Posted in Books

Old Ruddy’s Questions by Courtenay Burden

Posted on by Rhys-Marie Whitnell

I’m so excited to tell y’all about the amazing novella that is releasing today! I had the honor of reading an Advanced Review Copy, and I enjoyed it so much! If you enjoy classic Christian fiction, you will enjoy reading Old Ruddy’s Questions.

Blurb:

Old Ruddy sits slumped and dejected on the railway bench. His life at the station is all that he has, and
after forty years of faithful service that life seems to be slipping from his grasp.

“Take it to the Saviour!” a nameless traveller breaks into Ruddy’s silent grief.

But when the station whistle interrupts their conversation before the broken-down railway porter can
ask the questions that are flooding his soul, Ruddy embarks on a remarkable quest to find the answers
for himself.

Will Ruddy’s prayers bring the right travellers to the Tyneford-upon-Mere station? And if they come, will
they have the answers Ruddy so desperately craves? Watch as the faith of one soul, groping blindly
towards the light, begins to touch and transform lives beyond Old Ruddy’s wildest dreams.

Built around John Mason Neale’s translation of an 8th century hymn, and set against the backdrop of
rural Victorian travel, Old Ruddy’s Questions will challenge you to take a closer look at the foundational
truths of your faith—and the way those truths intersect with everyday life.

Author Bio:

Courtenay Burden is a homeschool graduate, author, and Victorian fanatic. She is passionate about
books that embody both literary and spiritual excellence. Courtenay believes literature is a powerful tool in Christ’s kingdom and she seeks to use that tool for His glory in her vintage-style historical fiction. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her sketching, working with yarn, devouring old books, or discovering new ways to cook the humble potato. You can connect with her at www.sawpublishing.com.

My Review:

This novella was excellent and worth every one of five stars, if not more! I enjoyed it immensely. Though brief, it is meaningful and memorable.

We don’t get to see the characters for long, but they are excellently written and leave you feeling as though they could be real people. Old Ruddy, of the title, was my favorite character. He is an old man who has spent his whole life as a railway porter, but when he realizes he may not be able to continue in his job much longer, many questions are raised in his mind. Where can he find rest? He prays that God will send him train passengers who can answer this question and the ones that stem from it. We get a glimpse into the lives of each of the passengers later in the novel. Not only does Ruddy learn from them, they also learn valuable lessons from the questions he asks.

The writing style was what took this book from good to extraordinary. From the very first page, I knew I would enjoy it because of how historically accurate it was. I felt like I could have been reading a book from the 19th century, which is quite an accomplishment for a modern writer. As many old books as I read, I don’t even think I could banish all modernity from my writing anything like this author does.

I recommend this novella to anyone who enjoys historical Christian fiction or classics. It stood out to me and I will certainly be reading more books by this author.

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