Out of Esau, Michelle Webster Hein's debut novel, beautifully captures the rewards and burdens of the intimate connections between mothers, fathers and their children. In the small town of Esau, Mich., the innermost desires and fears of human nature are exposed through the intertwined perspectives of the town's pastor and the family members in need of his guidance.
Newcomer Susan Shearer, after her tardy arrival to Pastor Robert's back pew at a Sunday service, changes the trajectory of both of their lives. In the opening chapter, the pastor observes: "As she passed, God help him, he looked for a ring, and, God help him, he found one, a tiny white stone glinting atop a gold band." Their immediate connection forces them to make difficult decisions--for their own and their families' well-being. The novel, which fully submerges readers in both its setting and the innermost thoughts of the characters, dramatizes the small-town experience, touching upon such aspects as gender, faith and family dynamics.
In the midst of battling the increasingly treacherous mental and physical challenges of her marriage, Susan finds Pastor Robert in time to save herself and her children from a downward spiral. The novel celebrates profound human connections, exploring the newly kindled friendship between the two as they navigate impossible expectations as well as loss and the uglier aspects of love. When they realize their connection might be greater than it should be, they must make hard choices about their futures. Heartbreakingly genuine characters distinguish Webster Hein's nuanced portrayal of love and loyalty to one's family. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer