Showing A Devil Singing Small by Karen Charbonneau

A World War II romance, a rocky marriage, the births of a son and daughter, and a move to rural Idaho. Betty then recounts Mitch's gradual spiral from being a man who could build or fix anything into the world of the mentally ill, obsessed with the Virgin Mary and extra-terrestrial flight. Betty relies on her love of the land for the courage to fulfill her marriage vows and protect her family. From a life of subservience to the family bread-winner, temptation, fear and love give a razor’s edge to a sometime funny, but often difficult life. It is also the story of the conflicting relationship between mother and daughter, Torie, and Betty’s pride and fears for son, Michael, who becomes a combat infantry lieutenant in Vietnam. The author drew on her observations of her father’s mental illness to give this novel authenticity.