When Joy Came to Stay by Karen Kingsbury

Review written by Niki Tschirgi on April 4, 2007
Filed Under Romance Fiction, Karen Kingsbury, When Joy Came to Stay |

Maggie Stovall seems like the perfect Christian with the perfect husband. Could her life get any better? These thoughts plagued Laura Thompson’s mind as she was given Maggie’s name as someone who needed prayer. What would Maggie Stovall need prayer for? Karen Kingsbury opens a real window into the lives of those struggling with clinical depression and sets out to answer the questions that many of us have asked in our minds. Questions like if you are a Christian can you really be depressed and can’t God heal you and help you without medications or counseling? When Joy Came to Stay is a real and honest look at the raw emotions, anger, and confusion that surround the debilitating affliction of depression. At times the book does feel a little over the top as everyone’s lives work out almost perfectly and for the best. It was slightly unrealistic and left an unsatisfied feeling knowing that real life doesn’t always pan out and have the fairy tale ending that Maggie Stovall and all involved get. The book also gives a pretty one-sided and fairly narrow view of the social service system in America and the foster families that volunteer. There is truth in Kingsbury’s views but unfortunately she leaves the reader with a negative view regarding foster care, foster families, and the plight of foster kids in general. However, When Joy Came to Stay is a fine piece of fiction that sheds much needed light on the subject of depression. I could not get enough of Maggie and what she went through. A whole new realm of compassion was birthed in my heart for those who suffer as she did. Buy When Joy Came to Stay from Amazon.com