Redemption Road

by Toni Sorenson Brown

At the end of Redemption Road stands a tiny school. The building is little more than a pile of rubble on a bald piece of land, but inside, children learn much more than just reading and writing from Mama Grace. They learn about love in a land where it is in short supply. It is here, in the outskirts of Nairobi, where Lana feels most at home -- as far away as she can get from her Utah Mormon roots. It is also here where her heart is captured by Jomo -- a seven-year-old street urchin who will lead her on a journey into the very heart of a land called both dark and dawn. In her stunning new novel, Toni Sorenson Brown weaves a deeply moving and authentic tale of heartbreak and healing, of romance and return. It will move you to know that one solitary soul, tattered and discarded, is still worth saving, and that the road to redemption winds even through a forgotten village in the darkest part of the darkest place on earth.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Fiction, Lds

242 pages

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Sylvia]

this was a stupid story. The main character was a 35ish woman who had survived an abusive marriage at a young age. She then graduated college and worked. She went to work in Africa and when told by many to not go alone to visit the matron of an orphanage, she refuses to listen and goes anyway. Has her life experiences not taught her to listen to such counsel?!?!? She has a frightening experience. Then later she is told again not to return to the same place alone. Her new boyfriend won't take his truck there because rain is expected and his truck will not manage the wet terrain. So she goes against advice and goes alone in a van! I could not believe how stupid she was!! She somehow survives a horrible experience. Her parents are stern-typed Mormon parents. I just found the whole untrue to life.

[Mzford]

I loved this as an audio book! The reader was exceptional with the dialects. I believe this book truly depicts the terrible conditions for children especially in.
Africa .

[Joseph]

A horrible book that I would rather have burned for cooking fuel than read. I only gave it one star because I can't give it zero.

Here is the thing: incredibly one-dimensional characters that are nothing more than author tools to carry a drummed up, ho-hum plot.

Way too much agenda...why does LDS lit have to be preachy? Where is all the real, authentic LDS lit that isn't cheesy, gift-wrapped and overly church promotional?

Wasted opportunity for real dialogue on Africa and poverty instead of the romanticized white-guilt shallow fiction tale where the white person saves the day and every unrealistic situation is miraculously solved; shows the author's weakness in knowing details and leaves one assuming she gathered a satchel full of observations on an entire continent while on safari and filled in the detailed cracks with a very American-centric well of reality as mortar.

Worst line (paraphrase): "Trudging through the bowels of Africa shouting the child's name, Jomo! Where are you?" (the Bowels of Africa is still a joke between me and my buddies I was in Africa with while we read this book. And that phrase! So so so unintentionally offensive it's disgustingly hilarious.")

[Jennie Freestone]

This is an amazing book! I pulled this from my mom's books on Monday to pass some time while I was there - and within the first chapter, I was hooked! There are a few aspects in the book of the LDS church, which is close to my heart. It was centered around Africa, which I have a fascination and great love for. And the whole of the story behind everything that happens is about the atonement. Much of the book touched my own heart within how the atonement applies at this particular time in my life. It is also one of those books that just draws you in. I got attached to the characters fast, feeling as though I had almost a connection throughout the whole book. And like many others, It was hard to put the book down, I wanted to read more...

I'd like to add a little of what is in the Author's note at the beg of the book:

"If you've never been to Africa, come along for an adventure that will take you into the very heart of a wondrous continent...

This is a story of choices and consequences. It is a tale of heartbreak and healing, of romance and return..."

[David]

I learned a significant lesson about how I read books here. If I were a less patient reader, I would have given up on the assumptions I was making about this book, on how sure I was on where the book was headed. My goodness, I'm glad I didn't. What felt like set-ups-for-cliches ultimately were turned upside down. The book does provide some answers, some thrilling and emotional ones, actually. But, it also provides some troubling questions that never do get answered. At times, the symbolism is a little overt (the title?), and I am troubled by my reaction to the first half of the book, but overall, the journey Lana makes it is remarkably rewarding. Stick with it, it's not going where you think it's going to go. Those final few chapters, man - those final few chapters of "Redemption Road" are, indeed, redemptive.

[Irene]

At the end of Redemption Road stands a tiny school. The building is little more than a pile of rubble on a bald piece of land, but inside, children learn much more than just reading and writing from Mama Grace. They learn about love in a land where it is in short supply.
It is here, in the outskirts of Nairobi, where Lana feels most at home, as far away as she can get from her Utah Mormon roots. It is also here where her heart is captured by Jomo, a seven-year-old street urchin who will lead her on a journey into the very heart of a land called both dark and dawn.
This a tale of heartbreak and healing, of romance and return. It will move you to know that one solitary soul, tattered and discarded, is still worth saving, and that the road to redemption winds through a forgotten village in the darkest part of the darkest place on earth.

[Cami]

I enjoyed this book because the author did a great job of helping you understand the setting and making the reader feel for the characters. It takes place in Nairobi,Africa and discusses the absolute poverty that the people live in. The main character becomes attached to a little boy and at times her passion for saving this one boy is a little bit frustrating, but the author resolves things in a good way. For the most part the story was really compelling and the message of redemption was presented well.

[Robyn]

I loved this book because: 1) it takes place in Africa and I have the greatest desire to live there among the AFricans, 2) it's about redemption on many levels, 3) it is about teaching children in Africa, 4) it's based on a real orphanage/school there that the author has been to with her children. I dream of taking my children there to love their children, to play with them, to teach them, to bring simple toys & clothes & hugs.

[Laurel Wicke]

Lana can't seem to let go of her past. A disappointment to herself, she can not face her family or her own sense of morality. In an effort to escape, she finds herself living alone in Africa, a land she has grown to love, not only for the strength of its magnificent people, but for truth it forces her to confront. Written from an LDS perspective, it is an intriguing study of repentance and forgiveness, of overcoming and moving on.

[Tanya]

I really enjoyed this book about a woman searching for answers and escape. She finds herself far away from her Utah roots in Nairobi where she meets and is touched by Mama Grace, the owner of a tiny school at the end of Redemption Road. Her heart also is captured by a small street urchin named Jomo. A very heartfelt and tear jerking story. Worth reading!

[Amanda]

This is an INCREDIBLE story. The writing is kind of choppy for the first half of the book. I don't know if it got better, or if I just got used to it. It is the story of a girl from Utah that goes to work at a hotel in Africa. It is an amazing story. Keep a box of tissues close though! It makes me want to go on a safari trip to Africa, and adopt a baby from Africa.

[Shauna]

As someone who is LDS and worked in Kenya, this book was a must read for me. I liked how it was set up and was really wanting it to go somewhere. I appreciated the Kenyan culture and how truthfully it was represented. The book however I felt was weak. The plot was weak, her obsession with the boy was week and her lack of judgment drove me nuts.

[Vickie]

Learning about Africa was really interesting. I thought the story was good though I didn't think the character, Lana, was very believable. And finally- usually I can get used to present tense writing (though it's not my favorite) but in this book, it bothered me all the way through. Even so I gave it 3 stars because generally I liked it.

[Micah]

I am finding more and more that I will love a book but be unhappy with the ending. I had a hard time getting used to the way she threw in so much about the church because I am not an avid LDS author reader.

[Larry]

This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you cry and and angry and joyous and a range of other emotions that you will need to experience for yourself. It made me want to keep my dear ones closer and safer. I am also grateful to live here in the United States.

[BJ]

Pretty engaging book, the main character has enough emotional drama in her life to keep the pages turning. Get's a little tough towards the end and realllly drops off in the last few chapters. I think T.S. Brown got tired of writing it and decided to cut it's life short.

[Susan]

Distubing! Lana runs from her past, her family, the Church about as far away as she can go--Africa. It takes the extreme poverty, sickness (AIDS), good friends, and a small boy named Jomo to cause such anguish in Lana's soul to finally get her onto the path of REDEMPTION.

[Brandy Treguboff]

Great easy read! Great little story, made you greatful for what you have!

[Mandy]

This book really touched my heart. Placed in Africa you read about things that are really happening over there. Has a little romance in it too!

[Alicia Duffin]

This book is based in Africa and is about a woman running from her past and trying to find herself. She forms a bond with a young African boy and begins to deal with her past.

[Dawn]

Loved the relationship between the main character, Mama Grace and the street children in Nairobi. She was a long way from Utah but finally discovered what she truly believed in.

[Ashley]

This was easy reading and I really got into it...couldn't put it down. Towards the end - I thought it got a little repetative.

[Jessica Enderle]

This was an inspiring and apalling book set in Africa. I liked the first person feelings- I could really identify with her self-doubt but true desire to be good.

[Sidney]

I "read" this on CD.There's a lot of deeper meaning here that applies to all of us trying to improve/fix our lives.

[Jill]

Should really be 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the story and the insight into life in Africa. Characters membership in the LDS Church was also a draw for me to this book.

[Gretchen]

story of a young woman who goes to Africa to find herself and forgiveness and healing-I enjoyed this book

[Evelyn]

It was a nice story, a main character that I could relate to in some ways.

[Evelyn]

Another amazing book from my friend Toni. The compelling story and setting made me feel like I was right there.

[Mary]

Heart wrenching. A good read! Made me stop and think and to be grateful for what I have! It also made me want to take in every homeless child in the world!

[Beth]

Set in Kenya--insites into living conditions there. Finding out what really matters.