts or agitates us.” If you look closely you can see movement and emotion in pieces of art. How comforting it is to discover Jesus as the Man of Sorrows. He is acquainted with grief and we can lean on Him for understanding and healing. He can take our suffering and anguish and make it well. Protestants are not usually comfortable with focusing on Jesus “on” the cross but prefer to picture the cross empty, all the focus on the resurrection. But He was on the cross and if we allow ourselves to enter that story it can have profound impact on us. As Brown so well articulated, it is choosing a sorrow that hopes rather than a sorrow that despairs. May we be able to enter in such a solidarity and understanding with compassion. God came for the despised, the rejected, the anguished, the abandoned. Let us learn to enter into and spend time on the journey to the cross so we can better walk alongside those who feel little or no hope.

I am a huge fan of Sharon Garlough Brown. I devoured her Sensible Shoes series, loving the fact that they are novels, yet contain such rich spiritual truths. They stretched me and grew me in wonderful ways. So it was with great anticipation that I joined the launch team for Sharon's newest book, Shades of Light. Because I am part of the launch team, I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher in return for my honest review. Shades of Light is not part of the Sensible Shoes series, yet some of the characters from that series appear in the book, much to my delight. This book is more topical than Sharon's other books. This book deals with the mental illness, specifically depression and anxiety. A heavy topic to be sure, but one that most surely touches the life of virtually every reader in one shape or form. Sharon Garlough Brown is a deep thinker and really brings her characters to life, getting inside their heads and hearts. The two main characters in Shades of Light are Wren, a young woman who deals with both depression and anxiety, and Jamie, Wren's mother who has the difficult task of loving a someone who is mentally ill. Sharon helps the reader see the world through the eyes of both daughter and mother. I am quite certain that you will be able to identify with one or the other or perhaps both. If you love someone who struggles with mental illness, you will grow through experiencing life with Wren, who wants to be well but is not. Who wants to trust and believe that God can heal her but has not yet done so. Who wants to be an independent, healthy person but who often needs help from others in order to function. I personally identified most with the mother, Jamie. Jamie struggles with how to best love and support her daughter without enabling her or smothering her. She most definitely does not always understand Wren, but she longs to. Jamie also wrestles with her own guilt: should I have made different choices while raising her? Are her problems my fault? How do I balance helping her while not neglecting the rest of my family? And perhaps the biggest question of all: Why God? Wren is inspired by the art and writings of Vincent VanGogh, so learning about his life was new and fascinating for me. Van Gogh suffered from depression for years, yet he created beauty in his art that has endured the test of time. It was very emotional to view life through his eyes and from Wren's. Mental illness is often misunderstood by the Christian community. That was certainly true in VanGoh's day and sadly is still true today. This book teaches much about suffering and the importance of finding community in suffering. God never wants us to suffer alone, he is always with us, yet he also loves to see us surrounded by others who will walk alongside us in suffering. And that is a beautiful thing, the body of Christ as it is intended to be.

The compassionate manifest their human solidarity by crying out with those who suffer. Henri Nouwen In Shades of Light Sharon Garlough Brown invites us to be companions in suffering with those who suffer. We are introduced to Wren, a young social worker who suffers from anxiety and depression. We see how her suffering impacts, not only her own life, but the lives of friends, family and those who choose to walk beside her in her suffering. Wren is also an artist who identifies strongly with Vincent Van Gogh. Through her love of Van Gogh we also learn more about his life, suffering and works. In the early chapters of the book, we see Wren’s heightened anxiety as she experiences life in a psychiatric hospital to which she has admitted herself. For me, this section was particularly difficult to read as I recalled my paternal grandmother, whom I never knew, had lived nearly three decades in a mental hospital. I had to stop and grieve for her. That alone changed my view of my grandmother and all those who must deal with anxiety and chronic depression. Through Wren’s Aunt Kit, her counselor Dawn and her pastor Hannah we see new ways to walk beside our loved ones who have anxiety and depression as constant companions. (We met these characters in Sharon’s Sensible Shoes series). Sharon skillfully and sensitively deals with a subject that is often hidden and not discussed, especially by people of faith. Sometimes praying enough, reading the Bible enough and trusting God enough is really not enough. Although the subject matter is difficult and Wren’s journey is difficult, the book ends hopefully.

By the same author as the Sensible Shoes series. Currently reading it for book club. Great book.

This book is a continuation of the SENSIBLE SHOES series. Well written and gives hope.

When I bought the book I wasn't expecting to read about Van Gogh. Although interesting, it was not what I was looking for.

Another masterpiece by Sharon Garlough Brown in which she uses fiction to illuminate real-life struggles that cannot always be fixed, but dealt with in life-giving ways. As in the "Sensible Shoes" series, she demonstrates the importance of an understanding community to learn ways to cope. She includes spiritual disciplines to get to the root of the problem. In "Shades of Light," she illustrates how the spiritual practice of noticing beauty amid desolation can breathe life into a desperate soul. This book powerfully sheds light on the inner struggle of those suffering from mental illness, specifically depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. One who suffers from this will benefit from reading it to feel understood. Family members and friends who are co-sufferers will identify with the longing to help and fix but feel powerless to do so. The Christian Church will recognize that some of the well-meaning ways of sharing the truth with sufferers actually fuels the shame and stigma of mental illness. They will benefit from reading how the supporting characters come alongside the afflicted in helpful and dignified ways. As in all of Sharon Brown's books, she points to Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, who is our ultimate companion in sorrow.

An incredible read! This book has helped me learn how to better understand and react to mental illness behaviours and complexities regardless of it being a fiction story. Sharon Garlough Brown is a special author who finds a way to speak to the heart and make you stop and truly think. It’s an amazing gift. I am normally a fast reader, but I took my time with this book. There were parts that I re-read or just needed to think about for awhile. The characters were so real and I found myself intensely relating to Jamie, the mother of Wren. I admired how art was woven into this story and opened my eyes to different ways of praying and sharing. I never knew much about Vincent’s work or his letters to Theo. At the end of the book, she “picked up her brush to pray.” How beautiful. I respect that the book didn’t wrap up the story like a cute little gift with a ribbon on top. Life can be messy. Mental illness is not simple. This book reminds us that Jesus experienced human emotions and can walk us through every valley, as well as every mountain top. Those who deal with mental illness directly, as a caregiver, or as a loved one can be so encouraged by that. Honestly, I feel it is a must-read for so many reasons. I read the first two in Garlough’s Sensible Shoes series and was profoundly impacted. I will be reading the other two as well. I greatly anticipate her next book, Remember Me. She will always be a favourite author of mine.

What a story! Easy to identify myself with the mother and also with the daughter. Insightful reflective writing leaves me with a message of hope.

This novel by Sharon Garlough Brown is the fifth I’ve read - the first four from the ‘Sensible Shoes’ series. I was privileged to be able to read this book before it was published, and my expectations were not diminished. Although a few of the characters from the ‘Sensible Shoes’ series were part of this novel, a young woman Wren and her aunt Kit, together with Wren’s mother Jamie were the main characters. Wren struggles with her mental health in depression and panic attacks - something that the world now seems to be taking notice of and learning to help others who suffer. Her aunt Kit has experienced this in past years, but as a spiritual director she has learned to deal with her mental health and also to help others through the Word of God and prayer. This wasn’t an easy book to read, but it was very important to be able to learn more about mental health and the way people suffer with this in many different ways. Sharon Garlough Brown writes sensitively and with a passion for people and for the help God gives. I recommend this book to everyone who is either suffering and knows someone who is suffering from mental health problems. This is an excellent book.

The story was true to life, very loving. I missed some more practical ideas on how relatives and friends can do their best in dealing with loved ones who suffer from depression. For me, the passages about van Gogh's paintings and letters are a bit lengthy. And not everyone has access to such wonderful support.

A great writer. Love all her books. A great read. Recommend to everyone of faith or none it’s so uplifting and real.