Del Wensley, the main character, was on a literal journey to find herself. Leaving behind an environment that she knew wasn't right for her, Del embraces new encounters as a necessary lesson. Time and place, the 1930s Depression, was exceptionally well depicted. The feisty female main character's decisions and bravado encouraged me to examine where I have settled. The story line, pacing, and discoveries Del made along the way wove (as they say in the South) together an unputdownable novel. This will go on my list to re-read once a year.
In Depression-era Kentucky, a defiant wife embarks on an impulsive and liberating journey in a powerful novel by the bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow and The Ragged Edge of Night.
Del Wensley, wife of the most celebrated preacher in Harlan County, tries to mind her place. Until her husband's infidelity pushes an already strained marriage to a breaking point. Clinging to her last hope for self-respect, Del turns her back on the rigid life she's known. A coal train is rolling through the valley. With her eyes wide open to the unfamiliar, and to…
Almost through metaphor, Dugoni teaches the reader a lesson by introducing us to Sam Hill. Because literally he was born with different eyes, he saw the world through an exceptional lens. The teasings and taunting influenced Sam to address his pain and use it for good. This was refreshing and uplifting. I was so sad to get to the end. Not to be full of pun, but I also saw pieces of my life differently from reading this book. It was literally a breath of fresh air.
Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni's coming-of-age story is, according to Booklist, "a novel that, if it doesn't cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border."
Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called "Devil Boy" or Sam "Hell" by his classmates; "God's will" is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother's devout faith, his father's practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.
In the face of hardship and little choice, it was inspiring to watch Bertie do what must be done to raise her younger siblings. I loved the setting and the beautiful writing, where I felt immersed in each scene. The characters were striped down to the essence in their day-by-day struggles with survival. The storytelling was rich and provocative. A true tale of allowing light to come in through the cracks.
Set in Appalachia and the Midwest at the turn of the twentieth century, this exquisite debut novel paints an intimate portrait of one resilient farm family’s challenges and hard-won triumphs—helmed by an unforgettable heroine.
Growing up on their hardscrabble farm in rural Kentucky, fifteen-year-old Albertina “Bertie” Winslow has learned a lot from her mama, Polly. She knows how to lance a boil, make a pie crust, butcher a pig, and tend to every chore that needs doing. What she doesn’t know, but is forced to reckon with all too soon, is how to look after children as a mother should…
Ruby has no money, not a single friend, and a shocking 1925 felony conviction for larceny. Though she encounters betrayal, she embarks on a journey to re-enter her children’s lives that will test the core of her being as obstacles chip away at everything but her resilient spirit.
Deceived by men, caught between survival, career opportunities, and providing for her children, Ruby’s enduring love and determination to rise above her mistakes resonates with anyone who has yearned for a second chance. Threads of life in Tennessee during the 1930s and 1940s—the Great Depression, WWII, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Manhattan projects—add to her odyssey.
Set in rural Tennessee, one woman’s journey from despair to redemption unfolds as a single mother, showing Ruby’s grit in tumultuous times. Based on the true story of the author’s grandmother, this biographical historical fiction novel shows us the enduring power of a mother’s love, personal sacrifice, and difficult choices.
This tragic and uplifting sequel to Rock Bottom, Tennessee, will move readers of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and The Four Winds with a testament to the enduring power of love, forgiveness, and the boundless possibilities of starting anew. Though this novel follows the main character Ruby's journey after Rock Bottom, Tennessee, it can be read as a stand-alone novel.
