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A months-long span of trials and joys for Irish, Italian, and Scottish immigrants in late nineteenth-century New York culminates in a multifaceted composition involving and exceeding the musical in Jubilee by author BJ Hoff.

It's ironic that the third and final book in this ChristFic saga, with such a celebratory title, is perhaps the roughest read of the series. The people in this familial, medical, romantic, music-driven trilogy go through a lot, and how much of it comes to a head in this novel is rather heartbreaking at times. Maybe even depressing.

But none of the novels in this series are too long, which makes it easier to get through the darkest parts, since they don't last forever. While it wasn't my first time reading this book, I'd forgotten some parts, which led to some touching re-surprises for me, and other aspects that I remembered (and will never forget) had me in tears as I read them again. A particular friendship in this book is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen in fiction.

I can't put in a review all the reasons why, despite some flaws its got, the magnificent American Anthem series is one of my all-time favorites. But to describe the personal experience I've had each/every time I've read these novels, I'll borrow a phrase from this closing book: God happened. ( )

I was intrigued with the fact that the maestro was composing an amazing anthem. I could almost imagine that I heard it with the way B.J. Hoff described the way the characters felt about it. It moved them to such emotion, that I don't think I've ever heard a symphony that has moved me like the maestro's supposedly moved the characters. Read more: http://christianfictionaddiction.com/book_reviews/jubilee.htm ( )