
The Armoire by Ione Joy tells us the tale of Maxine, a psychology major in Wisconsin who returns home for her Grandmother’s funeral. Maxine and her Grandmother had always been extremely close and she had told Maxine on many occasions that she was destined for something special. The only thing left to Maxine was her Grandmother’s enormous, antique wooden Armoire. As a child, she had often wondered what Grammy had kept in that special, locked cabinet, but she would only say it was something that would help Maxine in the future. When she finally found the key and managed to unlock the Armoire, she was surprised to find it empty, save for one lone feather on the top shelf. No ordinary feather, when Maxine touched it, an Angel appeared for her and so begins a fascinating journey through one woman’s faith and beliefs.
This book was stunningly written. The concept and the language were so appropriate to the story. Yes, it is true that The Armoire is written from a Christian perspective, but that should make it none the less appealing to Christians and non-Christians alike. Ione Joy has presented us a lesson on life in this wonderful tale and we would all do well to heed the story. If you have ever read any of “The Left Behind” series and enjoyed it, then The Armoire will be right up your alley. As someone who doesn’t view Christianity as the only route to “salvation” in this world, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and the message behind it. Be prepared to be caught up in the author’s vision of the future and our part in it. It may or may not be accurate, but that is irrelevant. This is a wonderful read and I can highly recommend it.
