What do you think?
Rate this book
The Tumbling Turner Sisters
For fans of Orphan Train and Sara Gruen’s Water for Elephants, a compelling historical novel from “one of the best authors of women’s fiction” (Library Journal). Set against the turbulent backdrop of American Vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventure—and a last-ditch effort to save their family.
In 1919, the Turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. Their father is a low-paid boot-stitcher in Johnson City, New York, and the family is always one paycheck away from eviction. When their father’s hand is crushed and he can no longer work, their irrepressible mother decides that the vaudeville stage is their best—and only—chance for survival.
Traveling by train from town to town, teenagers Gert, Winnie, and Kit, and recent widow Nell soon find a new kind of freedom in the company of performers who are as diverse as their acts. There is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated. Heartwarming and surprising, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is ultimately a story of awakening—to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new American era.
In 1919, the Turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. Their father is a low-paid boot-stitcher in Johnson City, New York, and the family is always one paycheck away from eviction. When their father’s hand is crushed and he can no longer work, their irrepressible mother decides that the vaudeville stage is their best—and only—chance for survival.
Traveling by train from town to town, teenagers Gert, Winnie, and Kit, and recent widow Nell soon find a new kind of freedom in the company of performers who are as diverse as their acts. There is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated. Heartwarming and surprising, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is ultimately a story of awakening—to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new American era.
352 pages, ebook
First published June 14, 2016
322 people are currently reading
5805 people want to read
About the author
Juliette Fay
9 books892 followersJuliette Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels, including THE HARVEY GIRLS, THE HALF OF IT, CATCH US WHEN WE FALL, CITY OF FLICKERING LIGHT and THE TUMBLING TURNER SISTERS, a USA Today bestseller and Costco Pennie’s Book Club Pick. Previous novels include THE SHORTEST WAY HOME, one of Library Journal’s Top 5 Best Books of 2012: Women’s Fiction; DEEP DOWN TRUE, short-listed for the 2011Women’s Fiction award by the American Library Association; and SHELTER ME, a 2009 Massachusetts Book Award “Must-Read Book” and an Indie Next pick.
Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Follow her on Facebook: Juliette Fay author, Instagram: Juliette_Fay, and BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julie...
Juliette is a graduate of Boston College and Harvard University, and lives in Massachusetts with her family. Follow her on Facebook: Juliette Fay author, Instagram: Juliette_Fay, and BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/julie...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 711 reviews
April 16, 2022
Loved every minute of it!
Enter the world of Vaudeville with a group of sisters in 1918 and hear their story.
Fascinating and captivating. I enjoyed this audio very much. Free on Audible for subscribers. Highly recommend it if you enjoy Historical Fiction.
Enter the world of Vaudeville with a group of sisters in 1918 and hear their story.
Fascinating and captivating. I enjoyed this audio very much. Free on Audible for subscribers. Highly recommend it if you enjoy Historical Fiction.
May 1, 2022
“The Tumbling Turner Sisters” is a story that begs to be heard. The audio narrated by Katie Schorr and Eileen Stevens is a joy to listen. It’s an historical fiction story of vaudeville. Author Juliette Fay drops pieces of historical facts that serve as a background of the Turner family adventures.
The Turner family falls on hard times in 1919 when his hand becomes crushed making him unable to work. Their mother takes matters in her own hands and gets the girls into vaudeville because work for women was limited.
The story is told from two sister viewpoint: Gert, the more cynical sister, and Winnie the sweet optimistic sister. The other sisters are Kit and Nell. Their ages range from 13 to 22. Nell, the oldest, is a war widow with an infant. Their adventures begin when their mother decides that tumbling is something they can all do. The girls make improvements and attract the attention of an agent. The act signs with a tour of upstate New York.
Gert and Winnie’s narrations bring life to their journey through the state. The girls encounter racism, sexism, and social prejudice. They learned of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Seeing the world through the eyes of teenage girls was fun.
This is an enjoyable tale. I loved being with the Turners every moment. For those who enjoyed Laurie Frankel’s “One Two Three” will enjoy this story as well. Both have spunky narrators opening the reader’s eyes to their views, thoughts, and opinions.
I highly recommend the audio!
The Turner family falls on hard times in 1919 when his hand becomes crushed making him unable to work. Their mother takes matters in her own hands and gets the girls into vaudeville because work for women was limited.
The story is told from two sister viewpoint: Gert, the more cynical sister, and Winnie the sweet optimistic sister. The other sisters are Kit and Nell. Their ages range from 13 to 22. Nell, the oldest, is a war widow with an infant. Their adventures begin when their mother decides that tumbling is something they can all do. The girls make improvements and attract the attention of an agent. The act signs with a tour of upstate New York.
Gert and Winnie’s narrations bring life to their journey through the state. The girls encounter racism, sexism, and social prejudice. They learned of the Women’s Suffrage movement. Seeing the world through the eyes of teenage girls was fun.
This is an enjoyable tale. I loved being with the Turners every moment. For those who enjoyed Laurie Frankel’s “One Two Three” will enjoy this story as well. Both have spunky narrators opening the reader’s eyes to their views, thoughts, and opinions.
I highly recommend the audio!
January 9, 2019
***I'M SO EXCITED TO SHARE WITH EVERYONE THAT THIS AUTHOR HAS A NEW BOOK THAT WILL BE RELEASED IN APRIL 2019,
, City of Flickering Light, I'M SURE IT WILL BE ANOTHER WINNER***
This is the most well written, expertly researched and entertaining book that I have read so far this year! Yes, it’s really that good. I don’t give out many 5 star reviews and I wish I could give this one a higher rating.
This is wonderful historical fiction that covers the period in our country when vaudeville was at it’s height, this book takes place around 1920. There is so much to love about this book.
The subject matter, vaudeville, I knew so little about. This book really makes the reader understand the difficult circumstances in which the entertainers had to live. They went from town to town, sometimes for engagements as short as 3 shows, having to find lodging and food and then doing the same thing over again, and again, mostly traveling by train. Except for the very top performers, most of them didn’t make much money once their expenses were subtracted.
The theaters and opera houses described were a lesson in themselves. The author painstakingly wrote only of theaters and opera houses that were still in existence today. In her author’s note she explains that “the vast majority of theaters, no matter how opulent, fell into disuse and were demolished. Of those mentioned in this novel some have been turned into movie theaters, but many have been restored to their original grandeur and now host music, plays and comedy acts” She then goes on to list them so that the reader could visit them if they were in the vicinity.
The Turner sisters and their mother turned to vaudeville after their father was hurt while performing his job in a shoe factory. His hand was badly mangled and they had to find a way to make money. The story is told from the viewpoint of two of the sisters, Gert and Winnie. The girls put in many hours practicing and refining an act of what was really gymnastics with later some comedy scenes added. Their mother sewed their costumes from what little fabric was available.
There are so many emotions and family dynamics explored in this book. The sister’s interactions with each other, how they related to many of the other performers and how they dealt with the struggles that life presented were all explored.
There was extreme prejudice in most of the cities where they performed and that subject was also explored. The variety of different acts was fun to read about and the author’s writing was such that I was able to envision the theater and the performers.
The author’s great-grandfather, Fred Delmore, was a vaudevillian and she drew a lot of inspiration from his many newspaper clippings and stories passed down through the family. Ms. Fay gives us lots of information in the author’s notes to continue to research vaudeville and that time in our country’s history before movies, radio and television were available for entertainment.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC copy of a highly engaging and entertaining read. I would recommend this book to everyone!
, City of Flickering Light, I'M SURE IT WILL BE ANOTHER WINNER***This is the most well written, expertly researched and entertaining book that I have read so far this year! Yes, it’s really that good. I don’t give out many 5 star reviews and I wish I could give this one a higher rating.
This is wonderful historical fiction that covers the period in our country when vaudeville was at it’s height, this book takes place around 1920. There is so much to love about this book.
The subject matter, vaudeville, I knew so little about. This book really makes the reader understand the difficult circumstances in which the entertainers had to live. They went from town to town, sometimes for engagements as short as 3 shows, having to find lodging and food and then doing the same thing over again, and again, mostly traveling by train. Except for the very top performers, most of them didn’t make much money once their expenses were subtracted.
The theaters and opera houses described were a lesson in themselves. The author painstakingly wrote only of theaters and opera houses that were still in existence today. In her author’s note she explains that “the vast majority of theaters, no matter how opulent, fell into disuse and were demolished. Of those mentioned in this novel some have been turned into movie theaters, but many have been restored to their original grandeur and now host music, plays and comedy acts” She then goes on to list them so that the reader could visit them if they were in the vicinity.
The Turner sisters and their mother turned to vaudeville after their father was hurt while performing his job in a shoe factory. His hand was badly mangled and they had to find a way to make money. The story is told from the viewpoint of two of the sisters, Gert and Winnie. The girls put in many hours practicing and refining an act of what was really gymnastics with later some comedy scenes added. Their mother sewed their costumes from what little fabric was available.
There are so many emotions and family dynamics explored in this book. The sister’s interactions with each other, how they related to many of the other performers and how they dealt with the struggles that life presented were all explored.
There was extreme prejudice in most of the cities where they performed and that subject was also explored. The variety of different acts was fun to read about and the author’s writing was such that I was able to envision the theater and the performers.
The author’s great-grandfather, Fred Delmore, was a vaudevillian and she drew a lot of inspiration from his many newspaper clippings and stories passed down through the family. Ms. Fay gives us lots of information in the author’s notes to continue to research vaudeville and that time in our country’s history before movies, radio and television were available for entertainment.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC copy of a highly engaging and entertaining read. I would recommend this book to everyone!
July 1, 2016
While defending another man, the Turner family patriarch damages his hand, and can no longer perform the work which determined his employment. Facing eviction, their mother determines that her daughters will get together a vaudeville act. Putting together a tumbling act and securing an agent of sorts, they first play at small venues and later larger ones, traveling across country.
A very likable book, four sisters, who fight at times but always have each others back. Different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses, but characters one takes to heart and roots for.
We meet many different acts on the road, and the girls will find friendship, a few will find love, and amidst hardships and heartbreak they will all grow.
Many instances of history are woven seamlessly throughout this nostalgic story about glory days long past. Loved reading the quotes from notable and know vaudeville stars of those days and meeting many of the assemblages of talent portrayed. Humorous at times, heartbreaking at others, this is just an enjoyable story. Loved the authors note where she explains she only used venues that are still being used today. Not for the same things but they all do still exist. Also explains the history presented within. A heartwarming and life affirming story about a family under the indefatigable personality of their matriarch, that not only did 't give up but thrived during a time period when many other did not.
ARC from publisher.
A very likable book, four sisters, who fight at times but always have each others back. Different personalities, different strengths and weaknesses, but characters one takes to heart and roots for.
We meet many different acts on the road, and the girls will find friendship, a few will find love, and amidst hardships and heartbreak they will all grow.
Many instances of history are woven seamlessly throughout this nostalgic story about glory days long past. Loved reading the quotes from notable and know vaudeville stars of those days and meeting many of the assemblages of talent portrayed. Humorous at times, heartbreaking at others, this is just an enjoyable story. Loved the authors note where she explains she only used venues that are still being used today. Not for the same things but they all do still exist. Also explains the history presented within. A heartwarming and life affirming story about a family under the indefatigable personality of their matriarch, that not only did 't give up but thrived during a time period when many other did not.
ARC from publisher.
September 24, 2016
The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay is a 2016 Gallery Books publication. I as provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
This wonderful historical novel pays homage to Vaudeville while weaving a story around the Turner sisters and their many trials, life lessons, failures and successes, loves and losses.
When the Turner patriarch suffers an injury that prevents him from holding a job, his wife and four daughters work on a tumbling act and take it on the road. Along the way they have grand adventures, are swindled, conned, and robbed, but also meet exotic people, and forge deep friendships.
The author captures the time frame perfectly, showcasing the economy, the attitudes of the day, and highlights a tender, but forbidden relationship between differing races, as well as pointing out the difficulties women endured from rampant sexism, but mostly I was impressed by the Vaudeville and stage atmosphere the author so deftly brought to life.
Each of the sisters face dilemmas, heartache, disappointments and tragedies, but all of them are strong willed, tenacious, and determined to preserve, no matter what their lot in life, through good times and bad.
While I am not one to deliberately seek out ‘coming of age’ stories, I really enjoyed reading this book, and appreciated the historical details, and obvious research that went into creating the tone of the book and loved each one of the sisters, not matter which path they took, the way they took life’s lumps and learned from their mistakes, never giving up even when it would have been understandable to do so.
An inspirational, ‘feel good’ story that anyone and everyone can enjoy.
4 stars
This wonderful historical novel pays homage to Vaudeville while weaving a story around the Turner sisters and their many trials, life lessons, failures and successes, loves and losses.
When the Turner patriarch suffers an injury that prevents him from holding a job, his wife and four daughters work on a tumbling act and take it on the road. Along the way they have grand adventures, are swindled, conned, and robbed, but also meet exotic people, and forge deep friendships.
The author captures the time frame perfectly, showcasing the economy, the attitudes of the day, and highlights a tender, but forbidden relationship between differing races, as well as pointing out the difficulties women endured from rampant sexism, but mostly I was impressed by the Vaudeville and stage atmosphere the author so deftly brought to life.
Each of the sisters face dilemmas, heartache, disappointments and tragedies, but all of them are strong willed, tenacious, and determined to preserve, no matter what their lot in life, through good times and bad.
While I am not one to deliberately seek out ‘coming of age’ stories, I really enjoyed reading this book, and appreciated the historical details, and obvious research that went into creating the tone of the book and loved each one of the sisters, not matter which path they took, the way they took life’s lumps and learned from their mistakes, never giving up even when it would have been understandable to do so.
An inspirational, ‘feel good’ story that anyone and everyone can enjoy.
4 stars
December 10, 2018
After their father injures his hand and loses his job as a boot stitcher, the four Turner sisters - Nell, Gert, Winnie and Kit - are groomed by their mother into become a traveling vaudeville act in order to pay the bills.
On paper, this book should have been a slam dunk for me: its set in Upstate New York in the 1920's, its about vaudeville and sisters going through a tough time, supporting each other and making a good life for themselves. And yet... something about it just failed to grab me.
Fay tells this story through the eyes of Gert and Winnie, who are the two sisters with the most opposite characters: the first is flirty and strong-headed, the second shy and bookish. This also should have worked, as such characters would have looked at the same situations very differently. But I often had to check the chapter heading to make sure I knew which sister was narrating this particular one. Also, when their mother Ethel decides that the sisters will become acrobats and makes them practice, that decision seems to come out of nothing more than her own frustrated desire to be on stage: wasn't there anything more practical and less risky they could have done to make some money? They also seem to just pick up the gymnastics out of the blue: we never know if they had any background in it, or if it was hard, if they got hurt or bruised or anything.
This should have been about women making a space for themselves on their own terms in a time and place where women had precious little agency of their own. But that also fell a bit flat as the sisters are basically under their stage-mother's thumb. We get the idea that Gert wants to be more than someone's wife and that Winnie wants to go to college and maybe be a doctor, but I never really felt their yearnings. Fay also pays lip services to a few social issues of the day, such as the constant discrimination the tap dancer Tip has to struggle with, but again, I didn't really feel it.
I think that the lack of atmosphere and vitality is what might have killed it for me. I could never really visualize the girls, their act or costumes, the landscapes they evolved through.
Fun, but too quaint and shallow for me.
On paper, this book should have been a slam dunk for me: its set in Upstate New York in the 1920's, its about vaudeville and sisters going through a tough time, supporting each other and making a good life for themselves. And yet... something about it just failed to grab me.
Fay tells this story through the eyes of Gert and Winnie, who are the two sisters with the most opposite characters: the first is flirty and strong-headed, the second shy and bookish. This also should have worked, as such characters would have looked at the same situations very differently. But I often had to check the chapter heading to make sure I knew which sister was narrating this particular one. Also, when their mother Ethel decides that the sisters will become acrobats and makes them practice, that decision seems to come out of nothing more than her own frustrated desire to be on stage: wasn't there anything more practical and less risky they could have done to make some money? They also seem to just pick up the gymnastics out of the blue: we never know if they had any background in it, or if it was hard, if they got hurt or bruised or anything.
This should have been about women making a space for themselves on their own terms in a time and place where women had precious little agency of their own. But that also fell a bit flat as the sisters are basically under their stage-mother's thumb. We get the idea that Gert wants to be more than someone's wife and that Winnie wants to go to college and maybe be a doctor, but I never really felt their yearnings. Fay also pays lip services to a few social issues of the day, such as the constant discrimination the tap dancer Tip has to struggle with, but again, I didn't really feel it.
I think that the lack of atmosphere and vitality is what might have killed it for me. I could never really visualize the girls, their act or costumes, the landscapes they evolved through.
Fun, but too quaint and shallow for me.
May 30, 2024
An entertaining book, I did not expect it to be deep or thought provoking. Oh, I was wrong.
It is 1918, WWI is raging. The Spanish flu is taking more lives than the war does. The Turner family has lost its main bread winner to an accident and Mother takes over. She encourages her four daughters to practice for and 'win' a vaudeville act as a Tumbling Quartet.
The four Turner sisters travel by train from town to town with performers and find a new sense of freedom. The sisters, Nell, Gert, Winnie, and Kit, love vaudeville shows but don't plan to become performers themselves until tragedy strikes their family and they face eviction. The story follows the sisters as they embark on an unexpected adventure to save their family.
About midway through the book, I started to mapquest their journey!! I wish I coud include the Mapquest picture. They start just a little North of Bingamton and their journey after going a little north and east goes west to Fredonia on Lake Erie and doubles back east to Lyons, considered the Peppermint Capital of the World (look it up on Wikipedia). The Finger Lakes are right in the middle of this fantastic journey.
Johnson City NY - their home-starting point
Earlville, NY - 54 miles north and a little east
Wellsville,NY
Cuba, NY
Fredonia, NY
Lyons, NY
Four more small towns
Back home to Father
Heartwarming and surprising, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is ultimately a story of awakening—to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new American era.
I did enjoy the book. The word 'sisters' draws me to a book, as my dear younger sister died in 1996 and I miss her. I reconnect through reading books about sisters.
Highly recommend especially if you are a romantic and like historical fiction.
5 stars
It is 1918, WWI is raging. The Spanish flu is taking more lives than the war does. The Turner family has lost its main bread winner to an accident and Mother takes over. She encourages her four daughters to practice for and 'win' a vaudeville act as a Tumbling Quartet.
The four Turner sisters travel by train from town to town with performers and find a new sense of freedom. The sisters, Nell, Gert, Winnie, and Kit, love vaudeville shows but don't plan to become performers themselves until tragedy strikes their family and they face eviction. The story follows the sisters as they embark on an unexpected adventure to save their family.
About midway through the book, I started to mapquest their journey!! I wish I coud include the Mapquest picture. They start just a little North of Bingamton and their journey after going a little north and east goes west to Fredonia on Lake Erie and doubles back east to Lyons, considered the Peppermint Capital of the World (look it up on Wikipedia). The Finger Lakes are right in the middle of this fantastic journey.
Johnson City NY - their home-starting point
Earlville, NY - 54 miles north and a little east
Wellsville,NY
Cuba, NY
Fredonia, NY
Lyons, NY
Four more small towns
Back home to Father
Heartwarming and surprising, The Tumbling Turner Sisters is ultimately a story of awakening—to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new American era.
I did enjoy the book. The word 'sisters' draws me to a book, as my dear younger sister died in 1996 and I miss her. I reconnect through reading books about sisters.
Highly recommend especially if you are a romantic and like historical fiction.
5 stars
January 30, 2024
Catching up…
I read this a while ago…
And…
With this as a recent donation to my Little Free Library Shed, by my Sister of my Heart ♥️Verlie, I am now reminded it is time to include a review for Goodreads.
This story…
Is inspired in part by Fay’s own family history in vaudeville.
So…
It is not surprising that she would write this story with enthusiasm, and attention to the era’s rich history.
And…
The story is told from alternating perspectives of the sisters, Winnie and Gert. Both different in style, but enjoyable to experience.
While…
Most of the story is light with humor, there is a dark turn in the third part of the book. This is when the author showcases the value of family. Family that will literally catch you when you fall.
Readers will experience…
Wit. Wisdom. Love. Heartbreak. Historical “real” moments.
A plot that is fresh and showcases a vast cast of convincing, colorful characters, with their own distinct voice and personality.
A truly class act of a story.
I read this a while ago…
And…
With this as a recent donation to my Little Free Library Shed, by my Sister of my Heart ♥️Verlie, I am now reminded it is time to include a review for Goodreads.
This story…
Is inspired in part by Fay’s own family history in vaudeville.
So…
It is not surprising that she would write this story with enthusiasm, and attention to the era’s rich history.
And…
The story is told from alternating perspectives of the sisters, Winnie and Gert. Both different in style, but enjoyable to experience.
While…
Most of the story is light with humor, there is a dark turn in the third part of the book. This is when the author showcases the value of family. Family that will literally catch you when you fall.
Readers will experience…
Wit. Wisdom. Love. Heartbreak. Historical “real” moments.
A plot that is fresh and showcases a vast cast of convincing, colorful characters, with their own distinct voice and personality.
A truly class act of a story.
February 11, 2017
After winning Excellent Daughters: The Secret Lives of Young Women Who Are Transforming the Arab World last year, I was sure I would have to wait a number of years before I won another book from Goodreads. That had been my previous pattern. Imagine my astonishment when I won this book from Goodreads in 2016. Not only that, but I won The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin from Goodreads the following month. I will eventually be getting to that one too. Since Goodreads giveaways are random and the odds aren't that good, I feel extraordinarily lucky. To use a word coined in The Tumbling Turner Sisters, I'm thrillighted. It's a combination of thrilled and delighted.
I really love acrobats. Whether they are performing in circuses or theatres, I am transfixed by their skill, grace and courage. Of course, gymnastics is one of my favorite sports. I recently watched the very acrobatic Final Five win medals in Rio. So I thought it would be fun to read about acrobatic sisters in vaudeville. This was an entertaining novel that had some very moving moments.
It also had significance. I learned about the period in which the book takes place. We generally think of it as a time when things changed for the better. Women claimed their freedom and gained the right to vote in the United States. Yet for African Americans things changed for the worse. I actually knew this from books I had read by African Americans. I also read The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters, a book that focused on racism which took place a few years later than this one did. Still, I hadn't expected Juliette Fay to devote as much space as she did to the story of an African American tap dancer, and how he impacted the central characters. We need to be reminded that this was an era when discrimination and race hatred pervaded American culture, and that entertainment played a role in disseminating prejudice.
I really love acrobats. Whether they are performing in circuses or theatres, I am transfixed by their skill, grace and courage. Of course, gymnastics is one of my favorite sports. I recently watched the very acrobatic Final Five win medals in Rio. So I thought it would be fun to read about acrobatic sisters in vaudeville. This was an entertaining novel that had some very moving moments.
It also had significance. I learned about the period in which the book takes place. We generally think of it as a time when things changed for the better. Women claimed their freedom and gained the right to vote in the United States. Yet for African Americans things changed for the worse. I actually knew this from books I had read by African Americans. I also read The Steep & Thorny Way by Cat Winters, a book that focused on racism which took place a few years later than this one did. Still, I hadn't expected Juliette Fay to devote as much space as she did to the story of an African American tap dancer, and how he impacted the central characters. We need to be reminded that this was an era when discrimination and race hatred pervaded American culture, and that entertainment played a role in disseminating prejudice.
April 14, 2016
I received an ARC of this work in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to NetGalley; Simon and Schuster; Gallery Books; and the author, Juliette Fay.
It is evident from the prologue to the readers that Juliette Fay is both passionate and knowledgeable about the vaudeville era in the United States. In fact, the novel was inspired by and is dedicated to the author's great grandfather.
I was initially greatly intrigued by the subject matter (and the cover) and was thoroughly looking forward to being swept away not only by the topic but by the prose. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I found the characterizations to be shallow, and the author's reliance upon a dual first-person narrative to forward the plot seemed plodding and lacking vitality. Fay did spice up the read by including humorous quotes from actual vaudevillians as her chapter openings, but her insistence upon fully explaining--rather than allowing the reader to perceive or intuit on his or her own--every character's underlying emotion was pedestrian at best, annoying at worst.
I don't doubt that this read will find a faithful audience among historical fiction fans. In fact, were the "steamier" scenes to be edited, I believe it would make a fine YA read. It just wasn't my cup of sarsaparilla.
It is evident from the prologue to the readers that Juliette Fay is both passionate and knowledgeable about the vaudeville era in the United States. In fact, the novel was inspired by and is dedicated to the author's great grandfather.
I was initially greatly intrigued by the subject matter (and the cover) and was thoroughly looking forward to being swept away not only by the topic but by the prose. Unfortunately, that was not the case. I found the characterizations to be shallow, and the author's reliance upon a dual first-person narrative to forward the plot seemed plodding and lacking vitality. Fay did spice up the read by including humorous quotes from actual vaudevillians as her chapter openings, but her insistence upon fully explaining--rather than allowing the reader to perceive or intuit on his or her own--every character's underlying emotion was pedestrian at best, annoying at worst.
I don't doubt that this read will find a faithful audience among historical fiction fans. In fact, were the "steamier" scenes to be edited, I believe it would make a fine YA read. It just wasn't my cup of sarsaparilla.
October 25, 2020
Thanks to Goodreads for providing a free book giveaway. I was charmed by this book. I loved the main girls' characters and the historical fiction background of a unique subject, vaudeville. It was great writing and storytelling combined. Indeed, Sarah Waters lovers will find lots to love in this author's new book. I can highly recommend. A fun read, with some deeper topics involved to make it a very worthy read.
You are all you will ever have for certain. -June Havoc
Don't come in so fast after the line about the scarecrow on a diet-you're stepping on the laugh.
The fresh news of an old misfortune is a tricky thing. You don't know how much it still stings.
Who could hate a Swede? They're so quiet and hardworking, it's be like hating a shovel.
You fell off a cliff, but you haven't fallen onto rocks.
Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong. -Ella Fitzgerald
It's no disgrace to be a Negro, but it is very inconvenient. -Bert Williams
Bert Williams was the funniest man I ever saw and the saddest man I ever knew. -W.C. Fields
I'd be thrillighted!
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. -Groucho Marx
Fire has always been and, seemingly, will always remain, the most terrible of the elements. -Harry Houdini
We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. -Helen Keller
I try to bring the audience's own drama-tears and laughter they know about-to them. -Judy Garland
Never place a period in your life where God only meant to place a comma. -Grace Allen
I am not sorry. I will tell anybody that, and it is the truth. I lived the way I wanted and never did what people said I should do or advised me to do. -Fanny Brice
You are all you will ever have for certain. -June Havoc
Don't come in so fast after the line about the scarecrow on a diet-you're stepping on the laugh.
The fresh news of an old misfortune is a tricky thing. You don't know how much it still stings.
Who could hate a Swede? They're so quiet and hardworking, it's be like hating a shovel.
You fell off a cliff, but you haven't fallen onto rocks.
Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong. -Ella Fitzgerald
It's no disgrace to be a Negro, but it is very inconvenient. -Bert Williams
Bert Williams was the funniest man I ever saw and the saddest man I ever knew. -W.C. Fields
I'd be thrillighted!
The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you've got it made. -Groucho Marx
Fire has always been and, seemingly, will always remain, the most terrible of the elements. -Harry Houdini
We could never learn to be brave and patient, if there were only joy in the world. -Helen Keller
I try to bring the audience's own drama-tears and laughter they know about-to them. -Judy Garland
Never place a period in your life where God only meant to place a comma. -Grace Allen
I am not sorry. I will tell anybody that, and it is the truth. I lived the way I wanted and never did what people said I should do or advised me to do. -Fanny Brice
April 9, 2016
Give me a book about a circus, burlesque, or vaudeville and you've lost me for at least a few days.
I was thrilled to get a chance to read ()and review) an ARC of Juliette Fay's upcoming The Tumbling Turner Sisters, about a family of four sisters who, at their mother's behest, take to vaudeville with their tumbling routines to earn money when their father is injured and unable to work.
::: The Good Stuff::
Fay has very much done her homework. She references actual vaudeville houses of the late 1910s and early 1920s while weaving in the impact of historical events on the characters without slowing the narrative. Issues like women's suffrage, Prohibition, and racism are part of the sisters' lives, but not placed at the forefront of the story, giving a rich and nuanced realism to the novel. Adding to that realism are small moments of importance presented in a historically plausible manner and an unflinching look at the bigotry of the era.
The very best thing is how Fay manages to create characters who avoid the too-perfect and anachronistic revulsion at era-typical prejudices while giving them an open-mindedness that keeps them likable: a young man incensed at a woman's desire for the vote confronted with the idea that an intelligent woman could be more than a housewife and mother; a white woman surprised by the fact that offering a hand to a black man was the same as any other person, acknowledging both internalized and societal racism.
Bits of humor and historical believability make this a great read.
:: The Not-So-Good Stuff ::
The most frustrating thing about reading this book is that, but for two overarching issues, it would have been stellar. The first is that the character of Ethel Turner -- the mother of the sister act -- veers so far into Mama Rose territory that I couldn't picture her as anyone but Ethel Merman. They share the name. Ethel (the character) orders her girls to do whatever it takes. Controls their careers and their money. Tries to move them up in the vaudeville circuit. Has a henpecked man (her husband, the girls' father) who does whatever she tells him to. Even writing this review, I still have "Everything's Coming Up Roses" in my head.
The second issue is the dual POV (point of view) narration. I'm normally a huge fan of getting into more than one character's head, and am partial to this style of storytelling. The issue here, however, is that the two POVs are two of the sisters, and this style usually lends itself to characters on opposite sides: of an issue, of a relationship, of the story. There often wasn't enough of a distinction between the sisters (one bold and driven, the other bookish and a "good" girl) to keep them straight. There were several times when I found myself flipping back to the beginning of a chapter or looking for a dialogue tag to remind myself which sister's POV I was reading, especially when they were in a group scene, and I wish there'd been a larger distinction between their voices.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to anyone as obsessed with the live entertainment era.
I was thrilled to get a chance to read ()and review) an ARC of Juliette Fay's upcoming The Tumbling Turner Sisters, about a family of four sisters who, at their mother's behest, take to vaudeville with their tumbling routines to earn money when their father is injured and unable to work.
::: The Good Stuff::
Fay has very much done her homework. She references actual vaudeville houses of the late 1910s and early 1920s while weaving in the impact of historical events on the characters without slowing the narrative. Issues like women's suffrage, Prohibition, and racism are part of the sisters' lives, but not placed at the forefront of the story, giving a rich and nuanced realism to the novel. Adding to that realism are small moments of importance presented in a historically plausible manner and an unflinching look at the bigotry of the era.
The very best thing is how Fay manages to create characters who avoid the too-perfect and anachronistic revulsion at era-typical prejudices while giving them an open-mindedness that keeps them likable: a young man incensed at a woman's desire for the vote confronted with the idea that an intelligent woman could be more than a housewife and mother; a white woman surprised by the fact that offering a hand to a black man was the same as any other person, acknowledging both internalized and societal racism.
Bits of humor and historical believability make this a great read.
:: The Not-So-Good Stuff ::
The most frustrating thing about reading this book is that, but for two overarching issues, it would have been stellar. The first is that the character of Ethel Turner -- the mother of the sister act -- veers so far into Mama Rose territory that I couldn't picture her as anyone but Ethel Merman. They share the name. Ethel (the character) orders her girls to do whatever it takes. Controls their careers and their money. Tries to move them up in the vaudeville circuit. Has a henpecked man (her husband, the girls' father) who does whatever she tells him to. Even writing this review, I still have "Everything's Coming Up Roses" in my head.
The second issue is the dual POV (point of view) narration. I'm normally a huge fan of getting into more than one character's head, and am partial to this style of storytelling. The issue here, however, is that the two POVs are two of the sisters, and this style usually lends itself to characters on opposite sides: of an issue, of a relationship, of the story. There often wasn't enough of a distinction between the sisters (one bold and driven, the other bookish and a "good" girl) to keep them straight. There were several times when I found myself flipping back to the beginning of a chapter or looking for a dialogue tag to remind myself which sister's POV I was reading, especially when they were in a group scene, and I wish there'd been a larger distinction between their voices.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read, and I'd recommend it to anyone as obsessed with the live entertainment era.
January 11, 2018
This was a really enjoyable historical fiction revolving around four sisters set in 1919. I loved learning about the vaudeville acts, what kind of people they were, and what their motivations or hopes and dreams were.
March 12, 2017
I originally was interested in this novel because I thought it was about a circus act. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was about vaudeville instead. This is my first time reading a book by Juliette Fay and I was highly impressed!
I loved the camaraderie between the sisters, meeting other characters from different acts along the way and learning more about them, watching unlikely friendships form, and seeing the development of the sisters' act. I learned a lot about vaudeville in the early years of the 20th century. Juliette even shares about her research in the author notes at the end. I felt like I was standing right backstage with all the Turner sisters.
My only concern is about timing. I felt like some ages and years were misaligned. (Ex. It seemed like Winnie was 17 for more than one year.) However, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I would have liked to hear Nell and Kit's perspectives, but I did learn a lot about them through Gert and Winnie's eyes.) I also hoped for more closure with one of the supporting characters, but maybe that wouldn't have been so realistic.
Overall, an enjoyable story that flowed nicely. Some parts made me think of current events, but I felt swept away by the other aspects and got to enjoy the escape.
My dream cast, as this would make a great movie:
Gert: Dove Cameron
Winnie: Oona Laurence
Nell: Hayley Orrantia
Ethel (mother): Amy Adams
I loved the camaraderie between the sisters, meeting other characters from different acts along the way and learning more about them, watching unlikely friendships form, and seeing the development of the sisters' act. I learned a lot about vaudeville in the early years of the 20th century. Juliette even shares about her research in the author notes at the end. I felt like I was standing right backstage with all the Turner sisters.
My only concern is about timing. I felt like some ages and years were misaligned. (Ex. It seemed like Winnie was 17 for more than one year.) However, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I would have liked to hear Nell and Kit's perspectives, but I did learn a lot about them through Gert and Winnie's eyes.) I also hoped for more closure with one of the supporting characters, but maybe that wouldn't have been so realistic.
Overall, an enjoyable story that flowed nicely. Some parts made me think of current events, but I felt swept away by the other aspects and got to enjoy the escape.
My dream cast, as this would make a great movie:
Gert: Dove Cameron
Winnie: Oona Laurence
Nell: Hayley Orrantia
Ethel (mother): Amy Adams
September 9, 2016
It was just ok. I was expecting a bit more regarding character development and likability of characters. It seemed like it could be a book where you could develop an attachment to the characters but it was as if the author didn't have enough pages to get that effect. They were all sketched with pretty broad strokes and none of them were really that likable. The author touched on Prohibition, the 19th Amendment, the KKK, and miscgenation (which was the most interesting to me), but really didn't deal well with these issues that satisfactorily. The most interesting part of the book involved the film, The Birth of a Nation, and the audience's reactions to it in the theaters the girls were playing. The second most interesting part for me involved the only Black character, Tip, the tap dancer. But that wasn't really expanded upon so there really wasn't that much to hold my interest.
May 30, 2017
A DELIGHTFUL READ.
“Being a star has made it possible for me to get insulted in places where the average Negro could never hope to go and get insulted.”—Sammy Davis Jr.
Second only, perhaps, to running away to join the circus; the boards of vaudeville have always had a special allure. Juliette Fay captures that exciting allure—replete with the parlance and nostalgia of a very unique place and time—in her delightful novel, The Tumbling Turner Sisters.
Has it really only been a hundred years from vaudeville to live streaming on the internet? I wonder what the thumb/screen people of today are going to have to get nostalgic about.
Recommendation: Step back into an era when life was really hard—but sometimes lots of fun.
“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”—Groucho Marx
OverDrive ePub Edition, 352 pages.
“Being a star has made it possible for me to get insulted in places where the average Negro could never hope to go and get insulted.”—Sammy Davis Jr.
Second only, perhaps, to running away to join the circus; the boards of vaudeville have always had a special allure. Juliette Fay captures that exciting allure—replete with the parlance and nostalgia of a very unique place and time—in her delightful novel, The Tumbling Turner Sisters.
Has it really only been a hundred years from vaudeville to live streaming on the internet? I wonder what the thumb/screen people of today are going to have to get nostalgic about.
Recommendation: Step back into an era when life was really hard—but sometimes lots of fun.
“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”—Groucho Marx
OverDrive ePub Edition, 352 pages.
May 21, 2021
The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay has been out since 2016 but for some reason was only recently put on my radar. I haven't read a single historical fiction novel having to do with American Vaudeville and I found this completely fascinating. 1919 in New York is a rough time, especially for the Turner family, and it was interesting to see how they ended up getting their start on the Vaudeville scene. I loved getting to know the characters, and even though the story is told only from Gert and Winnie's perspectives, I felt like I got to know all of the sisters fairly well. I loved getting emersed in the family's story, and I enjoyed the glimpse I got of what Vaudeville (and New York) were like in that time period. Fay doesn't shy away from tough subjects either, and there were parts of this book that broke my heart.
I found the audiobook on Libby through one of my library systems, so I gave that a try while I followed along in my eBook and I am so glad I did! There is a different narrator for both Gert and Winnie and they both did such a fantastic job voicing this. I haven't listened to Katie Schorr or Eileen Stevens before, and I could completely picture their voices as our 2 lead characters. Each chapter started with a quote from a real figure in history (appropriate to the story) and I was a huge fan of this as well as the alternating viewpoints. I even started crying towards the end, so it is good to have some tissues handy! I was such a fan of Fay's writing style and I am so glad I know about her now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I found the audiobook on Libby through one of my library systems, so I gave that a try while I followed along in my eBook and I am so glad I did! There is a different narrator for both Gert and Winnie and they both did such a fantastic job voicing this. I haven't listened to Katie Schorr or Eileen Stevens before, and I could completely picture their voices as our 2 lead characters. Each chapter started with a quote from a real figure in history (appropriate to the story) and I was a huge fan of this as well as the alternating viewpoints. I even started crying towards the end, so it is good to have some tissues handy! I was such a fan of Fay's writing style and I am so glad I know about her now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 30, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up.
Vaudeville in 1919 was a tough life for the acts, but that’s where the Turner sisters found themselves when their father lost his job. They created a tumbling act and got started on the low rent circuit, with their mother, the ultimate stage mother, accompanying them from town to town in Central New York. As they improved and made their way up in the world, they met some fascinating and some ruthless people. Some helped improve their act, others improved their lives, and some taught them hard lessons.
The story is told from the POVs of Gert and Winnie. Gert is a strong willed young woman who knows what she doesn’t want to settle for, but not sure about what she wants; Winnie is an intelligent, idealistic girl who does know what she wants, but not sure how to get it. With them are their older sister, Nell, recently widowed with an infant, and Kit, their youngest sister. Their mother, Ethel, tries her best to control every aspect of their lives, with varying degrees of success.
The book covers issues such as racism, first love, parental control, independence, women’s suffrage and self determination. There are light moments and tragic moments. There are so many wonderful characters throughout the book with interesting backstories. I will admit that it took me a while to differentiate between Gert and Winnie as narrators, but once I did, the story became easier to follow.
This is a fascinating look into the world of vaudeville and the entertainment industry in post WWI US. I used to live in Central New York and enjoyed reading about the different towns, many of which I knew about.
A definite recommend.
Vaudeville in 1919 was a tough life for the acts, but that’s where the Turner sisters found themselves when their father lost his job. They created a tumbling act and got started on the low rent circuit, with their mother, the ultimate stage mother, accompanying them from town to town in Central New York. As they improved and made their way up in the world, they met some fascinating and some ruthless people. Some helped improve their act, others improved their lives, and some taught them hard lessons.
The story is told from the POVs of Gert and Winnie. Gert is a strong willed young woman who knows what she doesn’t want to settle for, but not sure about what she wants; Winnie is an intelligent, idealistic girl who does know what she wants, but not sure how to get it. With them are their older sister, Nell, recently widowed with an infant, and Kit, their youngest sister. Their mother, Ethel, tries her best to control every aspect of their lives, with varying degrees of success.
The book covers issues such as racism, first love, parental control, independence, women’s suffrage and self determination. There are light moments and tragic moments. There are so many wonderful characters throughout the book with interesting backstories. I will admit that it took me a while to differentiate between Gert and Winnie as narrators, but once I did, the story became easier to follow.
This is a fascinating look into the world of vaudeville and the entertainment industry in post WWI US. I used to live in Central New York and enjoyed reading about the different towns, many of which I knew about.
A definite recommend.
April 6, 2016
“The Tumbling Turner Sisters” by Juliette Fay, published by Gallery Books.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – June 14, 2016.
The Turner’s have fallen on hard times in 1910. Their only source of income has become disabled and they are faced with falling behind in their mortgage and a dwindling food supply.
The four girls, Gert, Winnie, Kit, and Nell find that they have a talent for tumbling. In an effort to supplement their income they turn to Vaudeville. They struggle at first as they try to hone their act into a real show. They are encouraged by their mother who is very reminiscent of Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother. The book gives a good history of Vaudeville and the various acts, some good – some bad. It also explains how the placement of the acts was determined by their appeal to the public.
The Turner sisters face many adversities but by guile and sheer determination overcome them. They turn into a major act and begin a climb on the Vaudeville Circuit.
Tragedy strikes the sisters and they no longer can perform.
This book no only describes the life of those in Vaudeville but looks at the racial issues at the time. It contains romance, love lost and found, heartbreak, and a determination to persevere under difficult conditions.
Category – Fiction/Literature Publication Date – June 14, 2016.
The Turner’s have fallen on hard times in 1910. Their only source of income has become disabled and they are faced with falling behind in their mortgage and a dwindling food supply.
The four girls, Gert, Winnie, Kit, and Nell find that they have a talent for tumbling. In an effort to supplement their income they turn to Vaudeville. They struggle at first as they try to hone their act into a real show. They are encouraged by their mother who is very reminiscent of Gypsy Rose Lee’s mother. The book gives a good history of Vaudeville and the various acts, some good – some bad. It also explains how the placement of the acts was determined by their appeal to the public.
The Turner sisters face many adversities but by guile and sheer determination overcome them. They turn into a major act and begin a climb on the Vaudeville Circuit.
Tragedy strikes the sisters and they no longer can perform.
This book no only describes the life of those in Vaudeville but looks at the racial issues at the time. It contains romance, love lost and found, heartbreak, and a determination to persevere under difficult conditions.
March 16, 2017
The Turner sisters are Nell, Winnie, Gert and Kit. When their father injures his hand and is unable to work, their mother convinces them to create a vaudeville act and go on the road to make ends meet.
The girls become increasingly popular and their act more refined as the months pass. We meet all of the great acts they befriend while playing small theaters around the U.S.
I liked the dual narrative of the plot, but it wasn't always necessary. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I liked that each girl had a different talent and inspiration.
Fay did extensive research and the details shine through in the subject matter. I was impressed with her end notes in discussing her interest in this era.
The girls become increasingly popular and their act more refined as the months pass. We meet all of the great acts they befriend while playing small theaters around the U.S.
I liked the dual narrative of the plot, but it wasn't always necessary. I liked the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I liked that each girl had a different talent and inspiration.
Fay did extensive research and the details shine through in the subject matter. I was impressed with her end notes in discussing her interest in this era.
June 1, 2021
4 stars for a novel look at the early world of vaudeville. In order to survive their dad’s loss of income, the Turner sisters figured out an acrobatic act. As their act was gradually fine tuned and expanded, they gained confidence and enough money to survive. The camaraderie and challenges of living in this traveling community pulled the reader along. Yet I felt that the author often skimmed the emotional landscape, adding stereotypical characters instead of digging deeper into emotions. I also found the dual narration unclear at times. The distinction between the two sisters didn’t hold up as I kept having to look back. Racism was blatant and handled with care. This book was often on the cusp of being wonderful.
December 8, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this romp through the 1919 Vaudeville circuit. Stayed up late and walked while I read because I just wanted to know what the next page would bring.
I could find faults: the writing is sometimes clunky, the author desperately wants to include every historical fact she's learned, the love stories are a bit predictable -- but it didn't matter. I loved the subject, I loved the characters, I loved the story.
I could find faults: the writing is sometimes clunky, the author desperately wants to include every historical fact she's learned, the love stories are a bit predictable -- but it didn't matter. I loved the subject, I loved the characters, I loved the story.
May 29, 2018
This work of historical fiction explores the world of vaudeville. With interesting and well-developed characters, this story tells of one family’s hardship and rise to fame. Poignant, gripping, and ultimately memorable, this is one book you won’t want to miss.
May 21, 2018
When the dad injures his hand and can no longer work at the shoe factory, mom rises to the occasion to save the family. Garnering her four daughters, she coaxes them into developing an act for vaudeville. The girls realize that they either earn money or become homeless. With money as the initial incentive, they soon discover they like performing. There is much to learn and successes to be savored, but some heartache is part of it, too. Author Juliette Fay has done extensive research into the era and vaudeville, and it is quite evident in the tale that she is drawn to her setting. Historical events are inserted into the story, and through the characters and their endeavors, the reader learns much about the struggles of vaudevillians and of the women of that time. Wonderful characters and a great plot make this an enlightening as well as entertaining tale.
May 28, 2023
It was good to read about a life that I've never known about. What a hard, hard lifestyle.
August 31, 2016
The premise of this short novel was fun ... a novice vaudeville act in the early 20th century. I thoroughly enjoy "Water for Elephants" and "Orphan Train" - both books with which "The Tumbling Turner Sisters" has been compared. I was also intrigued because the book takes place in Central New York, where I lived for 20 years.
Unfortunately, the book fell short of many expectations. Though it did have a lively plot and plenty of colorful vintage atmosphere, I found the 1st person (of four people) narrative tedious. Each of the sisters had a distinct personality and history which is discovered through the plot; however, the individual chapters "written" by each is tiresomely monotonous. It's impossible to tell which sister is writing at any given time and I found myself constantly going back to the chapter headings to find out which sister was being given the limelight in that chapter.
Some of the issues explored in the novel (racism, the 19th Amendment, higher education for women in early 20th century, single motherhood) are used as superficial plot devices and the exploration is shallow.
The aspect of the book I enjoyed was the location - almost every town and theatre that the Tumbling Turner Sisters are booked into was one I am familiar with. I even directed many plays in one of the theatres (The Earlville Opera House) where a large part of the story takes place. I had fun reading about the turn-of-the-century qualities of these theatres, many of which now have been remodeled (though not The Earlville Opera House, which has been restored!).
I would recommend this book for middle-school to high school students (high school students who aren't too sophisticated in their reading material). It isn't advertised as a young adult reader book, but I believe it should be. I can't recommend it to fellow readers who are looking for adult and complex novels.
Unfortunately, the book fell short of many expectations. Though it did have a lively plot and plenty of colorful vintage atmosphere, I found the 1st person (of four people) narrative tedious. Each of the sisters had a distinct personality and history which is discovered through the plot; however, the individual chapters "written" by each is tiresomely monotonous. It's impossible to tell which sister is writing at any given time and I found myself constantly going back to the chapter headings to find out which sister was being given the limelight in that chapter.
Some of the issues explored in the novel (racism, the 19th Amendment, higher education for women in early 20th century, single motherhood) are used as superficial plot devices and the exploration is shallow.
The aspect of the book I enjoyed was the location - almost every town and theatre that the Tumbling Turner Sisters are booked into was one I am familiar with. I even directed many plays in one of the theatres (The Earlville Opera House) where a large part of the story takes place. I had fun reading about the turn-of-the-century qualities of these theatres, many of which now have been remodeled (though not The Earlville Opera House, which has been restored!).
I would recommend this book for middle-school to high school students (high school students who aren't too sophisticated in their reading material). It isn't advertised as a young adult reader book, but I believe it should be. I can't recommend it to fellow readers who are looking for adult and complex novels.
July 2, 2016
The Tumbling Turner Sisters
by Juliette Fay)
I'm so pleased that I took time to request and read this novel.
It's a heartwarming look at a family facing poverty in 1919.
The situation is impossible after father crushes a hand and cannot work.
The enterprising mother Ethel decides teenagers Gert, Winnie and Kit and recently widowed sister Nell become an acrobatic act and travel the vaudeville circuit.
The story is told in turn by Winnie and Gert.
The initial encounter is with timid Winnie and strong willed Gert.
This is a coming of age novel with a unique theatrical backdrop,
and some sense of transformation touches every character.
Epilogue is 1920 and it has been quite a year for all involved.
Juliette Fay also presents and develops key 1919 societal issues and takes us on a merry backstage ride.
The cover art work is outstanding as is the inside of the hardcover.
I found this a unique, refreshing novel of historical fiction
Author's notes have some interesting explanatory information.
In acknowledgments, Juliette Fay shares her unique link to the theater of that age.
4.5 ★
by Juliette Fay)
I'm so pleased that I took time to request and read this novel.
It's a heartwarming look at a family facing poverty in 1919.
The situation is impossible after father crushes a hand and cannot work.
The enterprising mother Ethel decides teenagers Gert, Winnie and Kit and recently widowed sister Nell become an acrobatic act and travel the vaudeville circuit.
The story is told in turn by Winnie and Gert.
The initial encounter is with timid Winnie and strong willed Gert.
This is a coming of age novel with a unique theatrical backdrop,
and some sense of transformation touches every character.
Epilogue is 1920 and it has been quite a year for all involved.
Juliette Fay also presents and develops key 1919 societal issues and takes us on a merry backstage ride.
The cover art work is outstanding as is the inside of the hardcover.
I found this a unique, refreshing novel of historical fiction
Author's notes have some interesting explanatory information.
In acknowledgments, Juliette Fay shares her unique link to the theater of that age.
4.5 ★
October 27, 2017
An entertaining, fictional look inside the world of vaudeville. The two sisters who narrate the story are very different and the combined perspective provides a well-rounded view of the world and the people they meet. Funny and heart-breaking, with historical tidbits about the era sprinkled throughout.
-- Chris, Dyer-Schererville branch
-- Chris, Dyer-Schererville branch
January 30, 2016
I can't wait until everyone can read this. Such a great story...the characters come to life and tumble off the page (see what I did there?). Loved it...just wish there were about 100 more pages about the Turner Sisters.
July 13, 2016
An incredible book about 4 sisters who will do anything despite the odds to save their family. You'll laugh and cry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 711 reviews