The Wounded Healer

Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt is the most serenely beautiful contemporary novel about life, love, loss and good friends.

Home is not necessarily a physical place. It is also an emotional connection and when that is severed, it hurts so badly. The novel explores this theme of loss where memories keep us warm but there is still a huge hole in our hearts. We need to learn how to live again and how to adapt to a new type of normal.

Sometimes in order to live again, we need to revisit our past. We may find old memories will draw us back to a former way of life.

There is a contrast in the novel between the busy academic Pepperdine and the freedom, life and warmth of a Tennessee vineyard. In one life is hectic but empty. In the other it is busy but fulfilling. There is a time for family and love and laughter.