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Mourning Redemption
Book by Clarke, Sharon M
160 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 17, 2008
This book has done something that no other book has ever done for me, made me truly interested in history and anxious to read more. To be perfectly honest this is a subject I am usually not very interested in. Fortunately I was provided this book by a great publishing group -Triad. I knew that it was on my to be read pile, and because it isn't very long thought I would pick it up and "get it over with". Wow, how judgemental can I be, right? Well, thank you Sharon M. Clarke and Vern Firestone for making me see that I literally can't judge a book by it's cover.
To say that being a coal miner is a dangerous job would be an understatement - each year there are over 93 deaths and thousands of injuries. Sharon M. Clarke has written a wonderful story which uses mining as a backdrop for some extraordinary characters, and leads you on a journey that will tug on your heartstrings. It is not one you are soon to forget.
The Evans family have nothing holding them back after Mari loses her
mother, and Rhodri's job at the mine is rendered redundant. They decide that now is as good a time as any to start over, and what better place than America. So they pack a few items and board a ship with their 3 young boys.
Once here they decide that New York is not for them and they settle in New Salem, PA. It is a mining town, which is ok with the Evans' as this is the life that they are accustomed to. Unfortunately, working in the mines was similar to slavery - you arrived here with nothing and the mine set you up with a place to live and the essentials, but you used credit that the mine set up. It became almost impossible to get ahead so you became trapped in a very dangerous and very hard life.
The sorrow that this book exudes is overwhelming at times. I think what makes it so is the fact that this is how people lived their lives. The author has an uncanny ability to weave historical elements into the story, and really make you feel as if you understand what the individuals were going through. Starting with the sinking of the Titanic and the effect that it has on Mari's neighbor and best friend Catherine, to the effects of a heartbreaking loss due to Anthrax, and what emotions are evoked when the oldest boy enlists in the military to fight in WWI.
This story encompasses so much history and brings it to light in such a fantastic way, it was truly a page turner. Many people today, myself included, are not aware of the hardships that these people went through just to survive daily - the children received a knitted scarf and an orange for Christmas gifts and were THRILLED - can you imagine that happening today?
This may be the story of just one family, but we all should be able to read this and see what are ancestors did in order to provide us with the way of living most of us are accustomed to - I am hopeful this will make some of us take stock in our lives and do things that will leave a lasting impact on
our descendents.
I don't give out 5 stars on a book lightly - it doesn't mean that I didn't like the book, in fact I love a lot of books that I only give 4 stars to. It takes a special book to earn 5 stars, and this one has done it. Thanks to Sharon M. Clarke, and hope to read more by you soon!
This book will be raffled off the first week in February. To enter this raffle visit www.uponfurtherreview.org and sign the guestbook underneath any book you are interested in.
As always if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at tracee@uponfurtherreview.org
To say that being a coal miner is a dangerous job would be an understatement - each year there are over 93 deaths and thousands of injuries. Sharon M. Clarke has written a wonderful story which uses mining as a backdrop for some extraordinary characters, and leads you on a journey that will tug on your heartstrings. It is not one you are soon to forget.
The Evans family have nothing holding them back after Mari loses her
mother, and Rhodri's job at the mine is rendered redundant. They decide that now is as good a time as any to start over, and what better place than America. So they pack a few items and board a ship with their 3 young boys.
Once here they decide that New York is not for them and they settle in New Salem, PA. It is a mining town, which is ok with the Evans' as this is the life that they are accustomed to. Unfortunately, working in the mines was similar to slavery - you arrived here with nothing and the mine set you up with a place to live and the essentials, but you used credit that the mine set up. It became almost impossible to get ahead so you became trapped in a very dangerous and very hard life.
The sorrow that this book exudes is overwhelming at times. I think what makes it so is the fact that this is how people lived their lives. The author has an uncanny ability to weave historical elements into the story, and really make you feel as if you understand what the individuals were going through. Starting with the sinking of the Titanic and the effect that it has on Mari's neighbor and best friend Catherine, to the effects of a heartbreaking loss due to Anthrax, and what emotions are evoked when the oldest boy enlists in the military to fight in WWI.
This story encompasses so much history and brings it to light in such a fantastic way, it was truly a page turner. Many people today, myself included, are not aware of the hardships that these people went through just to survive daily - the children received a knitted scarf and an orange for Christmas gifts and were THRILLED - can you imagine that happening today?
This may be the story of just one family, but we all should be able to read this and see what are ancestors did in order to provide us with the way of living most of us are accustomed to - I am hopeful this will make some of us take stock in our lives and do things that will leave a lasting impact on
our descendents.
I don't give out 5 stars on a book lightly - it doesn't mean that I didn't like the book, in fact I love a lot of books that I only give 4 stars to. It takes a special book to earn 5 stars, and this one has done it. Thanks to Sharon M. Clarke, and hope to read more by you soon!
This book will be raffled off the first week in February. To enter this raffle visit www.uponfurtherreview.org and sign the guestbook underneath any book you are interested in.
As always if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at tracee@uponfurtherreview.org
October 17, 2008
Mourning Redemption captures a segment of American history with wit, charm, drama and love. This story is as raw as an abusive husband and father, as frightening as the Black Maria bearing her injured, dead and dying coal miners to their families for a final farewell and as tender as young love and a stolen kiss.
From the moment I turned the first page of this marvelous novel, I was drawn into the story of the Evans family, as they crossed the Atlantic to settle in New Salem, a coal mining town in southwest Pennsylvania. Here, the miners are but cogs in the coal mining “machine”, endlessly yoked to soaring credit at the company store, poor housing and food and lives filled with hard work, black coal dust and ever present danger. The only chance many have of breaking the vicious cycle lies in the grave and any stolen moments of joy in the interim seem as precious and rare as gemstones.
I was drawn into the forbidden love of “bad boy” Orville Jenkins and Kelly Hennessy, which tugged at my heart strings as a pregnant Kelly was sent packing to Michigan to have her child. As the world goes mad in the midst of the Great War, Orville is filled with dreams of being united with his love and their young son, Morgan, but Kelly dies while he is still overseas and Orville passes on as well, leaving poor Morgan a young orphan. Morgan’s return to New Salem on Geraint Evans’ broad shoulders heals many wounds, proving to all the resilience of life itself. Despite the incredible struggle and numerous setbacks, life is indeed to be treasured, savored like fine wine and renewed in the eyes of the very young. Like the boys of New Salem, may we swing life’s bat with all of our might and grin with delight at every home run. This book is a triumph.
From the moment I turned the first page of this marvelous novel, I was drawn into the story of the Evans family, as they crossed the Atlantic to settle in New Salem, a coal mining town in southwest Pennsylvania. Here, the miners are but cogs in the coal mining “machine”, endlessly yoked to soaring credit at the company store, poor housing and food and lives filled with hard work, black coal dust and ever present danger. The only chance many have of breaking the vicious cycle lies in the grave and any stolen moments of joy in the interim seem as precious and rare as gemstones.
I was drawn into the forbidden love of “bad boy” Orville Jenkins and Kelly Hennessy, which tugged at my heart strings as a pregnant Kelly was sent packing to Michigan to have her child. As the world goes mad in the midst of the Great War, Orville is filled with dreams of being united with his love and their young son, Morgan, but Kelly dies while he is still overseas and Orville passes on as well, leaving poor Morgan a young orphan. Morgan’s return to New Salem on Geraint Evans’ broad shoulders heals many wounds, proving to all the resilience of life itself. Despite the incredible struggle and numerous setbacks, life is indeed to be treasured, savored like fine wine and renewed in the eyes of the very young. Like the boys of New Salem, may we swing life’s bat with all of our might and grin with delight at every home run. This book is a triumph.
September 9, 2009
The story of the Evans family as they immigrate from Wales to southwest Pennsylvania is a compelling if not a familiar one. Life in a coal mining town and the relationships that are bonded through culture and shared hardships are artfully described by Sharon Clarke. I can't wait for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2013
this was an okay book. It was hard, long and boring in spots but it did have some really heart warming spots.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews