“The Healing of Natalie Curtis” by Jane Kirkpatrick is the real life story of classically trained pianist and singer Natalie Curtis, who self-isolated for five years after a breakdown before her debut with the New York Philharmonic. Silent, songless and bewildered, Natalie just cannot recapture the lost chord, try as she might. It seems to be lost forever.
In 1902, Natalie joins her brother in the West in her persistent quest for healing. What she finds are inspiring songs that highlight the lilting, haunting melodies, rhythms, and stories of Native Americans, whose music is under attack. Indigenous people are prohibited by law from singing, dancing, or speaking their own languages. Natalie makes it her heart’s mission to document these songs before they disappear and to appeal to President Theodore Roosevelt, the only man with the power to repeal the unjust law.
Jane Kirkpatrick weaves a lyrical novel, a real life story that captivates everyone. She brings to life a real woman from history, someone who wrestles with startlingly contemporary issues. Natalie Curtis was a powerful force to be reckoned with. A musician, ethnomusicologist, advocate of social justice for Native Americans, this single woman boldly and bravely broke down the barriers of gender and culture to discover her own true self and chart out a unique life for herself in the American Southwest.
ANOINTED TO SERVE - Miriam Jacob 
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