With the writing chops of Ian McEwan and the story-craft of Lisa Wingate, Karen Kelly weaves a shattering debut about two intertwined families and the secrets that they buried during the gilded, glory days of Bethlehem, PA.“A haunting debut.” –Georgia Hunter, New York Times bestselling author of We Were the Lucky Ones“Karen Kelly is the real deal.” –Mark Sullivan, New York Times and USA Today … Sullivan, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky
A young woman arrives at the grand ancestral home of her husband’s family, hoping to fortify her cracking marriage. But what she finds is not what she expected: tragedy haunts the hallways, whispering of heartache and a past she never knew existed.
Inspired by the true titans of the steel-boom era, Bethlehem is a story of temptation and regret, a story of secrets and the cost of keeping them, a story of forgiveness. It is the story of two complex women–thrown together in the name of family–who, in coming to understand each other, come finally to understand themselves.
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Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.
In short, Bethlehem is told in two time frames…early 1920s and early 1960s…about the Collier and Parrish Families, then and now. It’s about secrets kept and how they form the future. In the 60s, Frank and Joanna move to Bethlehem, PA after the death of his father to his family estate. Frank is working long hours, which leaves Joanna with Frank’s grandmother and mother for adult conversation, along with their two children. In the 20s, the Parrish family is elite society, as head of Bethlehem Steel. The Collier Family moves there when the father takes the job of head engineer. The families become best friends, both parents and kids. The past will influence the future.
There are many characters in this book…it took me a while to keep them all straight. The storyline was predictable, but I felt some situations were not fully resolved. The writing is beautiful, the author has an extensive vocabulary which I found somewhat annoying but it did add to the 1920 genteel society. I enjoyed the references to Bethlehem Steel (my father worked for a local steel company that was bought out by Bethlehem Steel), Devon Horse Show and Lehigh University. The story flowed effortlessly between the two eras.
This is a good book for the beach or a lazy weekend. I received an ARC of this book. Opinion is mine alone.
BOOK REVIEW: Bethlehem by Karen Kelly
Release Date: July 9, 2019
Women’s Fiction – Historical Fiction
The storyline description: Told in alternating time frames, 1962 and 1920’s, when the true titans of Bethlehem Steel got their start, this is an absorbing, shattering novel about family, the bonds between women, and the power of lifelong secrets to shape our lives.
Firstly, the cover will mesmerize, it’s striking and memorable.
Although a strong story, I found some of the “verbiage” distracting as the story began and the addition of several characters early on, made it difficult to keep the who’s who in-check. I found most helpful, the addition of the Family Tree, placed at the front of the book for reference.
A story of love, secrets, regret and forgiveness. A host of characters to include children, I felt, added to the honesty and “true family” narrative. The Parrish and Collier families are strong and connected throughout generations, by the Bethlehem Steele Corp. They experience profound circumstance and complicated relationships as a whole and individually…. all leading to a lovely ending.
I thank St. Martin’s Press and Goodreads for this paperback version- ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
4 Stars
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Bethlehem is the story of a strong family and two very different women from two distinctly different times who’ve now come together under one roof: 1960’s housewife Joanna and her 1920’s-era mother-in-law.
This is a slow-growing, character-driven story about the invisible ties that develop between people through our lives. The characters (there are a lot to keep track of and it felt overwhelming early on) are richly developed and intriguing, each with a unique history, motivation and voice.
Karen Kelly writes of each era and character in a way that brings them to life without slowing the pace or feeling too showy. The stories of both women are beautifully woven together until the finale beautiful end, which left me a little misty eyed.
I received a copy of Bethlehem from St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Bethlehem by Karen Kelly is a wonderful story of family, secrets and love that endures. Historical fiction about a family in the 1920‘s to 1960‘s surrounded by romance, tragedy and mystery.. I enjoyed the suspense of the situations involving the characters and how their lives are affected.I loved this book so much I immediately searched for other books by Karen Kelly and purchased her first book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.
I truly enjoyed this novel about a wealthy family from years passed in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.
The chapters span from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. Though it is a bit hard to follow all that is happening in the beginning of this book, it will all nicely come together as the story progresses.
Joanna lives in a beautiful old mansion in Bethlehem Pa with her husband, two children, Mother- in-law and Grandmother in- law.
It is not easy!
Joanna is not used to a life of privilege. She is not in charge of her own home any longer, but living with two matriarchs who dominate this home.
Susannah, her mother-in-law though lovely and polite, is just not a warm and fuzzy woman. Why?
As time goes forward, the truth and secrets long buried, will come forth and the family relationships will grow and change.
I absolutely loved this quote from the story: “The fact that some skin doesn’t show scars does not mean there haven’t been wounds.” A message to take away, that is true in each person we meet daily
*I received an advanced readers’ copy in a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.*
A young woman in the 1920s discovers love for the first time. A wife and mother in the 1960s has trouble finding her place in her new home. These women’s lives intertwine in a story of love, regret, forgiveness and family. Through secrets revealed, these women come to understand themselves and each other.
This slow burn story is everything. Tragedy. Beauty. Love. Family. Relationships. I loved it. I felt so deeply for every character. I continuously came back for more. Watching every chapter reveal just a little more. Knowing that all the details mentioned in passing were important and meaningful to the whole. And then I got to the end where I closed the book and didn’t know what to do with myself because so many emotions were being felt from the last few chapters.
A beautiful book, both inside and out. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of feeling and emotion in their reading. Absolutely wonderful. I’ll be thinking and talking about this book for a while.