9Joy A Modern Fable by first-time novelist Alisha Berger Gorder will soothe your soul and warm your heart. It is a rare find, a balm for these uncertain times, one that will restore your faith in the goodness of people and in the healing power of kindness. You will laugh, cry, feel, and hope. You will root for the characters you meet and you will come away better for having taken the time to meet them. The reading is light, but Gorder's observations are deep. There are few books that will make you feel this good or this certain that the best is yet to come. Joy is a signpost for those who believe we are all connected and that we are all part of something bigger. Take a chance. You won't be disappointed, for kindness can be taught and joy is all around you.Joy is an easy read that thoughtfully examines the pursuit of happiness in contemporary America through the fictional lives of relatable folks who live here. Gorder's characters come to life so expertly, that it feels as if they are sitting next to you as you read. Five loosely interwoven characters--an aging and lonely pastor, a professor on the cusp of tenure, a mother who loves so, so deeply, an angry man who resents everyone who crosses his path, and a great grandfather who lives alone in the house in which he raised his family--will pull you in. Gorder brings you into their lives as they navigate hope, loss, love, parenting, family, and reinvention in this uplifting first novel by one of the most promising and observant female voices of our time.