Revelation

by Joanne Gormley

When her mother dies, Christine Macdonald is left haunted by the half-told tales of a child her mother gave birth to during WW2. Through found journals and letters, she begins to piece together the story of her parents’ lives. Christine also revisits her own adolescence, a disturbing time when her mother, suffering a religious breakdown, confided confused secrets about the war baby. What truly happened between her parents? And what part did the Catholic Church and her grandmother play in the story of the child? Christine’s inquires lead her to the Quebec archives with the hope of discovering the truth.
An intimate family tale that interweaves the lives of three generations, Revelation investigates the power of stories, their impact on memory and legacy, and how imagination, love and forgiveness can offer a way forward.

309 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2024

Reviews

[Dale Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanne is a good friend , so I had to put that aside in reviewing her book . I was truly impressed with her portrayal of her family , and her unique story

[Don Macdonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congratulations to Joanne Gormley for this excellent novel. The story moves back and forth in time to create an emotionally gripping narrative. Through a daughter's quest to understand her mother's early life, the book illuminates the power the Catholic church once held over families in Quebec and the tragic toll it took, especially on women. Bravo!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating! True to life experience of women who lived, in Quebec, under the, all powerful, eye of the Catholic Church spanning two generations, from the time of the war (WWII). Historically important and hard to put down. Great read!

[Maureen Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well worth reading as it is not only a good story, true to its Montreal setting, but also a touching family saga of the impact of religious and social forces on a woman’s life.