*** Eric Hoffer Award FinalistIndependent Publisher Awards: Silver, Best Regional Fiction–Mid-AtlanticNational Indie Excellence Awards: WINNER– Literary Fiction***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 … 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?
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Very informative. I knew nothing about this incident. Very appropriate at this time with concerns about the environment and toxic wastes. Many in our federal government should read this and be take heed.
True life in mill town. Great characters. Shows how families can be living together and not understanding each other. I was interested as my childhood doctor found black lung – Dr. Robert Treatpain DeTriville
Loved this book highly recommend you read it. I couldn’t put it down!! Made me late to work each morning, lol
I love this author.
I really enjoyed this read. Keeps your attention!
Too slow
The fog serves as a metaphor as well as the setting of this story.Engaging main character and plot. So many characters, relationships, secrets, conflicting emotions sometimes made it difficult to keep track. A lot of repetition of inner thoughts with the exact words made it appear as if the author didn’t realize she had already said that same …
Great read
Very poorly written. It’s rare that I start a book and don’t finish it, but this one was just awful.
Explore the life of a dedicated community nurse in an early 1900s mill town. Overburdened with family difficulties and never-ending care for a poverty-ridden community, she must seek funding for herself and, she hopes, additional nurses. A manual sets the expectations of community nurses, and she complies regardless of difficulty to maintain …
Not light reading. Engaging characters with interesting complexity of personality. Stirs many layers of life in the immigrant working class in a company town.
I was expecting a story about the poisonous smog that killed residents in a Pennsylvania mill town in 1948. While the deadly fog ruled the atmosphere of the tale, a far more toxic poison destroyed the very dysfunctional family that formed the book’s focus. Therefore, my expectations merit three stars. Another reader might become more interested …
Drew me in, made me want to keep reading it. You see everyone’s flaws and mistakes and know that they need to communicate but then there wouldn’t be a story. It rebuilds faith in family.
The main character reminded me of myself. The family dynamics were interesting. Very realistic. I didn’t know about the pollution that was so devastating so it was an interesting read because of that as well.
Boring. I read 7 chapters and deleted it. Maybe it might get better after another 10 chapters ?
Story about true event that happened before clean air act. Very thought provoking
I liked this book
The author did an incredible job of depicting the lives and challenges of living in the thriving steel mill towns along the Monogehala valley, including the slang and style of speech. I felt as if I was transported back in time. Really gave me a perspective as to what drove the people during that time to immigrate and work under such deplorable …
Hard to imagine people living in the conditions described in the book. Sad that money counts more than human lives.
I love how the characters seem so real. It’s heartbreaking to think of the struggles they went through. I love learning about the history of the people who lived through situations like this in a story format.