Into the Fire

What makes some writing more impacting than others? What makes us appreciate certain authors and leads us to read all their books? Writers tend to give specific responses to questions such as these. Readers often give less tangible answers.

Having just read Sibella Giorello's The Waves Break Gray, I'm reminded how much I've missed her character Raleigh Harmon. And I caught myself exploring the two questions posed above. So . . . here are my thoughts and answers:

     Sibella packs an enormous amount of emotional pain into the understated Raleigh Harmon. Establishing the long-term requirement of keeping her emotions in check due to her mother's mental illness and adding the same discipline when employed as an agent for the FBI, Raleigh is anything but the hysterical female. She's constantly suppressing her emotions in order to function at a high level and not give away the agony she often experiences on the inside.

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     She's had to hone her toughness just to survive her pain and this survival instinct keeps her somewhat unable to admit and handle her feelings for Jack. She can't take any more rejection in her life so she stifles her attraction and longing for him and pretends not to care when she thinks Jack has someone else in his life, attempting to distance herself from him to alleviate more pain. All of this is written perfectly, authentically, capturing the pure emotion of this young woman who's torn apart by a mother who can't be one to her and never has been and the additional misinterpretation of what she and Jack feel for each other.

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     Besides the terrific character building of her heroine, the language is elevated and uncommon, using beautiful, stark, or shocking metaphors to describe scenes or items or the expressions on people's faces. I can see, smell, hear, or taste what Sibella presents. At times I'm in awe of her descriptions.

     Adding to the list, the dialogue brings the characters into acute focus. We know them from their expressions and words. Raleigh's internal dialogue is always honest and self-punishing. No one is harder on her than she is. Yet she manages to conduct herself as a true professional, reading people well with her discernment, not above suspecting most everyone and can wield sarcasm like a sword but generally selects the right tone for each individual.  

There are my answers as to why Sibella Giorello is one of my most favorite authors.

Father, once again I ask for your blessings upon Sibella. Pour out your Spirit on her life. Fill her up with your presence, I pray. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.