Friday, February 12, 2010

THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER by Merlinda Bobis

Publisher Delta Trade
Date published October 2009
ISBN 978-0-385-34113-4
Holiday/Fiction
Trade Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn



It’s Christmas in Manila and for one ten year-old boy, he will find a Christmas Miracle as he and his mother take care of a wounded tourist. Can the darkness of poverty, terror and more be driven by the light that is love?

THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER
is a story of despair, miracles and friendship within its pages. This was a departure for me and a nice one at that. Ms. Bobis delivers a stirring story full of characters that will have you eager to know more and a fast paced storyline that will suck you in and not let go until the last page is read. If you enjoyed reading or watching “Slumdog Millionaire”, then you may enjoy THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER.

Meet Noland, a mute ten year-old who survives with his mother by making his version the stars in his exquisite lanterns made from bright paper. When he witnesses a crime against an American Tourist, he thinks angels descended and takes the wounded woman to the hut where he lives. With the help of his mother, they nurse the woman to health even as the world is transfixed on her disappearance. These are some wonderful characters to enjoy reading. I was transfixed even as I flipped the pages to see what would happen next. Pure magic is within the pages and this is truly an author who knows how to capture her readers’ heart.

THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER is a magical story full of multi-dimensional characters, a rich background and the magic of Christmas within its pages. If you enjoy a different story that will have you believing in miracles again, then grab THE SOLEMN LANTERN MAKER. It will surely light up your life as it did mine.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

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