My love for historical fiction runs deep so I am excited for a state-side early 20th century historical fiction. You immediately connect with Pauline through her loss of many children. She has a few surviving children but has the recent loss of a son, Henry. You experience some of the grief of the closeness they attained prior to his death and the reactions to his death since. Pauline has faced death a number of times, and thus has felt a certain numbness to death; lacking a fear of death. Pauline broaches various concerns – how hard living can be. But how easy it is to die.
As such, Pauline agrees to move to Philadelphia. In the intro to the book you see that within the next day, she will be gone from her current locale, including gone from any physical memory of Henry, her most recent child to have died. In moving to Philadelphia, they are leaving what is familiar and known, her small town, family etc. Her uncle, Uncle Fred has extended the invitation before, however, this time is different – the loss of Henry has left her a different person.
I am looking forward to the remainder of the book – the Great War/ Spanish Plague, particularly state-side is not a common theme for historical fiction. The first chapter is compelling and descriptive.
As such, Pauline agrees to move to Philadelphia. In the intro to the book you see that within the next day, she will be gone from her current locale, including gone from any physical memory of Henry, her most recent child to have died. In moving to Philadelphia, they are leaving what is familiar and known, her small town, family etc. Her uncle, Uncle Fred has extended the invitation before, however, this time is different – the loss of Henry has left her a different person.
I am looking forward to the remainder of the book – the Great War/ Spanish Plague, particularly state-side is not a common theme for historical fiction. The first chapter is compelling and descriptive.