It's not me, it's you. 

 

The category I now will assign any books to that I don't mesh with, because I'm one of the few humans who didn't connect with this story at all. It felt removed instead of heart-warming, almost like watching one's own life as an objective third party. The content is interesting, but not emotionally engaging enough to justify the depressing storyline. I'm not going to make excuses, this was a case of not meant to be.

NOT JUST A PRETTY COVER, but Lisa Wingate has taken a heartbreaking and criminal time in a nation's history and produced a moving and compelling story of sisters and families torn apart by the Tennessee Children's Home Society Scandal (Memphis late 1930s)

I was swept in from page one in this well written historical fiction story and Lisa Wingate's novel is a terrific example of why I enjoy historical fiction stories. These stories reach thousands of readers like me who knew nothing about this sad time in American history and although this is a fiction tale based on true events it gives me the opportunity to decide whether I want to further my reading by picking up a non fiction book or content to have read and a well written and beautiful fiction read where the author thankfully includes a note at the end which explains what is fact and what is fiction and also gives a list of further reading which might interest the reader.

I think every country has its shameful secrets and a small country like Ireland is up there with its fair share of shameful secrets and its disgraceful treatment of mothers and babies in the not so distant past which is still only coming to light in recent years.
Lisa Wingate weaves a well thought out plot with memorable characters and while there were a couple of times in the story where I thought ok perhaps that was a little too convenient or contrived but I just tossed it aside as the enjoyment of the story far out weighted any tiny issues I might have had towards the end.

So happy to have purchased a hard copy of this novel as another beauty to add to my real life book shelf and the dust cover is staying firmly in place on this one. :-)

My favourite type of novel is one that not only involves me emotionally, but also teaches me something new. This book was a perfect example and fully deserved five stars. As with many books these days, it had a dual time frame, but for once, I enjoyed events taking place in the current era as much as those from the past.

 

Lisa Wingate has highlighted the indiscretions of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanages, who took children from their families from 1922 right through until 1950. These children were then passed on to wealthy families, often for a substantial fee. The birth parents were generally poor and struggling, often illiterate and unaware that they were signing away custody of their children. Other children were simply stolen from the streets. They were then housed under appalling conditions and scrubbed up and prettily dressed for potential adopting parents. Sadly, many children died while in the custody of Tennessee Children’s Home Society and those that survived and were rehomed, had their identities changed so that they could not be traced.

 

Rill Foss and her four siblings were 'river gypsies', living on a shantyboat on the Mississippi River. Their mother was pregnant with twins and was rushed to hospital when complications arose. Rill was left in charge, but was unable to hold her own against the men who came visiting, uninvited. 

 

Avery Stafford brings us back to the present day. She is a lawyer from a prominent family and returns home to help her father in his political career. During one of their campaign visits, Avery meets a lonely lady in her nineties, who seems to know Avery's grandmother. This sets up a series of questions that Avery is determined to answer.

 

Beautifully written and totally engaging, I'm not surprised that this book won the GoodReads Choice award for Historical Fiction 2107.

I'd recommend it without hesitation.