A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
Over the years, I have read countless books and one thing that I have learned is that when I lay awake at night thinking about the novel I just read or I dream about it, that book has made an impact on my life. That is exactly what happened after I read this novel. Let me say that it is not often that an author has me thinking about their story long after I have finished it, but to me that is the mark of a gifted writer. I am pleased to have been chosen to review and share this brand new book with you.
A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner
Publisher: NAL Trade
February 4, 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0451419910
Synopsis: A beautiful scarf, passed down through the generations, connects two women who learn that the weight of the world is made bearable by the love we give away….
September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her?
September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life?
My Thoughts: It is not easy for a writer to lay out a story that is intricately woven with dual themes and storylines that keeps the reader interested and even mesmerized by the story. This book has 2 parts – chapters in the past and chapters in today’s time; the theme that ties them is simply a scarf. But this scarf is not just any scarf, it means something to the women that use this scarf in both eras of time.
The author tells a beautiful story that is full of so many emotions. One minute you are involved with sadness and compassion for others. The next you are glimpsing at a spark of romance, a smile and then tears for what was lost and could have been. Ms. Meissner is a superbly crafted writer that has found the delicate balance between both eras of time and uses historical events to tie everything together.
I found myself wanting to get to the end of the book because I really could not figure out how the scarf would intertwine the 2 stories. The ending was so fitting, but I felt myself wanting more for the women; I wanted to know the rest of the story. That too is the mark of a fabulous story.
If you love books that combine so many elements of our emotions, history, mystery, suspense and even a touch of love, this is definitely one to grab!
Disclaimer: Chris has received no compensation for this post but did receive free product for purpose of review. Please read our Official Rules before entering this giveaway. Two Classy Chics is not responsible for prize fulfillment. All Content on this site is Copyright of the Two Classy Chics All Rights Reserved.