The Saints of Whistle Grove

By: Katie Schuermann

Narrated by: Katie Schuermann

After 150 years of preaching the Gospel, the little country parish of Whistle Grove has closed its doors for good, but the faithful Rev. Edmund G. Oglethorpe remains. There is the empty building and the crumbling cemetery to maintain, and who else will bury old Miriam Werth when the time comes? Told through the voices of generations past and present, "The Saints of Whistle Grove" follows the journey of a son in search of his mother, a daughter in need of connection, a family without a home, and the cemetery that brings them all together.

Join the blessed saints of Whistle Grove in pondering the wondrous mystery that, whoever believes in Christ, “though he die, yet shall he live.”

©2023 Katie Schuermann (P)2023 Katie Schuermann

The dead are going to rise in the end

I'm normally a physical book person instead of an audiobook person, but I was gifted a copy of this audiobook. I already had plans to reread this novel when the gift was made, so it provided me an ideal opportunity to give the audiobook a try.

Since this novel contains the stories of so many interconnected characters over a long period of time, it is an easy story to come back to, and I imagine it is a story in which new details will always present themselves. We learn with the characters how to have hope in all circumstances, and that this hope does not end in the closing of a congregation or even in death. Both the living and the dead wait for their hope of the last day, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life. Learning how to wait with these characters is a pleasure.

The audiobook benefits from having actual singing in the moments which include hymns and pieces of the liturgy. It is also fitting for a story such as this to be an audiobook as the confessions of faith by many characters throughout are actually spoken in proclamation. It is still edifying to read these in print, but hearing an actual model of proclaiming out loud these words we may sometimes feel tempted to keep to ourselves is valuable.

I will continue to be a physical book person more than an audiobook person, but I will enjoy owning both versions of this story to return to again and again. (Now if only I could be left an inheritance of "one theological library" so I won't continually feel jealous when I get to that part of the story. Oh well.)

A New Favorite

This book has quickly become a favorite of mine. I love the way the stories of the various characters throughout time are expertly woven together. Each of the individual stories is beautiful on its own, but the story they tell together is rich and timeless. I laughed out loud and cried listening to and reading this book. I could read it over and over again and find new things to love every time. Getting to listen to it was wonderful. I had already read the physical version, but this reading by the author helped me notice things I had overlooked the first time. The performance is excellent and engaging. It kept my mind from wandering. I look forward to listening and reading again and again over the years.

The characters lives woven together

I really liked how Katie told this story of a community and the families over the course of many years through their places in the church cemetery. The back stories of the saints now awaiting the Lord’s return.

Beautifully written and recorded!

This story is such a beautiful piece of art that all can relate to and enjoy. The recording matches the beauty of the story. Tempo, sound quality, artistic reading all fit together perfectly. Please treat yourself to this treasure!

The housework buddy you need

I can't pick up my house by myself. Katie Schuermann reading me her book bought the place 9 hours of proper attention for which many people are grateful.

Wonderful story, beautiful reading, blessed company.