Rain Song

Unspoken secrets surround Nicole Michelin's childhood as a missionary kid in Japan, but she's quite satisfied with her American lifestyle. She enjoys writing about fish in her online column---where she meets Harrison Michaels. When he hints at having connections to her past, will Nicole listen? Is she ready to know the truth? 320 pages, softcover from Bethany.

Rain Song is a romance written by Alice J. Wisler about a woman who wants to find out more about her past, which her father has kept hidden from her for many years. These secrets have left holes in her heart, and she longs to find out what should be filling the spaces.

The main character Nicole is a simple woman who likes to stay curled up at home with her pet fish or in the company of her grandmother. She is not the type of gal to go out looking for adventure, but when she was a young child a fire killed her mother in Japan. Her father won’t tell her anything about her past and she wonders if she will ever know what her childhood was like. Then, unexpectedly, she starts communicating on the Internet to a man named Harrison, who claims to hold the key to the mystery of her past. One problem is that he lives in Japan, and Nicole is terrified of flying. Should she go to Japan and unlock the secrets of her past or stay at home where she is safe and sound?

Since this story has many strong ideals involving family, it is no surprise the supporting characters are mostly family members. The grandmother in this novel is a great encourager of Nicole, especially when Nicole’s father is so distant. Surprisingly, the relationship I expected to be the main focus of the book was not mentioned very often and appeared quite weak. Nicole’s relationship with Harrison was somewhat of a letdown. There were not many descriptions of how she felt about him, nor were there meaningful connections established between them.

Throughout the story Nicole has to remember that the Lord is always with her and that God has a plan for her. A scripture that supports the theme is Deuteronomy 31:6 : “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

Nicole is a believable character. She has flaws, but she has strong Christian values and prays to God many times to help her through the situations she faces. Her personality is believable but not necessarily endearing to those reading the story. She tends to over complicate simple situations, which can get old when you feel like she is leading you around in circles throughout the story.

I enjoyed the ending. I thought it was cute, clever, and unexpected. I was not particularly engrossed by the book in the beginning and middle and I found it hard to stay focused on the plot, but the ending was charming. This book is directed toward women of all ages, but I feel that teenagers would not be able to get into it. Women of a mature age would be more apt to find this book to their taste. - Miss Casey Sargel, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com

In Wisler’s likable debut, a young woman is offered a chance to find romance and make peace with her past. After her missionary mother dies under mysterious circumstances in Japan, young Nicole Michelin returns to North Carolina to live with her depressed father and loving grandmother. Now 31, and a middle school English teacher, Nicole bears the scars of a time she can’t remember. She sleeps with her cloth kimono doll and nurses phobias ranging from anxiety about flying to a fear of commitment. But when she “meets” an intriguing man through a Web site column, her yearning for love encourages her to risk getting to know him even though he lives in Japan. Wisler’s cast of Southern women is lightly sketched but no less charming for this, and her development of the relationship between Nicole and her three-year-old autistic cousin strikes poignant notes throughout. Faith fiction fans will appreciate the strong faith of Nicole’s influential grandmother, Ducee Dubois, who helps Nicole face her fears. (Oct.)Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information.

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Buffy (Anderson, SC), April 08, 2009

A beautiful story interwoven with Southern charm... A beautifully refreshing look at the power of God's healing through even the most unlikeliest of relationships. I connected with Nicole from page one, laughing about her often colorful family members and sympathizing with her as she worked through her intrapersonal struggles until the very end. The descriptions of Japan made me feel like I was there. I didn't want the story to end! What a wonderful debut for Alice Wisler! Can't wait to read the next novel!

Reviewed by Deena @ My Bookshelf (Olivehurst, CA), November 15, 2008

Alice J. Wisler has written herself into the pages of my memory, and she will forever be a treasured friend. "Rain Song" chronicles the story of Nicole Michelin, a young woman filled with fear and held motionless by a hole in her heart that longs to be filled. Tragedy entered her life at the tender age of two, leaving blank spots that desperately need to be colored in. Through what appeared to be chance, Nicole has found a friend in Harrison Michaels via email. He discovers her through her articles posted online at Pretty Fish, a website for lovers of aquatic beauty. What Nicole soon discovers is that nothing about God's plan is random: from the moment she was taken in by her grandmother, to the quirky Southern family who helped raise her...even to the random email from Harrison...all tie together to heal Nicole of her fear and her questions about the past. Her biggest fear involves her life of two years in Japan where her parents served as medical missionaries...where she lost her mother and all memories of her life in Japan. Harrison lives in Japan...and he remembers Nicole. Can she release her fear long enough to ask the questions her heart yearns to have answered? Or will Nicole push Harrison away, leaving the past as a gaping heart hole that nothing but answers can fill? Alice paints a vivid picture that slowly captivates the reader. That ache inside Nicole will awaken any ache you've had buried inside your heart. That sense of mystery that surrounds many of us--you'll find a kindred soul in Nicole.

Reviewed by Roberta Summers (Miami, FL), November 13, 2008

Rain Song blew me away. The cast of characters is amazing and intricate and many do not realize their depth. Nicole's filled with strengths and weaknesses and her love and care for her grandmother is endearing. The story wove itself into my heart. I treasure this book. I await for more books by this author, who clearly knows pain and sorrow and yet, in spite of her suffering, can produce a novel that is filled with hope and promise. Kudos, Ms. Wisler! I am so glad you have created a realistic story embraced with truth.

Reviewed by Rachel (Greenville, NC), November 12, 2008

I would most definitely recommend this book to everyone. This is because it was beautifully written and well put together. The whole time I was reading this book I was thinking to myself, "Wow! I'm impressed!" I felt like Ms. Wisler did an amazing job creating suspense and developing the characters. I enjoyed getting to know the main character, Nicole. Everyone needs this book in their personal library. The depth of it is truly amazing.

Reviewed by Michelle (AZ), November 11, 2008

Rain Song is an enjoyable read. There are dysfunctional family members with quirky habits, and plenty of unusual situations that keep you reading. I enjoyed the story but can't say that it moved me emotionally. I liked the subplot with Monet and Nicole's cousin Grady. I wish this could've been expanded a bit. The aunt with the cough I though surely would get cancer or something the way she was hacking all the time. And the grandmother was charming. I wish I could've spent more time with Harrison (beyond the e-mails). I would've loved to have gotten to know him better, but when she finally visited him it all happened at the end of the story and a lot was implied. So while I found the storyline fascinated and the search for memories of her mother poignant, it never moved me to tears. Not even the break up with the prior boyfriend. I think it's because Nicole never really grieved. She seemed distant from her own pain. Not very healthy. I also like more romance in a story, and this one barely touched on the subject. Maybe that was because it was in the first person POV. I'm not sure. It was a charming story, though, and a perfect beach read type of book. If you want a story that will pull you through an emotional rollercoaster of feelings, this isn't it. But if you like a story with interesting characters and situations that won't bore you to pieces, this is a good read for that.

Reviewed by Sally (Pembroke Pines), November 03, 2008

Set in North Carolina, this first person account of Nichole, a motherless girl, who is raised by Ducee, her maternal grandmother, quickly grabs the reader's attention. Southern traditions abound--some are questionable--like "cucumber sandwiches cannot be eaten during the same meal with egg salad sandwiches." That's from Ducee's book of Southern Traditions, a never-seen, but often quoted text. A fish theme floats throughout the novel adding depth. Though well-loved by her extended family, Nicole longs for answers about her roots, which happen to be in Japan. However, she does not travel. Her solution to this problem is one reason why the book is fun to read. Included are a recipe for Pineapple Chutney along with discussion questions.

Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), November 02, 2008

This book was nothing at all what I was expecting. The cover, while unique and inviting, does not begin to hint about the depth of this story. I was drawn immediately into the mystery of the story as Nicole takes us along to figure out her past. The finding of her website by Harrison just makes the story even more amazing. Some may see situations like this as coincidence but it's more about a plan that God always had in mind. I loved reading about the Japanese culture throughout the book. I felt like I could see the two different worlds that Nicole was a part of, the one she knew vs the one she couldn't remember. Her family is unique as a whole, they definitely make me want to try their famous pineapple chutney (thank goodness there's a recipe included in the back of the book). My only minor gripe is that I felt a little annoyed with the way Monet acted sometimes, but then I felt immediately bad and I felt sympathetic towards her mother. The style of writing just pulls the reader in and connects you with the characters. This was a wonderful debut by Alice Wisler and it shows how she has made her mark in the fiction world. I am looking forward to reading any future book by her.

Reviewed by Cara Putman (Indiana), October 22, 2008

Rain Song is the debut release from Alice J. Wisler. I don't usually read general fiction and wondered if I would be pulled in by a gentle story. Oh my, was I. This book is sweetly lyrical, and definitely southern. The characters form a beautiful cast around our heroine, Nicole Michelin. A young woman who essentially lost both parents at a young age through a tragedy, it carried its author's unique stamp. Nicole must face so many of her fears in her quest for truth she is hungry to learn. Romance plays a slight role in this book (maybe 20%), but the focus is on the question of what we are willing to sacrifice to learn the truth. Beautiful story! Beautifully written!

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Author: Alice J. Wisler
Located in: Durham, NC
Submitted: May 22, 2008

    Tell us a little about yourself.  With my own set of chopsticks, I grew up eating sushi and tempura in Japan. My parents were Presbyterian missionaries and since I was their daughter, I got the benefits of being a Third Culture Kid. Although always feeling like a foreigner (gaijin) isn't easy, I wouldn't trade my childhood for anything. Now my children get to hear me remember the "good ol' days" and are quick to cover their ears when I sing songs from Japanese pop stars.

    What was your motivation behind this project?  Rain Song brought out my interest in being mysterious. The story hides a lot at first because the main character, Nicole, has never been told the details of her mother's death. I enjoyed letting the mystery unfold. Also, relationships are important to me and I wanted to weave the strength of family and being taken care of by those who love us. Nicole has no memory of her mother, but her maternal grandmother Ducee steps up to embrace her and help her with the scary decision Nicole must face in the novel.

    What do you hope folks will gain from this project?  Enjoyment! I want readers to fall in love with my quirky Southern characters as well as the parrot that talks and the baked-potato-eating donkey. On a deeper level, I would have to say trust. What a gift to trust in God even when things look unfamiliar. Also, the value of family traditions is something I want people to understand so that they can create and nurture this within their own families. In the novel, the event of making pineapple chutney is the symbolism for keeping families united, even across thousands of miles.

    How were you personally impacted by working on this project?  In the middle of working on this novel, my husband left me and my three children. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My children were devastated and I wondered how I would be able to support a household on my income alone. I plugged away at the writing of Rain Song. Being able to pour myself into the story after I put the kids to bed was great therapy. In my writing workshops and speaking engagements, I stress how writing is beneficial and I'm proof that writing in the midst of heartache is healing. I call it cheap therapy.

    Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists?  My son Daniel died of cancer treatments at age four. No one will ever be able to inspire me as he did. He was brave and loving. Losing him killed part of me. I struggled with my faith and wrestled with God. God didn't let me go, and I will forever be grateful to Him for continuing to meet me in all the lonely and empty spaces.

    Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know:  I love to hear from readers! Although I know I shouldn't drop names, Eugene H. Peterson is my uncle. Whenever someone reads from The Message, I want to wave my hand and shout, "That's my uncle!" However, Uncle Gene has advised me to sit on my hands. Sometimes I succeed and am able to keep my mouth shut. Sometimes. At one banquet I learned that the woman seated next to me came to the event only because I'm Eugene Peterson's niece; she didn't come to hear me as the keynote speaker. Humility, I do appreciate the way it zings into my life and keeps me grounded.

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