A Fall of Marigolds

The characters for both storylines touched me deeply, and I cried (in a good, cathartic way) plenty during the 9-11-01 story. I loved this novel, which is firmly centered around historic events, but remains unquestionably character-driven. One of my favorites by Meissner.

I soak up novels like this one……….a scarf connects two women from different time periods. One had to do with the fire in NYC at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company in September of 1911 and the other has to do with September 2011 at the Twin Towers. I loved how the plot moved between the two women. A very enjoyable read and the author did a great job combining the stories.

I want to write like Susan Meissner when I grow up. This story stays with you.

A Fall of Marigolds is an amazingly good book – SO good that I listened to it twice this week. I did this for a number of reasons with the first being I enjoyed Susan Meissner’s storytelling immensely! Her descriptive writing amplified every sight, smell, and sound her characters perceived. The audience is privy to characters Clara Wood and Taryn Michaels eyewitness accounts of two tragedies in New York history. For me it was Taryn’s first person point of view recollection of events during the fall of the World Trade Centers that brought me to tears.

The second reason I revisited this story was due to it’s complexity. The way Meissner wove Clara and Taryn’s stories together with the marigold scarf was interesting, and by listening a second time I was able to pick up on subtleties in character dialog that foreshadowed the journey of the scarf. As a fan of historical fiction, I was intrigued by the details surrounding the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and the operation of Ellis Island’s hospital. Despite the grievous losses that both Clara Wood and Taryn Michaels suffer, the book was not depressing. Instead, I found it to be an uplifting story of healing – where the main characters seem to emerge from heavy fog into a hope filled tomorrow.

Finally, for audio book listeners, the narrator Tavia Gilbert delivers an award worthy performance that really brings this story to life!! I delighted in her crisp diction as well as her effortless transition between characters. This would have been an impossible task for a less gifted narrator given the author’s choice of setting – New York and more specifically, for the historical piece, Ellis Island. Gilbert convincingly gives voice to English, Welsh, Irish, and French characters (among others). I was completely entertained – twice! Therefore, I give this audiobook 5 shiny stars.

5-stars

**I received this book for free as a member of the christianaudio reviewers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

In A Fall of Marigolds, Susan Meissner takes the reader on a journey from the distant past, through the recent past, and to the present. We follow the trail of a beautiful bright colored scarf and the women whose lives are affected during the time the scarf is in their possession. The scarf does not hold any power, or magic or even a forecast of the futures, but it just happens to be within the possession of three women during times of their greatest life events. The story starts with Taryn, who works in and lives above a fabric shop with her young daughter. The scarf played a very important part in Taryn’s life on the fateful morning of the 9/11 attack. The author threads the past of 1911 into the story to tell Clara’s story of how seeing a person with a beautiful scarf helped to change her life. Then we are brought full circle to Taryn’s story of her daughter, her husband and the very kind stranger who helped her during a day of tragedy, and of course, the fate of the beautiful scarf. In all these stories the important constant is this…it is not the scarf which made a difference, but the choices of people who had the scarf in their possession during a specific time of their life. Very Good Storytelling!! Enjoy!

Coming to grips with pain and loss. This theme unites the two stories in this book: one character lives through 9/11, the other through the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of a century before.

The writing put me right back in that terrible day when planes smashed into the twin towers, and I had to put my kindle down for a while. But eventually I picked it back up, and I’m glad I did, if only to remember that day.

4.5 stars. The “Christian” aspect is weak, some general mention of God and providence. But it is clean and overall a good story.

I’m a discerning and avid reader. This book is well worth your time. Enough mystery to keep you wanting more. GREAT book.

I loved this book Written from 2 different women’s viewpoint and timeframes not easily forgotten. Although it is fiction there are true events highlighted

This is one of those rare books that I expect will stay with me long after reading the last sentence.

This was a dual timeline book, and Clara and Taryn’s stories touched and inspired me in a way few stories do.

The vivid descriptions of Taryn’s ordeal brought me right back to that dreadful day that changed everything. If I’d realized this book had vivid descriptions of the fall of the towers, I wouldn’t have read it, but I’m glad I did. The tears I shed were cleansing.

Susan Meissner brought Clara’s time on Ellis Island to life in a tangible way. I felt as if I was there experiencing everything she went through. My heart broke for her and in the end I felt her healing.

I loved this book!!!!