All Parts Together

by Tom Mach

The book’s title comes from poet Walt Whitman, who wrote, "Sure as Life holds all parts together, Death holds all parts together." This is the second book of Tom Mach’s exciting trilogy on the life of a 19th-century woman named Jessica Radford. In All Parts Together, Jessica, in 1863, survives the infamous Quantrill raid of Lawrence, Kansas, where almost 200 unarmed civilians were killed, and she eventually goes to Washington, D.C. A headstrong, independent young woman writer, she faces obstacles in her path as she seeks to influence Congress to enact emancipation of slaves in all the states. A Methodist minister named Matt Lightfoot, a man she has known for some time, proposes marriage to her. Will Jessica accept it? And what secret does she carry with her that she is unwilling to share with anyone? While “All Parts Together” is the second book of the Jessica Radford trilogy, there is no need to buy the first book, “Sissy!”, in order to understand the continuity of the story. A good summary of “Sissy!” may be found in the beginning of “All Parts Together.”

444 pages, Paperback

First published February 8, 2006

About the author

Tom Mach wrote three successful historical novels, Sissy!, All Parts Together, and Angels at Sunset (his most recent work). In 2011 Sissy! and All Parts Together were listed by the Kansas State Library as worthy to be included among the 150 best Kansas books (which would include authors such as Truman Capote and Laura Ingalls Wilder). Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award while All Parts Together was a Best Books Award Finalist. Angels at Sunset received 5-star reviews and was also a Finalist for the International Book Award. On March, 2012, the state of Kansas issued a proclamation honoring Mr. Mach for his help in recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 1912 passage of Kansas Suffrage by proclaiming 2012 in honor of his book and officially calling it the “Kansas Angels at Sunset Centennial.”

His poetry collection, The Uni Verse, won the Nelson Poetry Book Award, while Sissy! won the J. Donald Coffin Memorial Book Award. Mr. Mach has written numerous other books as well--including a collection of short stories entitled Stories to Enjoy.

Tom was a former copywriter, editor of two magazines, conducted writing workshops in Ohio, California, and Kansas, and taught writing at KU’s Continuing Education Program. In addition to numerous articles he has authored in national and regional publications, he was past president with the California Writers Club and the Kansas Authors Club. He won the Jack London Award in California and a Service Award with the Kansas Authors Club. He currently resides with his wife in Lawrence, Kansas—where he is also involved in volunteer work to help children with their writing skills.

His website is www.TomMach.com

Reviews

[Haley Whitehall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Sissy! I didn't think that Tom Match could match the outstanding blend of writing and historical research with this sequel, but he did. I love All Parts Together just as much. It tells Jessica's journey through the second half of the Civil War starting with the Quantrill raid on Lawrence, Kansas in 1863. The large cast of well developed characters are back and I enjoyed seeing their journeys too. Match handles the different points of view well and gives the reader glimpses into significant events across the country.

While this book stands alone I highly recommend that you read Sissy! first. Match hints at things that happened in Sissy with several characters, but to get the full impact you should read the first book in the trilogy first.

I was pleasantly surprised when Walt Whitman and Abraham Lincoln made appearances in this book. Match has researched the Civil War very well and included so many details the reader is instantly transported to that time period and place. He got everything correct and that is nearly impossible to do. I am currently reading book 3 now. It does not disappoint.

[Tom Mach · Rating 5 out of 5]

While this story brings to life two major battles, it does a superb job of showing a side of Abraham Lincoln, warts and all, that made me feel as if I knew him like a brother. It shows, for example, for example, how it wasn't until later that he became convinced that black slaves should be set free, how the Emancipation Proclamation was more of a political maneuver rather than an executive order that sprang from pure sympathy for the black man, and how he was sure that he wouldn't win a second term of office. It details, step-by-step, Booth's plans for the assassination and how many Southermers felt they had to at least pretend they were saddened by his death. This is probably one of the best novels about Lincoln one will ever read.