Old Ruddy’s Questions by Courtenay Burden

Hi everyone! I have a special announcement to make. Today I’d like to introduce you to Old Ruddy’s Questions by Courtenay Burden.

I had the privilege of editing this sweet little book, and oh! I enjoyed it! It was convicting, challenging, inspiring, entertaining, and delightfully vintage all at the same time. And now I’d like to give you the opportunity to read this amazing book.

Quick Facts

Title: Old Ruddy’s Questions

Author: Courtenay Burden

Publisher: Sheep Among Wolves Publishing

Genre: Historical Fiction (Victorian Era)

Audience: Family

Page Count: 86

Release Date: March 30, 2023

About the Book

Art thou weary, art thou languid,

Art thou sore distressed?

“Come to me,” saith One, “And coming,

Be at rest.”

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.

My Review

I’m not an emotional reader, but I teared up rereading Old Ruddy. I love the messages, the themes, and how beautifully they are conveyed. I’m in awe of how the author came up with the idea and structure for this story. I LOVE the parallel structure of each chapter so much. And I love the heartfelt, gently probing questions and the earnest, Biblical, straightforward answers. I love the speaking of truth one knows even when one doesn’t feel it – and how the characters allow the Biblical truth to change their behavior. The tone is delightfully vintage and the story is memorable. Highly recommended. 

Helpful Links

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BXYB3PKK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123211897-od-ruddy-s-questions

Sheep Among Wolves Publishing: http://sawpublishing.com/old-ruddys-questions/

If you love squeaky-clean historical fiction with a strong Christian message, then Old Ruddy’s Questions is a story you won’t want to miss!