A World Apart by Lynn Austin

While We're Far Apart
by Lynn Austin
Review by Lisa Norsworthy


A World Apart is the latest novel by Lynn Austin, whose most popular work was the Gods & Kings series. The Schaffer family includes Eddy, a recent widower and his two bereft children, Esther and Peter. Their mother, Rachel, was killed by an out-of-control vehicle at the local vegetable stand along with Miriam Mendel, the landlord’s wife who lives in the downstairs apartment of their Brooklyn duplex. Miriam’s husband, Jacob, not only has to cope with the enormous loss of his wife but also with the lack of communication from his son, Avraham, who has returned to their homeland of Hungary to study Torah. Since going to Hungary, Avi has married and has a daughter but, with Hitler conquering Europe, their fate is unknown.

Meanwhile, Ed Schaffer decides to enlist in the army hoping that fighting for the common good will help him to deal with his pain and grief assuming that his aging mother will care for the children. He is shocked when she refuses to care for them but Penny Goodrich, the proverbial “girl next door” that has had a crush on Eddy since childhood volunteers to care for them with two motives: to make Eddy fall in love with her and to escape her unloving and stifling parents.

The children, who are already heartbroken from losing their mother, resist this plan with hostility. Many events throughout the book serve as catalysts for growth in all of the characters’ lives. One heartwarming change is the growing relationship between the children, Mr. Mendel, and Penny. The love that develops between them softens their bitterness and makes them willing to be open and vulnerable again. There are also many difficult changes for Penny, but through these changes, she realizes that she is a capable and independent woman.

The main theme, however, focuses on Jacob’s and Esther’s anger at God and their inability to reconcile God’s love for them and the fact that He has allowed such devastating tragedy in their lives. This is an issue that causes struggles for many people, and I was especially pleased with the way the author reconciled this in these character’s lives.

Though this wasn’t my favorite of Lynn Austin’s works, it was a very satisfying read, and I would highly recommend it.

BOOKS BY LYNN AUSTIN AT AMAZON