Book Review
After the Fog
by Kathleen Shoop
Book Description
A Nurse’s Obligation
A Town’s Demise
A Mother’s Regret
A Son’s Calling
A Daughter’s Mistake
A Time to Forgive
For every woman who thinks she left her past behind…Historic, environmental drama wrapped in a love story...
It's 1948 in the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous “killing smog.” Public health nurse, Rose Pavlesic, has risen above her orphaned upbringing and created a life that reflects everything she missed as a child. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her doting husband, loving children, and large extended family.
When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?
***2013 Eric Hoffer Award Finalist***
***Independent Publisher Awards: 2012 Silver, Best Regional Fiction–Mid-Atlantic***
***National Indie Excellence Awards: 2012 WINNER-- Literary Fiction***
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“Shoop masterfully details familial struggles, secrets, and consequences that keep the reader riveted til the end.”
- Melissa Foster
“A great and satisfying read. Rose’s triumph over adversity touched me deeply. Ms. Shoop truly knows how to tug the heartstrings. S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir.” - S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir
“This is a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good “soap opera,” or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey.” -Historical Novel Society
“A great and satisfying read. Rose’s triumph over adversity touched me deeply. Ms. Shoop truly knows how to tug the heartstrings. S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir.” - S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir
“This is a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good “soap opera,” or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey.” -Historical Novel Society
Our Book Review
Kathleen Shoop hypnotises readers with her words bringing the story to life in such an encapturing way that it is so hard to put the book down.
In the mill town of Donora lives Rose and her dysfunctional family. Rose is a nurse who strives to ensure that her community is looked after, nursing is her life but with the worry that their funding is running out hanging over her head. After growing up in an orphanage Rose is adamant that her children will have the best that live can give, that is her mission, her focus in life. Although things don't go according to plan for Rose, her control to ensure they get away from Donora has become questioned and betrayed is how she now feels. What her family are not aware of is why Rose is the way she is, the deep hidden secrets and hurt she hides away.
The background of the family structure and the plight of the mill workers and families make you feel that you have become absorbed into the era and the story. She brings the characters into the hearts and minds of the reader, the nice ones and even the not so nice ones, Although I was caught out by the twist to the story.
People in Donora are proud of their industrial background, the mills are a way of life to them and they owe the mills for giving them jobs to be able to provide for their families. Living in the constant noise, smell, hardship and worry that their loved ones might be injured or worse at work is just the norm to them, let alone the never ending fog that surrounds the village.
I know the book was based around the real tragic events for the local Donora residents but even so you would still have been easily taken in by the story. The tragedy of the killing smog and the sad loss of lives and those who suffered illnesses was handled in a considerate way, it become clear that the author had put a lot of care and research into the story and I feel has done the Donora people proud.
Following on from such a traumatic event, is hard for everyone, especially Rose and my heart did go out to her. There were a lot of similarities between myself and Rose, especially a current one with my son and his education which made me smile as I had the same realisation as Rose did in the end.
A nice ending to a realistic and gritty tale and I am one seriously hooked fan and that's just after reading two of her books, I cannot wait to read the next, in fact I need it right now!!
About the Author
Kathleen Shoop hypnotises readers with her words bringing the story to life in such an encapturing way that it is so hard to put the book down.
In the mill town of Donora lives Rose and her dysfunctional family. Rose is a nurse who strives to ensure that her community is looked after, nursing is her life but with the worry that their funding is running out hanging over her head. After growing up in an orphanage Rose is adamant that her children will have the best that live can give, that is her mission, her focus in life. Although things don't go according to plan for Rose, her control to ensure they get away from Donora has become questioned and betrayed is how she now feels. What her family are not aware of is why Rose is the way she is, the deep hidden secrets and hurt she hides away.
The background of the family structure and the plight of the mill workers and families make you feel that you have become absorbed into the era and the story. She brings the characters into the hearts and minds of the reader, the nice ones and even the not so nice ones, Although I was caught out by the twist to the story.
People in Donora are proud of their industrial background, the mills are a way of life to them and they owe the mills for giving them jobs to be able to provide for their families. Living in the constant noise, smell, hardship and worry that their loved ones might be injured or worse at work is just the norm to them, let alone the never ending fog that surrounds the village.
I know the book was based around the real tragic events for the local Donora residents but even so you would still have been easily taken in by the story. The tragedy of the killing smog and the sad loss of lives and those who suffered illnesses was handled in a considerate way, it become clear that the author had put a lot of care and research into the story and I feel has done the Donora people proud.
Following on from such a traumatic event, is hard for everyone, especially Rose and my heart did go out to her. There were a lot of similarities between myself and Rose, especially a current one with my son and his education which made me smile as I had the same realisation as Rose did in the end.
A nice ending to a realistic and gritty tale and I am one seriously hooked fan and that's just after reading two of her books, I cannot wait to read the next, in fact I need it right now!!
Our Rating
Super Easy
About the Author
After the Fog is the second novel by bestselling Kindle author Kathleen Shoop. Her debut novel, The Last Letter, garnered multiple awards in 2011. A Language Arts Coach with a Ph.D. in Reading Education, Kathleen lives in Oakmont, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
Kathleen has also written award winning Love and Other Subjects and her stories have also appeared in several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Follow the Author
Follow the tour
I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
NOW FOR THE AUTHOR'S GIVEAWAY !!
THREE Lucky Winners will each receive a $15 Amazon Giftcard,
courtesy of After the Fog author, Kathleen Shoop
Ending on Sunday 9th November at 11.59pm EST
Open Worldwide
Enter Below & Good Luck !!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sharon x
http://www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
http://www.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
I would love to read this and have definitely entered the contest!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a lovely book, full of a story so beautifully told you just can't put the book down! I definitely want to read this, and am adding it to my TBR!
ReplyDeletehttp://olivia-savannah.blogspot.nl/2014/11/byronic-review-giveaway.html
This sounds like a very interesting read, and one that the blurb and review as enticed me into reading. Thank you
ReplyDeleteSounds good. Winter is coming so it is time to purchase some new reads for long evenings.
ReplyDeleteThis one may very well end up being my absolute favorite book of the year! I even gave it to my Mom to read--yes she loved it too!!
ReplyDeleteI love to add more titles to my e-reader during the winter! This is something I would love to add to my collection.
ReplyDeleteJust from reading your thoughts I'm a little bit invested in it. I need to pick it up and read it!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this book. It sounds like an awesome Love story with twist. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI will use it to buy a paperback copy of my favorite book as a gift to myself.
ReplyDelete