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Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night: A Novel
Nominated for a 2014 Lime Award for Excellence in Fiction
Named a Best Book of Summer 2014 by Publishers Weekly
Named a Pick of the Week for the week of June 30th by Publishers Weekly
"An earnest, well-done historical novel that skillfully blends fact and fiction."
-- Publishers Weekly
"A profound story of how one unforeseen event may tear a family apart, but another can just as unexpectedly bring them back together again."
-- Publishers Weekly , Best Book of Summer 2014 Pick
"Solomon enticingly described the novel Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor (Akashic), set in a coal-mining town in 1913, as 'one of those sit on the couch and don't bother me' reads."
-- Shelf Awareness , NCIBA Spring Rep Picks
"An absolute gem of a book filled with beautiful characters and classical writing techniques rarely seen in modern literature."
--The Christian Manifesto, Top Fiction Pick of 2014
"This story is at once poignant and hopeful, spiced up by such characters as Billy Sunday, the revivalist, and Grief, the specter who haunts Grace to the very edge of sanity. A rich debut."
--Historical Novel Society
"Like Dickens, the novel faces family tragedy, in this case the town blaming 8-year-old Violet Morgan for her older sister's death. As her parents fall victim to their own vices, Violet learns how to form her own friendships to survive."
--Arts.Mic
"A fantastic novel worthy of the greatest accolades. Writing a book about a historical event can be difficult, as is crafting a bestseller, but Barbara J. Taylor is successful at both."
-- Downtown Magazine
"Taylor's careful attention to detail and her deep knowledge of the community and its people give the novel a welcome gravity."
-- The Columbus Dispatch
"One of the most compelling books I've ever read...a haunting story that will stay with the reader long after reading this novel."
--Story Circle Book Reviews
"Rave reviews are pouring in for this historical novel of a family tragedy."
--The Halifax Reader, "6 New Books to Look for in July"
"This well-written book is peopled with characters the reader can really care about and captures the feeling of a gritty twentieth century coal mining community."
-- Breakthrough , newsletter of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
"Like all good historical fiction, I learned from this novel."
--Time 2 Read
"This book has...prizewinner written all over it....Worth the read!"
--I've Read This
"This haunting story of tragedy and hope in an early twentieth century mining town is...an expertly crafted arrow that shoots straight for the heart. Reminiscent of classics such as How Green Was My Valley...this book is a must-read for fans of character-driven, authentic historical fiction.
Named a Best Book of Summer 2014 by Publishers Weekly
Named a Pick of the Week for the week of June 30th by Publishers Weekly
"An earnest, well-done historical novel that skillfully blends fact and fiction."
-- Publishers Weekly
"A profound story of how one unforeseen event may tear a family apart, but another can just as unexpectedly bring them back together again."
-- Publishers Weekly , Best Book of Summer 2014 Pick
"Solomon enticingly described the novel Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor (Akashic), set in a coal-mining town in 1913, as 'one of those sit on the couch and don't bother me' reads."
-- Shelf Awareness , NCIBA Spring Rep Picks
"An absolute gem of a book filled with beautiful characters and classical writing techniques rarely seen in modern literature."
--The Christian Manifesto, Top Fiction Pick of 2014
"This story is at once poignant and hopeful, spiced up by such characters as Billy Sunday, the revivalist, and Grief, the specter who haunts Grace to the very edge of sanity. A rich debut."
--Historical Novel Society
"Like Dickens, the novel faces family tragedy, in this case the town blaming 8-year-old Violet Morgan for her older sister's death. As her parents fall victim to their own vices, Violet learns how to form her own friendships to survive."
--Arts.Mic
"A fantastic novel worthy of the greatest accolades. Writing a book about a historical event can be difficult, as is crafting a bestseller, but Barbara J. Taylor is successful at both."
-- Downtown Magazine
"Taylor's careful attention to detail and her deep knowledge of the community and its people give the novel a welcome gravity."
-- The Columbus Dispatch
"One of the most compelling books I've ever read...a haunting story that will stay with the reader long after reading this novel."
--Story Circle Book Reviews
"Rave reviews are pouring in for this historical novel of a family tragedy."
--The Halifax Reader, "6 New Books to Look for in July"
"This well-written book is peopled with characters the reader can really care about and captures the feeling of a gritty twentieth century coal mining community."
-- Breakthrough , newsletter of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation
"Like all good historical fiction, I learned from this novel."
--Time 2 Read
"This book has...prizewinner written all over it....Worth the read!"
--I've Read This
"This haunting story of tragedy and hope in an early twentieth century mining town is...an expertly crafted arrow that shoots straight for the heart. Reminiscent of classics such as How Green Was My Valley...this book is a must-read for fans of character-driven, authentic historical fiction.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2014
104 people are currently reading
1514 people want to read
About the author
Barbara J. Taylor
2 books56 followersBarbara J. Taylor lives in Scranton, Pennsylvania, home of the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the country. She has an MFA in creative writing from Wilkes University and teaches English in the Pocono Mountain School District. All Waiting Is Long is the sequel to her debut novel, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night, named a “Best Book of Summer 2014” by Publishers Weekly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
May 28, 2014
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night, Barbara Taylor's debut novel, is one of the most compelling books I've ever read. It's a novel set in Scranton, PA's coal mining community in 1913. As a coal miner's granddaughter, this story resonated with me. I gained insight into what my grandfather's life must have been like. He died of lung cancer, the scourge of the mines, at age 52.
Like that of other coal mining towns, Scranton's culture was taken over by the coal industry back in the early 1900's. Mining families lived in drafty company houses and shopped in company stores. There was a constant threat of mining accidents...when the whistle blew, everyone ran to the mines to see who was lost in a cave-in. And if a father was killed in a mining accident, the oldest son, even if only eight years old, had to work in the mines as a breaker boy or the family would be homeless.
This is the backdrop of the Morgan family story in Taylor's novel. Mr. Morgan is a coal miner with ambitions of moving up to supervisory position at the mines, studying mining courses. Then an accident left nine-year-old Daisy Morgan severely burned. The novel tells the story of how her family copes with grief after her death.
An unforgettable story of loss unfolds as the inconsolable mother is seduced by grief into a crippling depression, almost to the point of no return. The father's descent into alcoholism was portrayed with compassion. Eight-year-old Violet's grief and guilt thread through the novel: it was she who threw the celebratory sparkler in the air that landed on her sister's dress and caught fire. Neighbors and school mates whisper, "Murderer, killer."
Violet's grief, guilt, feelings of abandonment, and despair are buoyed by the anticipation of Billy Sunday's revival meetings. Sunday, a famous professional baseball player and evangelist, began his talks by running onto the stage, swinging a ball bat and declaring, "I'm here to make a home run for God." His lively tent revivals of yore offer fascinating glimpses of the culture. Underscoring the prevalence of faith and religion, the familiar lines of old church hymns are woven through the story. I often found myself singing along.
When Violet's best friend, Stanley, age nine, is drafted into the mines, he is promoted from lowly breaker to mule boy within a week due to his innate skills with animals. Sophie is a skittish mule who was on death row because she refused to do anything useful. Stanley saves Sophie. He is thrilled: "Mule nipper was a hell of a lot better than bendin' over pickin' through slate ten hours a day." Later Sophie saves Violet and Stanley. I highly recommend this book.
Though these descriptions sound bleak, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is a story of hope and the joy of survival. A community of well-developed characters, subtle wit, and plot twists create a haunting story that will stay with the reader long after reading this novel.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
Like that of other coal mining towns, Scranton's culture was taken over by the coal industry back in the early 1900's. Mining families lived in drafty company houses and shopped in company stores. There was a constant threat of mining accidents...when the whistle blew, everyone ran to the mines to see who was lost in a cave-in. And if a father was killed in a mining accident, the oldest son, even if only eight years old, had to work in the mines as a breaker boy or the family would be homeless.
This is the backdrop of the Morgan family story in Taylor's novel. Mr. Morgan is a coal miner with ambitions of moving up to supervisory position at the mines, studying mining courses. Then an accident left nine-year-old Daisy Morgan severely burned. The novel tells the story of how her family copes with grief after her death.
An unforgettable story of loss unfolds as the inconsolable mother is seduced by grief into a crippling depression, almost to the point of no return. The father's descent into alcoholism was portrayed with compassion. Eight-year-old Violet's grief and guilt thread through the novel: it was she who threw the celebratory sparkler in the air that landed on her sister's dress and caught fire. Neighbors and school mates whisper, "Murderer, killer."
Violet's grief, guilt, feelings of abandonment, and despair are buoyed by the anticipation of Billy Sunday's revival meetings. Sunday, a famous professional baseball player and evangelist, began his talks by running onto the stage, swinging a ball bat and declaring, "I'm here to make a home run for God." His lively tent revivals of yore offer fascinating glimpses of the culture. Underscoring the prevalence of faith and religion, the familiar lines of old church hymns are woven through the story. I often found myself singing along.
When Violet's best friend, Stanley, age nine, is drafted into the mines, he is promoted from lowly breaker to mule boy within a week due to his innate skills with animals. Sophie is a skittish mule who was on death row because she refused to do anything useful. Stanley saves Sophie. He is thrilled: "Mule nipper was a hell of a lot better than bendin' over pickin' through slate ten hours a day." Later Sophie saves Violet and Stanley. I highly recommend this book.
Though these descriptions sound bleak, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is a story of hope and the joy of survival. A community of well-developed characters, subtle wit, and plot twists create a haunting story that will stay with the reader long after reading this novel.
by Ann McCauley
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women
August 3, 2014
Barbara Taylor's debut novel is a winner. It uses several inventive techniques that you don't often see in historical fiction that I happened to adore because of their novelty, and I looked forward to each as the book progressed--the quaint homemaker tips dropped into the narrative and the Greek-chorus of church busybodies chiming in occasionally, who couldn't possibly refrain from nosing into and commenting on one family's private tragedy:
And another very interesting character appears via a literary contrivance, which allows for compelling scenes with a grief-stricken mother. (But you'll have to read the book to find out who that might be.)
There were numerous summers when my mom or dad sent me outside to play with sparklers when I was a kid. Who could have ever imagined that one family's life could change in an instant because of a summer sparkler lighting up one of two sisters' pretty new dresses:
And what a credit to Taylor that she recognized that tragic incident as the kernel of what could be a gripping tale.
For those who happened to love historic fiction, you'll be pleased to know that Pennsylvania history and culture, circa 1913, are seamlessly interwoven throughout right down to the donkeys used to pull mine carts:
When Taylor uncovered these little historical nuggets, she turned them into minor characters in this case, a donkey named Sophie on a mission for justice for one abused little boy.
Taylor's novel is a grim reminder that the good old days weren't so good after all, that people stuck their noses in others' business to an officious extent and that there was plenty of church-going and soul-saving occurring but precious little genuine Christian compassion for those who sorely needed it:
She identified the perfect place to halt the story because she has plans for a sequel, which I am anxious to read. She has an efficient writing style which deftly advances the plot while also conveying that there was little room or use for anything luxuriant in 1913 Scranton, PA. And yet it is replete with history, though one never trips over it.
A very fulfilling read indeed with authentic characters. With "Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night," Taylor mines every hue and shade out of a simple tale from a Pennsylvania coal-mining town.
November 19, 2019
Pennsylvania, 1914. De 8-jarige Violet is samen met haar zusje aan het spelen in de tuin, wanneer haar zusje door een noodlottig vuurwerkongeval om het leven komt. Aangeslagen als ze is probeert ze troost te vinden om dit vreselijke verlies te verwerken. Echter lijkt iedereen haar de schuld te geven van het overlijden van haar zusje, zelfs haar moeder Grace. Terwijl vader Owen soms dagenlang wegblijft en zijn verdriet wegdrinkt vindt moeder Grace geborgenheid bij het fictieve personage Smart, die haar al sinds haar vroege jeugd helpt op de momenten dat zij het moeilijk heeft. Violet voelt zich onzichtbaar en verloren, maar vindt troost in haar vriendschap met een mijnwerkersjongen.
'Nachtlied' is het waargebeurde verhaal over de jonge Violet die gebukt onder gevoelens van eenzaamheid, rouw en verlies veel te snel volwassen moest worden. De beschrijving van het boek maakte mij direct nieuwsgierig (historische roman + coming of age), maar helaas was ik over de uitwerking van het verhaal niet heel erg enthousiast. Mijn grootste struikelpunt was de schrijfstijl. 'Nachtlied' is het debuut van Barbara Taylor en dit voelde ik als lezer ook. De schrijfstijl las voor mij heel stijfjes, te veel binnen de lijntjes en te 'uitleggerig'. En dat is ontzettend jammer, want 'Nachtlied' is een verhaal wat zeker podium verdient en het sfeervolle historische decor vond ik prachtig. Helaas haalde de schrijfstijl mij steeds opnieuw uit het verhaal, waardoor ik toch wat teleurgesteld achterbleef.
'Nachtlied' is het waargebeurde verhaal over de jonge Violet die gebukt onder gevoelens van eenzaamheid, rouw en verlies veel te snel volwassen moest worden. De beschrijving van het boek maakte mij direct nieuwsgierig (historische roman + coming of age), maar helaas was ik over de uitwerking van het verhaal niet heel erg enthousiast. Mijn grootste struikelpunt was de schrijfstijl. 'Nachtlied' is het debuut van Barbara Taylor en dit voelde ik als lezer ook. De schrijfstijl las voor mij heel stijfjes, te veel binnen de lijntjes en te 'uitleggerig'. En dat is ontzettend jammer, want 'Nachtlied' is een verhaal wat zeker podium verdient en het sfeervolle historische decor vond ik prachtig. Helaas haalde de schrijfstijl mij steeds opnieuw uit het verhaal, waardoor ik toch wat teleurgesteld achterbleef.
July 17, 2014
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor is a very highly recommended historical novel. Based on real events from the author's family, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is a novel rich in detail and historical references. Set in 1913 in the anthracite coal mining region of Wyoming Valley, Pennsylvania, this is a novel of tragedy and hope.
The Morgan family is composed of Owen, the father, Grace, the mother and their two girls, nine year old Daisy and 8 year old Violet. On July 4, 1913, there is a horrible accident and Daisy is left mortally burned. As Daisy slowly dies over three days, Violet plays the piano for her while Daisy sings hymns. The whole town blames Violet for the death of her sister and neither parent is able to set aside their own grief to comfort or console her.
Grace Morgan is already emotionally fragile and the death of her daughter pushes her into a severe depression. She has personified Grief as a real person since the death of her father when she was a child, and with each death and each miscarriage she has had, Grief has grown stronger. Daisy's death pushes Grace to the edge of the abyss and she is totally emotionally crippled.
Owen also takes Daisy's death hard and can't cope with Grace's depression at the same time. He turns to drinking. After he returns home drunk very late one night, he has an explosive altercation with Grace. He then leaves his family, choosing to live in a rented room above the gin mill.
In this tangle emotional miasma, Violet is left to try and deal with her grief on her own, even while the adults around her holds her responsible for the death of her sister and seemingly even the disintegration of her family. If not for her new friend, Stanley whom with she plays hooky from school with to fish and explore, Violet would have no support system. When an older widow befriends the two, they both get a modicum of the mothering they both need.
During this same time period the famed evangelist Billy Sunday is coming to Scranton for a huge revival meeting. The town is building a temple to prepare for the special event and attendance is expected to be high.
As a sort of Greek chorus in the background, Taylor includes comments from the church women in sections between several chapters. Preceded by some helpful homemaking advice from the time period, the chorus of comments that follow are from the widows and spinsters who are always there, doing things for the church and keeping track of everyone's business. Perhaps they mean well, bless their hearts, but perhaps they are spreading tales and making things worse.
This is an incredibly well written novel that has the kind of historical accuracy and details that make reading historical novels a treasure. It is hard to believe based on the description, but this is also a novel of hope, grace, survival and even joy. Picked as a best summer book for 2014 by Publisher's Weekly, Barbara J. Taylor's Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is not to be missed.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Akashic Book for review purposes. http://www.akashicbooks.com/
The Morgan family is composed of Owen, the father, Grace, the mother and their two girls, nine year old Daisy and 8 year old Violet. On July 4, 1913, there is a horrible accident and Daisy is left mortally burned. As Daisy slowly dies over three days, Violet plays the piano for her while Daisy sings hymns. The whole town blames Violet for the death of her sister and neither parent is able to set aside their own grief to comfort or console her.
Grace Morgan is already emotionally fragile and the death of her daughter pushes her into a severe depression. She has personified Grief as a real person since the death of her father when she was a child, and with each death and each miscarriage she has had, Grief has grown stronger. Daisy's death pushes Grace to the edge of the abyss and she is totally emotionally crippled.
Owen also takes Daisy's death hard and can't cope with Grace's depression at the same time. He turns to drinking. After he returns home drunk very late one night, he has an explosive altercation with Grace. He then leaves his family, choosing to live in a rented room above the gin mill.
In this tangle emotional miasma, Violet is left to try and deal with her grief on her own, even while the adults around her holds her responsible for the death of her sister and seemingly even the disintegration of her family. If not for her new friend, Stanley whom with she plays hooky from school with to fish and explore, Violet would have no support system. When an older widow befriends the two, they both get a modicum of the mothering they both need.
During this same time period the famed evangelist Billy Sunday is coming to Scranton for a huge revival meeting. The town is building a temple to prepare for the special event and attendance is expected to be high.
As a sort of Greek chorus in the background, Taylor includes comments from the church women in sections between several chapters. Preceded by some helpful homemaking advice from the time period, the chorus of comments that follow are from the widows and spinsters who are always there, doing things for the church and keeping track of everyone's business. Perhaps they mean well, bless their hearts, but perhaps they are spreading tales and making things worse.
This is an incredibly well written novel that has the kind of historical accuracy and details that make reading historical novels a treasure. It is hard to believe based on the description, but this is also a novel of hope, grace, survival and even joy. Picked as a best summer book for 2014 by Publisher's Weekly, Barbara J. Taylor's Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is not to be missed.
Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of Akashic Book for review purposes. http://www.akashicbooks.com/
January 25, 2015
Note all of these ratings are on a scale of 1-10, 10 being the best.
Quality of Writing: 5
Nothing special, but nothing terrible either. I was confused when Grief showed up, but that got more clear as the novel progressed. I always felt a bit like the author was trying too hard. That took away from the actual talent shown in this novel.
Pace: 5
Certainly a page-turner, but it really dragged as soon as . You knew it was just a matter of how long it took. Plus, it didn't help that I read the jacket and was waiting for the events described in the jacket. Hint: don't read the jacket.
Plot development: 7
Well-constructed and the right amount of convoluted. There was a little too much plot, actually, as some looser ends never seemed to tie up (So...that show in town...had no implication except to put words to what Grace already felt?). However, that only slightly takes away from the cleverness of the overall plot (I mean, naming a character Grace just for that double entendre at the end that actually saves a person? That's ingenious.).
Characters: 7
Again, a great job, but a tad too many. It didn't help that I switched between books while reading this, but I would often question "Who was Myrtle again? Carl who? What?" The characters that were consistent, though - the widow, Stanley, Violet, Grace, even Grief - were well-portrayed and very down-to-earth.
Enjoyability: 7
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Again, I think it was because it was trying too hard. I generally love historical fiction, family stories, a child's perspective, and death, all of which contributes to the high rating. But it was all shadowed by this overarching secret, revealed only after some miraculous conversions at the end. The secret was pushed too much, the sadness too heavy, to achieve any higher than a seven.
Insightfulness: 4
I'm a huge family history buff. I love anecdotes about days gone by. I have an aunt who passed away at a young age. None of this book was new to me, except the mining and the Protestant worldview. Those topics count for the points earned.
Ease of Reading: 7
There were definitely paragraphs I had to read over again, mostly for logistical purposes. ("He was where? How did he get behind the barrel?") The vocabulary isn't that difficult; I think it's mostly the sentence structure that gets in the way. Again, trying too hard.
All of this rounds to a 5.85/10, which is a 2.9/5, hence the 3-star rating.
Quality of Writing: 5
Nothing special, but nothing terrible either. I was confused when Grief showed up, but that got more clear as the novel progressed. I always felt a bit like the author was trying too hard. That took away from the actual talent shown in this novel.
Pace: 5
Certainly a page-turner, but it really dragged as soon as . You knew it was just a matter of how long it took. Plus, it didn't help that I read the jacket and was waiting for the events described in the jacket. Hint: don't read the jacket.
Plot development: 7
Well-constructed and the right amount of convoluted. There was a little too much plot, actually, as some looser ends never seemed to tie up (So...that show in town...had no implication except to put words to what Grace already felt?). However, that only slightly takes away from the cleverness of the overall plot (I mean, naming a character Grace just for that double entendre at the end that actually saves a person? That's ingenious.).
Characters: 7
Again, a great job, but a tad too many. It didn't help that I switched between books while reading this, but I would often question "Who was Myrtle again? Carl who? What?" The characters that were consistent, though - the widow, Stanley, Violet, Grace, even Grief - were well-portrayed and very down-to-earth.
Enjoyability: 7
I didn't enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Again, I think it was because it was trying too hard. I generally love historical fiction, family stories, a child's perspective, and death, all of which contributes to the high rating. But it was all shadowed by this overarching secret, revealed only after some miraculous conversions at the end. The secret was pushed too much, the sadness too heavy, to achieve any higher than a seven.
Insightfulness: 4
I'm a huge family history buff. I love anecdotes about days gone by. I have an aunt who passed away at a young age. None of this book was new to me, except the mining and the Protestant worldview. Those topics count for the points earned.
Ease of Reading: 7
There were definitely paragraphs I had to read over again, mostly for logistical purposes. ("He was where? How did he get behind the barrel?") The vocabulary isn't that difficult; I think it's mostly the sentence structure that gets in the way. Again, trying too hard.
All of this rounds to a 5.85/10, which is a 2.9/5, hence the 3-star rating.
August 28, 2014
I had high hopes for this novel, which I understood was a story of redemption set in a Pennsylvania mining town in the early twentieth century. All the pieces are there, but I found the narrative choppy and the characters flat. Although I empathized with the people and their circumstances (not only Grace and poor Violet, but Owen as well), I remained unaffected emotionally. I wouldn't warn others away from this book, but it's hard to recommend highly.
October 20, 2014
Wow, almost everybody gave Barbara J. Taylor's Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night no less than three stars. I guess I missed something. I did not feel the same way at all. I felt that the whole theme of redemption pretty heavy handed. Taylor sets Sing/Cry in September 1913, in the small mining town in Scranton, PA. Violet Morgan is an eight year little girl who almost evrybody in town blames for the death of her nine year old sister, Daisy. Including her emotionally fragile mother, Grace, whose grief is actually personified. Violet's father, Owen, has "turned to drink" and has, for all intents and purposes, abandoned his family.
According to the notes located in the back of the book, Taylor makes note of a family tragedy and a blizzard that helped form the basis of Sing/Cry. Indeed, the Morgan family tragedy is horrendous. I couldn't even fathom losing a child and in such circumstances where your other surviving child might be to blame. In between a rock and hard place doesn't quite cover it. However, to me, the characters did not invoke any kind of sympathy from me.
I found Owen to be a sniffling, fickle mess. He was boring. Violet's character wasn't very developed for me to get an understanding for her. Honestly, I felt that Taylor did a better job with Stanley's characterization than Violet's. I enjoyed Stanley. Grace was a bit annoying and I hated Grief being corporeal. It took away from the drama. Plus, he disgusted me with creepiness. It was gross.
This will make sound so incredibly bad but it was too Southern Christian. That's right, I said it. It was all a little too much for me.
I did enjoy the close gossipy cliquey-ness of the town, especially Myrtle. I also really liked the names Owen and Grace. Those names stuck with me.
According to the notes located in the back of the book, Taylor makes note of a family tragedy and a blizzard that helped form the basis of Sing/Cry. Indeed, the Morgan family tragedy is horrendous. I couldn't even fathom losing a child and in such circumstances where your other surviving child might be to blame. In between a rock and hard place doesn't quite cover it. However, to me, the characters did not invoke any kind of sympathy from me.
I found Owen to be a sniffling, fickle mess. He was boring. Violet's character wasn't very developed for me to get an understanding for her. Honestly, I felt that Taylor did a better job with Stanley's characterization than Violet's. I enjoyed Stanley. Grace was a bit annoying and I hated Grief being corporeal. It took away from the drama. Plus, he disgusted me with creepiness. It was gross.
This will make sound so incredibly bad but it was too Southern Christian. That's right, I said it. It was all a little too much for me.
I did enjoy the close gossipy cliquey-ness of the town, especially Myrtle. I also really liked the names Owen and Grace. Those names stuck with me.
July 18, 2017
This is beautifully written with excellent attention to historical detail but I didn't enjoy this book at all.
Set in Scranton, PA in 1913, a coal mining family suffers a horrific tragedy when Daisy, the older daughter, suffers fatal burns because of a sparkler thrown by her younger sister, Violet. Following this mom sinks into debilitating depression and dad becomes an alcoholic and abandons the family. An abusive "missionary" worms her way into the household, dad gets hurt in a mine accident, mom dabbles in spiritualism and discovers she's unexpectedly pregnant, Violet's only friend suffers horrible physical abuse and has to leave school... the bad stuff just never ends. Every institution fails this family: the church, the schools, the doctor, the neighbors. Violet's aunt tries to be a positive influence but has problems getting any of the adults to act responsibly.
I hate stories that are all lows. An effective story about a tragedy features as many jokes as it does tears. "Sing int he Morning, Cry at Night" is all tears and all the pretty language can't save it.
Set in Scranton, PA in 1913, a coal mining family suffers a horrific tragedy when Daisy, the older daughter, suffers fatal burns because of a sparkler thrown by her younger sister, Violet. Following this mom sinks into debilitating depression and dad becomes an alcoholic and abandons the family. An abusive "missionary" worms her way into the household, dad gets hurt in a mine accident, mom dabbles in spiritualism and discovers she's unexpectedly pregnant, Violet's only friend suffers horrible physical abuse and has to leave school... the bad stuff just never ends. Every institution fails this family: the church, the schools, the doctor, the neighbors. Violet's aunt tries to be a positive influence but has problems getting any of the adults to act responsibly.
I hate stories that are all lows. An effective story about a tragedy features as many jokes as it does tears. "Sing int he Morning, Cry at Night" is all tears and all the pretty language can't save it.
April 10, 2014
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor is set at the turn of the 1900s in the coal mining town of Scranton, Pa., in the Wyoming Valley. It is the story of the Morgan family and an horrid tragedy. It is the story of how we cope when something unspeakable happens to our loved ones. Do we succumb to the blame that is so electric in the air? Do we allow guilt to become so comfortable in our home it's like admitting another person to the family? Do we give into the crutch of drink just to face the day? Do you not think you need to deal with the pain at all?
This world of anthracite mining, of hard work, sorrows, hope, good will, humor and old world wisdom is a treasure, a hard to put down treasure. I found myself rooting for this family. All of them.
This world of anthracite mining, of hard work, sorrows, hope, good will, humor and old world wisdom is a treasure, a hard to put down treasure. I found myself rooting for this family. All of them.
July 27, 2014
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night by Barbara J. Taylor will hold you spell bound with its richness of historic detail and story of a family dealing with tragedy. The setting is the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania, a historic anthracite area in 1913. Sensitive writing and strong characters compel you forward in this story.
Owen Morgan is the father who had a drinking problem before he married and took a pledge written in the family bible to not drink. He is also a miner who goes to work to support his family and lives with a deep sense of fatalism. When the whistle blows, people know there has been a mining accident and they crowd in to hear the news. Back then, if a father died, the eldest son was to go to the mines and work even if he was very young like eight years old. That would mean the end of childhood, long hours and the daily chance of death.
Grace Morgan is the mother. She has had a number of miscarriages and she has a ghost, named Greif. Grief first came to her when her father committed suicide and returned with every death in her family. Grief tempts seductively and does not want to lose her.
The oldest daughter, Daisy dies in a terrible accident involving a sparkler. She was burned badly except for her face and is angelic in death. She asks her sister to the play the piano while she is waiting to die and she sings along.
The younger daughter, Violet, has to deal with it all. After the accident, her father leaves and her mother retreats to be with her ghost. The town holds her responsible for the accident. Neither of her parents console her. She finds school unbearable with its ostracism and starts playing hooky with her new friend Stanley. His father sees no point in schooling for him since he is going to work in the mines anyway and his mother has died long ago.
The town is excited about the coming revival meeting with Billy Sunday, a colorful and dramatic evangelist who used to be a famous baseball player for the Chicago White Sox. My mother saw him speak in her childhood so I was really interested in his portrayal in this book.
I find nothing that could be improved in this book. It was a journey into family grief and depressing time and place in history. I highly recommend it, and think anyone who reads it will be riveted to this song until the finish.
I received this Advance Reading Copy as a win from FirstReads and that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review.
Owen Morgan is the father who had a drinking problem before he married and took a pledge written in the family bible to not drink. He is also a miner who goes to work to support his family and lives with a deep sense of fatalism. When the whistle blows, people know there has been a mining accident and they crowd in to hear the news. Back then, if a father died, the eldest son was to go to the mines and work even if he was very young like eight years old. That would mean the end of childhood, long hours and the daily chance of death.
Grace Morgan is the mother. She has had a number of miscarriages and she has a ghost, named Greif. Grief first came to her when her father committed suicide and returned with every death in her family. Grief tempts seductively and does not want to lose her.
The oldest daughter, Daisy dies in a terrible accident involving a sparkler. She was burned badly except for her face and is angelic in death. She asks her sister to the play the piano while she is waiting to die and she sings along.
The younger daughter, Violet, has to deal with it all. After the accident, her father leaves and her mother retreats to be with her ghost. The town holds her responsible for the accident. Neither of her parents console her. She finds school unbearable with its ostracism and starts playing hooky with her new friend Stanley. His father sees no point in schooling for him since he is going to work in the mines anyway and his mother has died long ago.
The town is excited about the coming revival meeting with Billy Sunday, a colorful and dramatic evangelist who used to be a famous baseball player for the Chicago White Sox. My mother saw him speak in her childhood so I was really interested in his portrayal in this book.
I find nothing that could be improved in this book. It was a journey into family grief and depressing time and place in history. I highly recommend it, and think anyone who reads it will be riveted to this song until the finish.
I received this Advance Reading Copy as a win from FirstReads and that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in this review.
May 23, 2015
Years ago Barb Taylor was an English teacher in a high school where I was a librarian. I always knew she was a wonderful teacher but I didn't know she was such a talented writer. I loved this book, and I don't think it was because I know the author.
Through her beautifully drawn characters, she painted a vivid picture of the lives of the immigrant coal miners who worked the mines in Scranton, PA during the first part of the 1900s. I won't soon forget Grace, Owen, Violet, Stanley, or the widow Lankowski. The relationship between Violet and Stanley often elicited an emotional response from me because they were both so in need of love and kindness, and when they met those needs for each other, it was very touching.
I also enjoyed the sort of Greek Chorus of community comments that were sprinkled throughout the book because they portrayed the thoughts and feelings of the town's people without really interfering with the story. Although a little bothersome for me at first, the Grief character DID realistically show Grace's internal struggles with her ambiguous feelings toward Violet.
Through her beautifully drawn characters, she painted a vivid picture of the lives of the immigrant coal miners who worked the mines in Scranton, PA during the first part of the 1900s. I won't soon forget Grace, Owen, Violet, Stanley, or the widow Lankowski. The relationship between Violet and Stanley often elicited an emotional response from me because they were both so in need of love and kindness, and when they met those needs for each other, it was very touching.
I also enjoyed the sort of Greek Chorus of community comments that were sprinkled throughout the book because they portrayed the thoughts and feelings of the town's people without really interfering with the story. Although a little bothersome for me at first, the Grief character DID realistically show Grace's internal struggles with her ambiguous feelings toward Violet.
April 10, 2017
A novel of tragedy and haunting struggles the revolve around several families involved in early 20th century coal mining. The novel mainly revolves around Violet who lost her sister in an accident. I enjoyed seeing the history of my hometown come to life and appreciated that the dangers of life back then were not glamorized.
December 16, 2017
3.5/5
Taylor writes this melancholy tale well. I really liked the character of Grief and his relationshp with Grace, and the historical context this story has. Overall a sad read, but you really come to care for these characters and hope in their redemption.
Taylor writes this melancholy tale well. I really liked the character of Grief and his relationshp with Grace, and the historical context this story has. Overall a sad read, but you really come to care for these characters and hope in their redemption.
December 2, 2017
This book was beautifully written. I loved Taylor's personification of Grief and how it visits a person. It's a story about a young girl whose sister died tragically, and she feels responsible for her death. But there's much more to this story than that. Check it out for a great read.
March 28, 2017
Four strong stars, what a great "comfort" read.
February 5, 2020
In het Nederlands gelezen: Nachtlied. Op de kaft staat: ‘Een schitterend verhaal, schrijnend en hoopvol tegelijk.’ En dat klopt!
July 12, 2014
Barbara J. Taylor’s Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night (released at the start of this month) is an ambitious novel, one that attempts to capture a time period and a region, as well as a cast of characters. The period is the nineteen-teens; the region Pennsylvania’s coal mining towns, specifically Scranton; the characters are a family broken by the loss of a child, the town itself, and Grief.
On July 4, 1923, eight-year-old Violet Morgan is quarreling with her older sister, Daisy, their pinches and shoves knock over their mother who is about to put a pie in the oven, and their father yells at them to go outside. On the front porch the two girls find the sparklers their father has hidden for a celebration that evening. The girls decide to light one, and Daisy’s dress goes up in flames. Three days later, Daisy is dead.
There’s plenty of guilt and pain to go around. Grace, the girls’ mother, mourns the loss of her favorite, in her worst moments blaming Violet for the tragedy. Father Owen blames himself for sending the girls outside and for buying the sparklers. Poor Violet blames herself not just for her sister’s death, but for all the misfortunes that befall her family and her best friend.
The novel has two remaining characters, who deserve introduction. First, the town itself, which narrates occasional chapters in a collective voice, passing on gossip and speculation. The final character is Grief, who Grace has been seeing and conversing with for years as one tragedy after another has struck her family. He’s a pernicious companion, always available, always working to grind down any emerging sense of hope.
To this mix add Billy Sunday, ex-baseball player and the most well-known evangelist of the early Twentieth Century. He’s planning a Scranton crusade, hoping to drive out cards, dancing, and alcohol—and to save a few thousand souls in the process.
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is thick with action and emotion, making it a hard-to-put-down read. Taylor knows how to end a chapter so that the reader feels compelled to continue for “just one more.” In less capable hands, this narrative would turn into melodrama. Taylor walks that fine edge, but the vividness of the characters she portrays and the structural originality of the novel prevent her from crossing over.
This book is a great read for anyone trying to understand the contradictions of the early Twentieth Century, the combination of Bible thumping and union busting, but that isn’t the only reason to read this book: it’s just good fiction of the sort one want this time of year, offering both action and well-delineated characters.
On July 4, 1923, eight-year-old Violet Morgan is quarreling with her older sister, Daisy, their pinches and shoves knock over their mother who is about to put a pie in the oven, and their father yells at them to go outside. On the front porch the two girls find the sparklers their father has hidden for a celebration that evening. The girls decide to light one, and Daisy’s dress goes up in flames. Three days later, Daisy is dead.
There’s plenty of guilt and pain to go around. Grace, the girls’ mother, mourns the loss of her favorite, in her worst moments blaming Violet for the tragedy. Father Owen blames himself for sending the girls outside and for buying the sparklers. Poor Violet blames herself not just for her sister’s death, but for all the misfortunes that befall her family and her best friend.
The novel has two remaining characters, who deserve introduction. First, the town itself, which narrates occasional chapters in a collective voice, passing on gossip and speculation. The final character is Grief, who Grace has been seeing and conversing with for years as one tragedy after another has struck her family. He’s a pernicious companion, always available, always working to grind down any emerging sense of hope.
To this mix add Billy Sunday, ex-baseball player and the most well-known evangelist of the early Twentieth Century. He’s planning a Scranton crusade, hoping to drive out cards, dancing, and alcohol—and to save a few thousand souls in the process.
Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night is thick with action and emotion, making it a hard-to-put-down read. Taylor knows how to end a chapter so that the reader feels compelled to continue for “just one more.” In less capable hands, this narrative would turn into melodrama. Taylor walks that fine edge, but the vividness of the characters she portrays and the structural originality of the novel prevent her from crossing over.
This book is a great read for anyone trying to understand the contradictions of the early Twentieth Century, the combination of Bible thumping and union busting, but that isn’t the only reason to read this book: it’s just good fiction of the sort one want this time of year, offering both action and well-delineated characters.
August 18, 2016
This is a brilliant debut novel. The writing is smooth and at times, lyrical; the characters, realistic and memorable; and the setting in an early twentieth century Pennsylvania coal mining community, captivating.
When nine-year old Daisy dies from a freak accident, a shroud of suspicion and blame falls onto her eight-year-old "jealous" sister Violet, thanks to the vicious rumors spread by their self-righteous gossip-mongering neighbor. Violet's parents are so overwhelmed with grief, her mother can barely function. Her father still works in the coal mine, and continues to take care of his family financially, but he can't live with them. Instead, he rents a room above a gin mill, which allows him easy access to the only thing that grants him temporary solace. With the help of fellow outcast and classmate "stinky" Stanley, and a kind Catholic widow lady, (considered non-Christian by the highly judgmental Protestants...) Violet learns to cope, but she longs for her mother's love and forgiveness, and her father's return to the family home.
The author paints a heartbreaking picture of how dramatically a family can be ripped apart by grief, but she also shows that love, faith, and redemption have the power to put it back together again.
I give this book four and a half very strong stars, and a high recommendation. So why not five stars, you say? Because it wasn't love at first sight. It took a while for this book to capture my heart.
When nine-year old Daisy dies from a freak accident, a shroud of suspicion and blame falls onto her eight-year-old "jealous" sister Violet, thanks to the vicious rumors spread by their self-righteous gossip-mongering neighbor. Violet's parents are so overwhelmed with grief, her mother can barely function. Her father still works in the coal mine, and continues to take care of his family financially, but he can't live with them. Instead, he rents a room above a gin mill, which allows him easy access to the only thing that grants him temporary solace. With the help of fellow outcast and classmate "stinky" Stanley, and a kind Catholic widow lady, (considered non-Christian by the highly judgmental Protestants...) Violet learns to cope, but she longs for her mother's love and forgiveness, and her father's return to the family home.
The author paints a heartbreaking picture of how dramatically a family can be ripped apart by grief, but she also shows that love, faith, and redemption have the power to put it back together again.
I give this book four and a half very strong stars, and a high recommendation. So why not five stars, you say? Because it wasn't love at first sight. It took a while for this book to capture my heart.
May 5, 2014
"If she keeps knocking at the devil's door, someone's bound to answer." This is just one of the many nuggets of wisdom I found within "Sing in the Morning..."
Some aspects of the novel were brilliant, such as Taylor creating a character named Grief, who reminded me of a old, nasty vampire whose attention to Grace (no pun intended) is almost sexual. He insinuates himself into her life, she talks out loud to him, and it's more than eerie. Violet seems a little dumbstruck much of the time, her Stanley is a better fleshed out character. I enjoyed the "Mrs. Joe's Housekeeping Guide" tidbits and the brief chapter entries written from the point of view of a group of women who clean the church, among other things ("widows and spinsters"). "Sing" reminds me somewhat of "The Little Friend." Wonderful lines, such as "The teacher managed a smile, one where the corners of her mouth lifted without alerting the eyes of their intention" and "Those who thought grief had a beginning and an end were particularly grateful for her effort."
Taylor does an excellent job of creating senses of sadness and madness, too - heartbreak and pathos and decay. Lovely.
P. S. Thanks to Edelweiss for providing a review copy (lots of letters missing, such as "f" and "l" that made it difficult to understand at times) in exchange for an honest review.
Some aspects of the novel were brilliant, such as Taylor creating a character named Grief, who reminded me of a old, nasty vampire whose attention to Grace (no pun intended) is almost sexual. He insinuates himself into her life, she talks out loud to him, and it's more than eerie. Violet seems a little dumbstruck much of the time, her Stanley is a better fleshed out character. I enjoyed the "Mrs. Joe's Housekeeping Guide" tidbits and the brief chapter entries written from the point of view of a group of women who clean the church, among other things ("widows and spinsters"). "Sing" reminds me somewhat of "The Little Friend." Wonderful lines, such as "The teacher managed a smile, one where the corners of her mouth lifted without alerting the eyes of their intention" and "Those who thought grief had a beginning and an end were particularly grateful for her effort."
Taylor does an excellent job of creating senses of sadness and madness, too - heartbreak and pathos and decay. Lovely.
P. S. Thanks to Edelweiss for providing a review copy (lots of letters missing, such as "f" and "l" that made it difficult to understand at times) in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2015
On the 4th of July, 1913, a 9 year old girl is the victim of a tragic accident, and almost everyone in the town of Scranton, Pennsylvania, blames her 8 year old sister Violet. Everyone in the family reacts to the tragedy differently. Owen, the girls father, drinks; Grace, their mother, falls into depression, and talks to Grief, an imaginary figure only she can see. Violet forms an unlikely friendship with Stanley Adamski, a motherless outcast who works in the mines as a breaker boy.
This story deals with how tragedy can pull a family apart, but unforeseen events can also pull them back together again. It is inspired by true events in the lives of the author's family. While it is a haunting story, it is also one of hope, and infused with gentle moments of humor.
I really enjoyed this story. The aspects of the story dealing with the dangers of working in the mines, and the culture of the Welch immigrants reminded me a lot of Richard Llewellyn's How Green Was My Valley. The story really drew me in right from the first chapter, and the story of what really happened on that July 4th is revealed slowly over the course of the story.
I won a free paperback copy of this book from Library Thing.
This story deals with how tragedy can pull a family apart, but unforeseen events can also pull them back together again. It is inspired by true events in the lives of the author's family. While it is a haunting story, it is also one of hope, and infused with gentle moments of humor.
I really enjoyed this story. The aspects of the story dealing with the dangers of working in the mines, and the culture of the Welch immigrants reminded me a lot of Richard Llewellyn's How Green Was My Valley. The story really drew me in right from the first chapter, and the story of what really happened on that July 4th is revealed slowly over the course of the story.
I won a free paperback copy of this book from Library Thing.
July 15, 2014
ARC received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway
This is a "must-read"! The story of a family from early 1900's mining town Scranton, Pennsylvania, the reader is taken inside the depths of a family's grief while living their daily lives. The characters in this book are so believably real. Ms. Taylor delves deep into the intense emotions of each member of the family. I felt as though I was actually sitting in the house, the yard or the mine. This novel is truly a look at how a family comes through grief to become a whole family again.
The author also gives us some comic relief with a "missionary" from the west, with the neighbor's judgment of them and with the inside of a revival tent in the midst of a blizzard. The town is like every town with busybodies and "real" neighbors. The lives of coal miners are described with perfection.
Ms. Taylor will be an author to watch! With a debut novel as wonderful as this, I'm excited to see what she comes up with next!
This is a "must-read"! The story of a family from early 1900's mining town Scranton, Pennsylvania, the reader is taken inside the depths of a family's grief while living their daily lives. The characters in this book are so believably real. Ms. Taylor delves deep into the intense emotions of each member of the family. I felt as though I was actually sitting in the house, the yard or the mine. This novel is truly a look at how a family comes through grief to become a whole family again.
The author also gives us some comic relief with a "missionary" from the west, with the neighbor's judgment of them and with the inside of a revival tent in the midst of a blizzard. The town is like every town with busybodies and "real" neighbors. The lives of coal miners are described with perfection.
Ms. Taylor will be an author to watch! With a debut novel as wonderful as this, I'm excited to see what she comes up with next!
July 6, 2014
Sing in the Morning Cry at Night set in mining town of Scranton PA in 1913 - 1914 tells the story of the Morgan family tragedy and the effects on individual family members, friends and the community as a whole. Based on a true story the novel captures the depth of despair, guilt and anguish the family experiences at the death of their daughter.
In addition to the family and other characters, Taylor uses Grief and the Community to provide depth and move the story along. She personifies Grief and employs the character to explore the mother’s spiraling depression and misery. She also gives the Community a voice in chapters that reveal the communal thinking of events as the novel unfolds.
This is an engaging story with appealing characters, historical detail, and touches of humor.
Thanks to Goodreads for providing me with a copy of this novel.
In addition to the family and other characters, Taylor uses Grief and the Community to provide depth and move the story along. She personifies Grief and employs the character to explore the mother’s spiraling depression and misery. She also gives the Community a voice in chapters that reveal the communal thinking of events as the novel unfolds.
This is an engaging story with appealing characters, historical detail, and touches of humor.
Thanks to Goodreads for providing me with a copy of this novel.
July 25, 2017
Barbara J. Taylor really brings her setting, time period & characters to life. I loved the children she created, Violet & Stanley, & felt much sympathy for them. I would've enjoyed more scenes focused on their friendship and adventures in the mining town where they grew up. I especially enjoyed the Billy Sunday crusade, with folks walking the sawdust trail & the music directed by Homer Rodeheaver.
I wanted to like Owen & Grace more but couldn't help but see them as self-focused & weak---whether or not grief had gotten hold of them. And it was difficult to get past the women who blamed an 8 year old for a tragedy. The author is extremely talented; the story, a bit more misery-filled than I was looking for.
I wanted to like Owen & Grace more but couldn't help but see them as self-focused & weak---whether or not grief had gotten hold of them. And it was difficult to get past the women who blamed an 8 year old for a tragedy. The author is extremely talented; the story, a bit more misery-filled than I was looking for.
December 2, 2016
So heartbreakingly sad that it was hard to read at times, this book did an excellent job of capturing life in a company town and the power of gossip. I was impressed by how the author turned Grief into an actual character, a clever way of demonstrating how grief can completely overcome a person. I also found interesting the insights into Billy Sunday and his revival movement. Still, with all of its strengths and several well drawn characters, the story at times seemed formulaic and predictable. In all, I was probably more taken by the writing than by the story itself, which is not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I liked it; I just think the story could have been a bit less predictable.
September 30, 2014
Grief effects each family member in separate dysfunctional ways that tear them apart and threaten their live
two you girls play with sparklers and one catches on fire her death ravages,the family who in grief and guilt tear them apart. love and faith work in unpredictable ways to help them finally reach peace
two you girls play with sparklers and one catches on fire her death ravages,the family who in grief and guilt tear them apart. love and faith work in unpredictable ways to help them finally reach peace
September 17, 2014
I found this book rather dull and unengaging. Although I did find how the author used Grief in the book to be interesting.
March 28, 2015
Adored this historical fiction based on an accident that occurred in the author's family ! Well written with lovable characters - I will be looking for more from this author .
May 29, 2015
I enjoyed the personification of a few things, like Grief, but the rest wasn't too interesting to me.
January 29, 2016
This was one of those books I didn't want to end because I enjoyed it so much!
April 15, 2019
Strong start and weak finish
I was really enjoying this book until about the last 25 pages. The ending was happily wrapped in ribbons and bows, which I found unbelievable. Though a work of fiction, my imagination could not stretch that far. The book was also heavy on church and religion, which was appropriate for the time and place, and it fit well with the story. There were just a few too many “miracles” at the end for my taste. Early in the novel, I was reminded of books by Wiley Cash for the setting, characters, and plot. Not the writing though. No offense Ms. Taylor, but Mr. Cash (IMHO) can write circles around most authors.
Set in Scranton Pennsylvania in 1913 and moving back in time, this book is about 8 year old Violet. She is accused of killing her 9 year old sister Daisy when they were playing with fireworks. Even her mother blames her. Violet starts to question herself, wondering if she killed her sister on purpose due to jealousy. Daisy was the favored child. She suffered serious burns from a sparkler and lingered for three days. She sang hymns while she was dying, which only further endeared her to the town. After Daisy’s death, the family falls apart. Grace, their mother, withdraws into herself and is visited by Grief. Grief is an interesting character, ghostly, jealous, erotic, and generally up to no good. Violet’s father Owen works in the coal mines and turns to alcohol after Daisy’s death. So, the family is torn apart and Violet is left to her own devices. She is befriended by an unpopular Polish boy and a town widow who takes them both in. The two kids struggle to survive without love from family. The story progresses through devastating mine accidents and deaths, Grace’s out of control spiral into depression, and a much anticipated 7 week visit by evangelist Billy Sunday. I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that people find their way back to God and that Violet’s family is reunited with hope for the future.
The author states that the idea for this story is based on her own family history with a great aunt who died from burns caused by fireworks. There are historically accurate parts, including Billy Sunday. The author includes some great photos from that era in Scranton. There are some really brilliant pieces in this book. One is a personified Grief who plans to destroy the family. The other bit of brilliance is the opening to each section of the book. The section starts with a paragraph of housekeeping advice from the 1909 edition of Mrs. Joe’s Housekeeping Guide. Better yet, this is followed by a Greek chorus of the Scranton church ladies who provide biting and judgmental commentary on town events. You can easily visualize them gossiping away. Good stuff! There are also some interesting secondary characters. I thought that the Violet character was well done and empathetic. I was really enjoying this story and the characters and fully anticipated a 5 star rating. The ending just ruined it for me. I don’t want to spoil too much, but there is a childbirth scene in chapter 34 that just defies logic and imagination. That is where Ms. Taylor lost me. At least most of the ride was very good.
I was really enjoying this book until about the last 25 pages. The ending was happily wrapped in ribbons and bows, which I found unbelievable. Though a work of fiction, my imagination could not stretch that far. The book was also heavy on church and religion, which was appropriate for the time and place, and it fit well with the story. There were just a few too many “miracles” at the end for my taste. Early in the novel, I was reminded of books by Wiley Cash for the setting, characters, and plot. Not the writing though. No offense Ms. Taylor, but Mr. Cash (IMHO) can write circles around most authors.
Set in Scranton Pennsylvania in 1913 and moving back in time, this book is about 8 year old Violet. She is accused of killing her 9 year old sister Daisy when they were playing with fireworks. Even her mother blames her. Violet starts to question herself, wondering if she killed her sister on purpose due to jealousy. Daisy was the favored child. She suffered serious burns from a sparkler and lingered for three days. She sang hymns while she was dying, which only further endeared her to the town. After Daisy’s death, the family falls apart. Grace, their mother, withdraws into herself and is visited by Grief. Grief is an interesting character, ghostly, jealous, erotic, and generally up to no good. Violet’s father Owen works in the coal mines and turns to alcohol after Daisy’s death. So, the family is torn apart and Violet is left to her own devices. She is befriended by an unpopular Polish boy and a town widow who takes them both in. The two kids struggle to survive without love from family. The story progresses through devastating mine accidents and deaths, Grace’s out of control spiral into depression, and a much anticipated 7 week visit by evangelist Billy Sunday. I don’t think it is a spoiler to say that people find their way back to God and that Violet’s family is reunited with hope for the future.
The author states that the idea for this story is based on her own family history with a great aunt who died from burns caused by fireworks. There are historically accurate parts, including Billy Sunday. The author includes some great photos from that era in Scranton. There are some really brilliant pieces in this book. One is a personified Grief who plans to destroy the family. The other bit of brilliance is the opening to each section of the book. The section starts with a paragraph of housekeeping advice from the 1909 edition of Mrs. Joe’s Housekeeping Guide. Better yet, this is followed by a Greek chorus of the Scranton church ladies who provide biting and judgmental commentary on town events. You can easily visualize them gossiping away. Good stuff! There are also some interesting secondary characters. I thought that the Violet character was well done and empathetic. I was really enjoying this story and the characters and fully anticipated a 5 star rating. The ending just ruined it for me. I don’t want to spoil too much, but there is a childbirth scene in chapter 34 that just defies logic and imagination. That is where Ms. Taylor lost me. At least most of the ride was very good.
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