Friends groups raise money for improvements to their library through memberships, used book sales and other activities. Its a compelling story of war and the people left behind. January 14, 2014 at knopf hardcover, 352 pages authors website goodreads purchase the book synopsis. One of the greatest joys in my life is friendship with men. The back story of the gold star mothers is worth a book. The united states congress in 1929 passed legislation to fund travel for mothers of the fallen soldiers. Shes hardly ever left the small fishing village where she grew up. Ala united united for libraries resources for friends groups book club choices a star for mrs.
Blake begins well, continues well in the middle, and finishes wellthis is deft storytelling that april smith has honed in her ana grey mystery thriller series and in her writing for television. Blake, ive been pleasantly surprised to see this type of relationship and love. Though its been thirteen years since her son sammy died at verdun, cora blake still feels the sting of the decision to bury him in faraway france rather than bring him home to maine. In 1929, congress enacted legislation that authorized the secretary of war to. Discuss the role of truth and accuracy in historical fiction. A romantically charged, brilliantly realized novel set in the 1930s about five american women gold star mothers who travel to france to visit the graves of their sons who served as world war i soldiers. This moving and surprising novel is the account of a gold star mothers sojourn to the fields of verdun where her only son was killed, along with so many other young men, during world war i. How does smiths story change or confirm your own ideas about duty and sacrifice.
The story follows cora blakes journey from her small town in the united states to visit the grave of her son, sammy, in meuseargonne american cemetery with a group of gold star mothers referring to the gold star that hung on their service flags after a family member had died. About this guide the introduction, author biography, discussion questions, and suggested reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of a star for mrs. This historical fiction by mystery author smith white shotgun, 2011, etc. It surprised me that many came in couples, mothers and fathers. These five ladies are gold star mothers women whose sons died in battle during world war i and were. Its the story of gold star mothers, the strong women who suffer unfathomable loss. Blake, a spunky and practical woman from maine, is one of a group of mothers making the journey. Smiths sixth novel, a departure from her ana grey thrillers, presents the touching story, set in the 1930s, of gold star mothersthe mothers of fallen u. Blake found its seed in historical facts, but the process of turning those facts into a dramatic narrative was the same as with the ana grey novels and even my scripts. Sign me up to get more news about historical fiction books. Best of all, if after reading an e book, you buy a paper version of a star for mrs. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a star for mrs. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy.
Yet in the summer of 1931, she is invited to travel to france with hundreds of other gold star mothers, courtesy of the u. No one person grieves the same, because we are all unique and individual people. Katie, an irish maid from dorchester, massachusetts. She opens the book with a note from the national archives. Blake is a beautifully written, meticulously researched slice of american history. Of the 17, 389 women eligible to travel to the battlefields of france under this auspicious program. Yet, clearly, this book goes beyond its sureness of craft. Blake, we discover anew an almost forgotten part of history. Blake by april smith april smiths novel, a star for mrs. The book is inspired by a diary of a reallife american colonel and gold star mother liaison officer, but the story is from the authors imagination.
April smiths poignant and tender story of five courageous world war i gold star mothers amazing journey across the sea is one you will never forget. Blake is a beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking novel. Blake must have been a labor of love and it shows on every page. Read the book on paper it is quite a powerful experience.
An emotionally charged, brilliantly realized novel set in the 1930s about five american women gold star mothers who travel to france. Any reader can be grateful to be in such confident authorial company. She is also an emmynominated television writer and producer. April smith, creator of the popular detective ana grey novels, makes a change of pace with a star for mrs. Blake, judas horse, north of montana, good morning, killer, be the one, and white shotgun. In this emotionally charged novel, april smith breathes life into a unique moment in american history, imagining the experience of five of these women. April smith s poignant and tender story of five courageous world war i gold star mothers amazing journey across the sea is one you will never forget.
None of these pilgrims will be as affected as cora blake, who has lived almost her entire life in a small fishing village off the coast of maine, caring for her late sisters three daughters, hoping to fill the void left by the death of her son, sammy, who was killed on. Jan 14, 2014 a site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. I also bought myself a hardcover, frankly because of the beautiful cover. Everyone who has served or is serving in the military, and also their families and friends, should read this book. April smith is the author of numerous novels including home sweet home, a star for mrs. Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Nelson demille smith writes with great depth of detail and of emotion, giving voice to. Thirteen years after the armistice, the us armed forces organized pilgrimages of remembrance for mothers who lost their sons during the great war.
Proudly wearing sashes adorned with a gold star the symbol representing a fallen soldier the mothers were easily recognizable and served as american goodwill figures wherever they traveled. Over the next three years, 6,693 gold star mothers made the trip. Blake, april smiths touching and thoughtprovoking new novel, which fannie flagg promises you will never forget. April smith meeting for the first time for a shared pilgrimage to france to visit the graves of their world war i soldier sons, an irish maid, a chicken farmers wife, a boston socialite, a former tennis star. Smiths sixth novel, a departure from her ana grey thrillers, presents the touching story, set in the 1930s, of gold star mothersthe mothers of. Blake highlights a littleknown slice of american history. Blake an emotionally charged historical novel based on the gold star mothers. April smith an emotionallycharged, brilliantly realized novel set in the 1930s about five american womengold star motherswho travel to france to visit the graves of their wwi soldier sons. The introduction, author biography, discussion questions, and suggested reading that follow are designed to enhance your groups discussion of a star for mrs. The women meet for the first time just before their journey begins. The united states congress in 1929 passed legislation to fun. Blake is a historical fiction book set in 1931, thirteen years after the end of world war i. I enjoyed the story and praise your dedication to complete the book. Jan 14, 2014 the united states congress in 1929 passed legislation to fund travel for mothers of the fallen soldiers of world war i to visit their sons graves in france.
Feb 28, 2020 one of the greatest joys in my life is friendship with men. Though its been thirteen years since her son sammy died at verdun, cora blake still. A novel set in the 1930s about five american women, gold star mothers, who travel to france to visit the graves of their wwi soldier sons. An emotionally charged historical novel based on the gold star mothers. The story follows cora blakes journey from her small town in the united states to visit the grave of her son, sammy, in meuseargonne american cemetery with a group of gold star mothers referring to the gold star that hung on their. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. These very different gold star mothers travel to the meuseargonne american cemetery to say final goodbyes to their sons and come together along the way to face the unexpected.
348 1347 1207 600 449 381 1087 1039 1389 610 681 1186 1057 1310 1011 1052 893 134 743 1331 516 1271 1101 645 1135 641 1092 907 1092 81 1224 747 733 465 1219 215 400 1021 312