Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt & Company, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut book by Ken Jaworowski and wonderfully narrated by Chris Ciulla; Jennifer Blom; John Pirhalla - 5 stars!
This book highlights the stories of three residents of a small Pennsylvania town. Nathan, a factory worker and volunteer firefighter finds a bag with a substantial amount of cash during a rescue operation in a burning building. Nathan takes the money and hides it in the attic, then tries to convince his wife, Paula, a nurse at the local hospital, that they should take the money and leave. Andy is a former addict who turned his life around when he got married and his Down's Syndrome daughter was born. After a huge loss, he discovers evidence that a preacher is a predator and sets out to expose him. Callie is a nurse born with a cleft lip that set her up for bullying and unkindness all her life. She becomes close to a terminally ill teenager in her care and risks her job to make her dying wish come true.
This is a beautifully written, haunting story that feels gritty and real. I really liked the fact that while all these individuals lived in the same small town, the stories didn't really intertwine. Instead, they showcase a similar narrative of poverty, greed, despair, guilt, both good and bad decisions. Each chapter is told from the viewpoint of the three main characters, so you get to delve into each person's life. While it's not necessarily a happy read, it's a look into how our decisions affect our lives and those of the people around us. Fabulous debut and the audio narration was wonderful!
No comments:
Post a Comment