Snow

Snow #1

by Calvin Miller

On a cold winter evening in 1929, Mary Withers, a widow, is in desperate need for asthma medication for her daughter Alexis, and coal to heat her house, but a paralyzing storm makes travel nearly impossible and her only hope is that Erick Mueller, son ofthe town's coal vendor, can make it through t

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christmas, Fiction

159 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Calvin Miller has written over 40 books of popular theology and inspiration. A former pastor, he is professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama. He and his wife, Joyce, have two grown children.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, after finishing this book and realized I haven’t read such a sweet and simple story, that had a meaningful depth. A story of widow with a sick child who ends up finding love, which she didn’t think would be possible after losing her husband. I enjoyed the aspect of tying together romance, christianity, hope, and resilience in a story told relying on one Christmas night in winter, and loved the older writing style which most times bore’s me!

[Don · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t do it. Too much schmaltzy Christmas, sick kid, poor widow, handsome kind college professor driving his father’s coal truck to save Christmas during a blizzard. Got all that after reading about 30 very predictable pages.

[Meredith Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Calvin Miller's poetry allegories: The Singer Trilogy and The Divine Symphony.
In Snow, Miller creates a heartwarming novella set during the Christmas season.

Winter, 1929 in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Mary Withers is a widow caring for her six-year-old asthmatic daughter. When Erick Mueller, the coal man's college professor's son takes over the job of coal delivery while his father recuperates from a back injury, he meets Mary. While the love story is sweet, I was most riveted by Mary's care for Alexis as well as the story's themes of familial conflict and reconciliation. Ingrid and Hans Mueller are a wonderful couple, and I loved Hans's pigheaded but ultimately kind demeanor. The subplot about Erick's younger brother, Otto, was wonderful and probably the best part of the book.

Favorite Quotes: God comes quietly like the snow.
The best roses bud during the winter.

Alexis is an adorable and endearing child, and I also loved the white Persian cat named Caspian.

For those who enjoy heartwarming Christmas reads, then Snow is highly recommended. It will make you crave a winter snowfall. The characters are engaging and fun. Also, there is a "party line" telephone system, which provides several instances of hilarity. I was reminded of my parents' stories of party lines as they were growing up.
Happy reading, and God bless you all.

[GJ S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story series the characters were lovable and honored the Lord. The kindness of their hearts was great. Clean and no sexual content I loved that a lot. Thank you for honoring the Lord in your books. I recommend the author and the book

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a short book but very heart warming, holidays family and coping with family differences. Loved it

[Laura]

Read this book in one day. It's about good people in a small town who fall in love. She lives alone. He delivers coal to her house and wonders about his missing brother.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story about a widow with a sick child and the coalman who becomes infatuated with her.

[Joann Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not my typical type of reading but this book was gifted to me by a dear friend so I gave it a read. It's a good short read with a delightful ending.

[Kimberly Purcell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding another book by a beloved author is always a delight, especially when that book turns out to be as delightful as this one.

[Aileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

a light read

[Dianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short novel takes place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 1929, in Pennsylvania. It's a fairly typical holiday story, with a poor young widow, a sick child, and a kind young man who comes to their rescue, but there is another layer to the plot with broken relationships in the hero's family. His brother and father parted ways years ago when the father kicked the brother out of the family home. Of course one story gets tangled up in the other and all problems are solved and everybody is happy in time for Christmas dinner.

Predictable? Yes. But aren't they all? I usually read a couple of stories like this during the Christmas season when I'm in a more sentimental frame of mind. Unfortunately that's not now and "Snow" fell flat for me. It was all just a little too perfect.

I've been a Calvin Miller fan for a long time; I loved his "Singer Trilogy" and have had the privilege of hearing him speak several times. I was saddened to read of his passing just a few weeks ago. He was a man of character and imagination and the world is a better place for having had him in it.

Because I like the authour I wish I had a lot of good things to say about his book. Regrettably I can only recommend reading it when you're in that emotional zone just before Christmas when we all think "It's A Wonderful Life" is a great film, that lovely time of year when everybody likes everybody else, even the people they don't like. In that setting it could be charming, but right now I just find it cloyingly sweet.

[Maire · Rating 3 out of 5]

She stood looking fixedly out of the window and tossed her chatter motherward. (17)


Tom had told her at least once every day that she was pretty. His unfailing insistence on the subject of her beauty had convinced her. But three years had passed since Tom's bright compliments had been the mirror to her self-esteem. Now the more honest mirror at her dressing table had grown stern in its reprimand of her thin face and pale blue eyes. (20)


He smiled and waved, then drove away. His smile was warmer than the pale sun. Mary framed it in her mind and carried the picture back into the house. (25)

Erick held her fragile, needy form and discovered in that moment that he loved Mary furiously. The dustman reached out his hands to accept the fetters of a strange new emotion. (90)

[Barbara Radisavljevic · Rating 5 out of 5]

i reread this book today, and although the plot is very unlikely, I will forgive the author that because his revelations about the human heart are true. His themes are a mother's love for her child and the importance of replacing bitterness with forgiveness in making people whole. Underlying both of these is the opening of a widow's heart to the possibility of loving and being loved again. Though this may not be great literature in the sense of the classics, I liked it because it shines with the spirit of Christmas as much as O. Henry's "The Gift of the Magi" -- without the irony.

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved this book. Simple but powerful. I highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Rosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Borrowed this from a public library. (Holiday books are always good to read in the month of December and January. ) I like the fact that the color of the type face is not in black, but in the color of light blue. It seems like a nice book to read.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read Christmas stories and Calvin Miller is a great storyteller. I just found out there are more in this series and I look forward to reading them.
This is a simple story of faith and reconciliation in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania during a cold winter storm at Christmas in 1929.

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt happy and short like an old tyme Guideposts kind of feel. Not sure if I'll read the other three right away, but not bad. I mean, I enjoyed it, didn't love it. Didn't get bored by it, but yeah, it was okay. That's the best way to rate it. It was okay.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story and the prodigal son returns all in one . Set in 1929 in King of Prussia PA, a lovely Christmas read.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister-in-law loaned me this book and said it was "charming"...what a perfect work to describe it..simply charming.

[Jamie Leeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched my heart! It was very good. A snowstorm, love, kindness and hope all coming together.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the frigid winter of a Depression-starved Christmas, so shines a good deed... and hope... and love... which so warms and revives the heart and spirit in this, a weary world.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story really. Poor young widow and coalman's son. Good Christmas read.

[~mad · Rating 4 out of 5]

written /published in 1998 - has been on my shelf (unread) for years! WHY?

Good little Christmas inspiration.

NOW - THERE - I've read it!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice story (ponderously told) of a young widow in the 1920s who falls for the coal man.

[Ira Livingston · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this, and the story takes place in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Where both my younger brother and I was born.

[Angela Aagenborg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voor de tweede keer gelezen. Hij blijft prachtig.

[Neeti Bharatan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good recommendation by my friend Leela, lived up to its opinion.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great easy heartwarming story :)