THE WHITE FLOWER by Grace Livingston Hill

I have always loved old books, meaning books written in the 60s and 70s.

My daughter Sarah loves books written in the 1800s, but I’ve always found books from then or even the first half of the 1900s hard to plod through.

I recently decided to read THE WHITE FLOWER by Grace Livingston Hill, and I was surprised to find how gripping it was for me.

Grace Livingston Hill lived from 1865 to 1947 and wrote over one hundred novels, as well as short stories and articles. She has been called the pioneer of Christian romance.

THE WHITE FLOWER was first published in 1927. The speech was different than books written today, somewhat flowery, even sometimes formal.

Writing styles have also changed, and there were techniques which writers are recommended to stay away from now. Many exclamation marks and “ly” adverbs. Switching from one person’s point of view to another in the same scene.

And yet I found the story delightful.

Rachel is alone in the world after the death of her father. She is tricked by a stranger to accept a job far away from anyone she knows. Cruel plans and dangers are prepared for her.

Chan (Chauncey) finds out about Rachel’s problem. He is a one-time student of Rachel’s father, and he has much love and gratitude toward him. Chan is determined to rescue Rachel and bring her to complete safety.

The romance was sweet but not plastic, full of unexpected joys.

The action was quick and breath-taking. Danger, risks, more surprises. I wanted to hurry to find out the end.

There was much about how Rachel struggled with her faith, and how Chan came to believe in Jesus. Again, this part of the story was fresh and interesting.

I’m glad I allowed myself to find enjoyment in books where I wouldn’t have expected it, and I definitely recommend this book. It was a fun and exciting read.