Often heartbreaking tale that shows the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope.
As Bright as Heaven is a story of love and loss and tragedy, but most importantly - hope.
1918 - the Bright family has relocated to Philadelphia from Allentown, PA, to live with Mr. Bright’s uncle and take over the family’s funeral business. Brimming with optimism in the face of such newfound prosperity, the Brights settle in and quickly adapt to their new lives and routines. But their routines and that new feeling of comfort is short-lived as the Great War is just beginning, the drafts have started, and Mr. Bright along with several beloved friends and neighbors are called to serve. On the heels of this tragedy, the Brights and the world at large are in the crosshairs of a new and invisible enemy - the Spanish Flu.
As soon as I saw “Spanish flu”, this was a book I definitely wanted to get my hands on. Hailed as the one of the worst epidemics in human history, the Spanish flu of 1918 killed an estimated 50-100 million people in countries all over the world. An unimaginable and unfathomable tragedy, and Meissner deftly weaves in historically accurate details, making this fictional tale feel a bit more realistic.
As Bright as Heaven is a story heavily laden with loss and tragedy and heartbreak, but it also showcases the strength and the resilience of the human spirit. The characters in this book have all been touched by death and their ability and sheer desire to endure in the face of such suffering was definitely a bright spot in this otherwise bleak and heart-wrenching tale. Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to discovering other books by this author.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways.
1918 - the Bright family has relocated to Philadelphia from Allentown, PA, to live with Mr. Bright’s uncle and take over the family’s funeral business. Brimming with optimism in the face of such newfound prosperity, the Brights settle in and quickly adapt to their new lives and routines. But their routines and that new feeling of comfort is short-lived as the Great War is just beginning, the drafts have started, and Mr. Bright along with several beloved friends and neighbors are called to serve. On the heels of this tragedy, the Brights and the world at large are in the crosshairs of a new and invisible enemy - the Spanish Flu.
As soon as I saw “Spanish flu”, this was a book I definitely wanted to get my hands on. Hailed as the one of the worst epidemics in human history, the Spanish flu of 1918 killed an estimated 50-100 million people in countries all over the world. An unimaginable and unfathomable tragedy, and Meissner deftly weaves in historically accurate details, making this fictional tale feel a bit more realistic.
As Bright as Heaven is a story heavily laden with loss and tragedy and heartbreak, but it also showcases the strength and the resilience of the human spirit. The characters in this book have all been touched by death and their ability and sheer desire to endure in the face of such suffering was definitely a bright spot in this otherwise bleak and heart-wrenching tale. Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to discovering other books by this author.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways.