Blog Tour & Book Review: “Fill The Sky” by Katherine Sherbrooke
Buy The Book: Amazon |Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble
Genre: Contemporary, Fiction
Page Length: 251 pages (paperback edition)
Publication Date: October 20, 2016
Publisher: SixOneSeven Books
Synopsis: Biotech entrepreneur Tess Whitford has built her life around the certainty of logic and thrives on solving problems. But when one of her dearest friends exhausts the reaches of medicine while fighting cancer and grabs onto the hope that traditional healers in Ecuador might save her, Tess has to let go of everything she knows—and every instinct she has. Unable to deny Ellie a request that might be her last, Tess flies to Ecuador to help.
Together with Joline, another close college friend whose spiritual work inspired the trip, they travel to the small mountain village of Otavalo. Immersed in nature and introduced to strange ancient ceremonies, the three friends are pushed to recognize that good health is not only physical. Tess grapples with her inability to trust; Ellie struggles with a painful secret; and Joline worries about the contract she made with an aggressive businessman whose ambitions could destroy the delicate fabric of the local community. When an ayahuasca ceremony goes awry and an unlikely betrayal suddenly threatens to unravel their decades-long friendship, these three very different women awaken to a shared realization: they each have a deep need for healing.
FILL THE SKY captures the challenges of mid-life, the hope we seek when we explore alternative paths, and the profound nature of women’s friendships. It’s a beautifully told and moving story about lifelong friends, the power of the spirit, and the age-old quest to not simply fight death but to shape an authentic life.
Review:
Fill The Sky is a tale about life, love, friendship, and finding yourself. The story is centered around three middle-aged women who take a trip to see traditional healers in Ecuador in order to help their friend who is suffering from cancer.
Tess is the hard worker of the trio and since her mother’s death during her teenage years she is so focused on taking care of her family and friends without stopping to take care of her own self. Joline is the adventurous one who is open to trying new things and hopes the business deal she made will help the village community of Otavalo. Ellie, is struggling with her cancer while trying to sort out her own feelings between her husband, and family, and a hidden secret.
The trip not only proves to getaway for the three women to escape from their daily lives and catch up with one another, but it’s also a self journey. The book explores how the natural healing rituals help the women to heal their mind, heart, and body. Their time away from home allows them to deeply reflect on their pasts and how they can learn from their mistakes. It also allows them to work on the friendship and tighten their bond.
I love books that deal with life’s obstacles and travel, so I was really interested in reading this book. I enjoyed reading about Ecuador’s scenic landscapes and their rich culture. The writing throughout the book was very detailed and it showed that the author did great research into making sure she expressed the cultural aspects of this book appropriately while painting a vivid picture of a country readers might not be too familiar with.
Another thing that stood out to me when reading this book is that the secondary characters were just as complex as the main character. They had well-developed backgrounds, and intriguing stories that helped you to understand their character and made them relatable to the reader. If you’re looking for a contemporary novel that deals with life and a bit of soul-searching, I’d recommend Fill The Sky.
Final Verdict:
About The Author
KATHERINE A. SHERBROOKE received her B.A. from Dartmouth College and M.B.A. from Stanford University. An entrepreneur and writer, she is the author of Finding Home, a family memoir about her parents’ tumultuous and inspiring love affair. This is her first novel. She lives outside Boston with her husband, two sons, and black lab. Visit her online at www.kasherbrooke.com, Facebook, or Twitter.
Interview: http://www.kasherbrooke.com/qa/
Upcoming events: http://www.kasherbrooke.com/events/
Blog Tour:
10/20: Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus: Spotlight & giveaway
10/21: Under My Apple Tree: Spotlight & giveaway
10/25: A Literary Vacation: Spotlight & giveaway
10/27: Bibliotica, review
10/28: Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers: review
10/31: Broken Teepee: review
11/1: Life of a Female Bibliophile: review
11/3: Celtic Lady’s Reviews: review & giveaway
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Great review! That cover is stunning… I haven’t heard of this one, but I am going to check it out. I love books that give insight into other cultures!