Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
Historical Fiction
2013 William Morrow/Harper Collins
Finished on December 30, 2014
Rating: 4.5/5 (Terrific!)
Publisher’s Blurb:
Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?
As a young Irish immigrant, Vivian Daly was one such child, sent by rail from New York City to an uncertain future a world away. Returning east later in life, Vivian leads a quiet, peaceful existence on the coast of Maine, the memories of her upbringing rendered a hazy blur. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past.
Seventeen-year-old Molly Ayer knows that a community-service position helping an elderly widow clean out her attic is the only thing keeping her out of juvenile hall. But as Molly helps Vivian sort through her keepsakes and possessions, she discovers that she and Vivian aren’t as different as they appear. A Penobscot Indian who has spent her youth in and out of foster homes, Molly is also an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past.
Moving between contemporary Maine and Depression-era Minnesota, Orphan Train is a powerful tale of upheaval and resilience, second chances, and unexpected friendships.
When this book first came out in the spring of 2013, it was published in paperback, not hardcover. It became a book club favorite, hitting all the favorites charts and flying off the shelves in bookstores across the country. Usually a book this popular piques my interest and I try to get it read before the hype spoils the experience, but for whatever reason, I never gave it more than a passing glance. Was it the lackluster cover art that curbed my enthusiasm? I didn’t even know about the dual storylines, so that wasn’t the reason for choosing to read other books over this one. After listening to three good friends chatting about it during one of our informal book club meetings, I decided to borrow a copy from one of them, but I wound up letting it linger on my nightstand for several months. Finally, after feeling guilty for having it for so long, I decided to give it a chance.
Why didn’t I read this book sooner?!?! Not only did I miss out on a great summer read, but I missed the opportunity to hand sell it during the holiday season. (Not that anyone would need to buy it since they probably had already read it!) As I mentioned, this is one of those rare instances in which a work of fiction was published first in paperback rather than hardcover. With such great popularity, the publisher released a hardcover edition just in time for Christmas. (Maybe I could have sold some copies…)
In any event, I was very pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the book as much as I did, especially since (as I’ve already stated in several other book reviews) I’ve grown tired of novels that have alternating timelines. Not only does Kline do an exceptional job weaving together the two narratives, but she allows her reader to follow one story for several chapters before switching to the other point of view. This is less disruptive and makes for a more enjoyable read, as far as I’m concerned.
Final Thoughts:
An all-around good story, I was immediately drawn into Orphan Train and read it in just a few short days. The characters are well-drawn and very likeable, and while a couple of plot points were a little predictable, I enjoyed the historical element of the novel and am eager to try more by this author. And, I may just have to buy one of those hardcover editions for a future re-read with my granddaughter. Either that, or listen to it on audio. Any recommendations for other books by Christina Baker Kline? Have you read this one? If not, what are you waiting for?!
The Last Letter from Your Lover by Jojo Moyes
Fiction
2010 Pamela Dorman Books/Viking
Finished on November 12, 2014
Rating: 3.5/5 (Good)
Publisher’s Blurb:
It is 1960. When Jennifer Stirling wakes up in the hospital, she can remember nothing—not the tragic car accident that put her there, not her wealthy husband, not even her own name. Searching for clues about her life, she finds an impassioned letter, signed simply “B.,” from a man who is not her husband—a man for whom she seemed willing to risk everything.
In 2003, young journalist Ellie Haworth is searching the dusty archives of her newspaper for a story that will resurrect her faltering career. She finds another handwritten letter, this one with an ardent plea: “I’ll be at Platform 4 Paddington at 7:15 on Monday evening, and there is nothing in the world that would make me happier than if you found the courage to come with me.”
Ellie becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to the lovers. Perhaps if they lived happily ever after, her own complicated involvement with a married man will have a happy ending, too. Ellie’s search will rewrite history and help her see the truth at last about her own very modern love story.
Sophisticated and stylish, The Last Letter from Your Lover is a spellbinding, page-turning double love story. Remarkably moving, grand in scale, and heartbreakingly human, it is an unforgettable Brief Encounter for our times, with an ending as unexpected as love at first sight.
It’s been almost two months since I finished this novel, and until I sat down to type up the publisher’s blurb, I recalled very little about the characters or the plot. Even now, I have only a vague sense about the specific details of the story. I know some readers have commented on their enjoyment of the time period, but honestly, I never had a clear sense of when the novel was taking place. Sometimes I thought it read more like it was set in the 30s or 40s, not the 60s. It took me a while to get interested in the story, and once I finally got hooked, the time shifted ahead by 40 years. Yes, it’s yet another story centered around amnesia (quite the popular theme these days), but surprisingly, the alternating stories between Jennifer and Ellie (also an overused device) didn’t annoy me, as I thought they might.
Final Thoughts:
In spite of some minor quibbles, I wound up enjoying this novel, not wanting it to end as the last page drew near. It’s not nearly as good as Me Before You, but it’s definitely better than The Girl You Left Behind. I’m still not sure if I’m a fan of Moyes’ earlier works, but I will continue to read more by this author, ever hopeful for another story as remarkable as Me Before You.
The Girl You Left Behind by JoJo Moyes
Fiction
2013 Pamela Dorman Books
Finished on June 15, 2014
Rating: 2/5 (Meh)
Publisher’s Blurb:
France 1916. Sophie Lefèvre must keep her family safe while her adored husband, Édouard, fights at the front. When their town falls to the Germans in the midst of World War I, she is forced to serve them every evening at her hotel. From the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie’s portrait—painted by her artist husband–a dangerous obsession is born, one that will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision.
Almost a century later, Sophie’s portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before his sudden death. After a chance encounter reveals the portrait’s true worth, a battle begins over its troubled history. As the layers of the painting’s shadowy past are revealed, Liv’s world is turned upside down all over again, and her belief in what’s right is put to the ultimate test.
It’s been just over a year since I finished Me Before You and I still find myself thinking about Will and Louisa and the heartbreaking dilemma they faced in JoJo Moyes’ throught-provoking love story. The novel continues to land on the New York Times Best Seller list and I continue to have great success hand selling copies to customers, young and old. The word of mouth for that novel has been amazing. Unfortunately, I can’t say I feel the same for The Girl You Left Behind. I know this talented British author has a huge fan base, but the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned. I was tempted on more than one occasion to call it quits while reading this book, but soldiered on, hoping for something to change my opinion. I’ve grown so weary of the dual storyline, which appears to be THE popular literary device of the 21st century!
Final Thoughts:
I have no quotes. No favorite passages. Just a glimmer of hope that The Last Letter From Your Lover will win my heart all over again.
Click here to read my review of Me Before You.
