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.
more
Karen Kelly is the real deal.
With delicate and insightful prose, Karen Kelly sweeps us into the psyches of two deeply entwined families as their lives―and secrets―unravel. A haunting debut, Bethlehem will pull you in from start to finish, and leave you grappling with the timeless quandary of when to bury the truth, and when to confront it.
VERY good book so 4.5 for this site! Coming July 2019. See my review: https://notenoughtimeforbooks.blogspot.com/2019/01/calling-all-historical-fiction-fans.html
My curiosity for this book began with the enchanting cover, it’s beauty instantly drawing me in. Sadly, my excitement was quickly extinguished for several reasons, first being the painfully slow beginning that is diluted with character names and nicknames. I felt so lost, and trying to keep up with which character was which, plus the nicknames, made me almost give up before I really dived into the story itself!
Once I got my bearings as far as the characters and dual plot lines, I was able to properly immerse myself in the drama of the Collier and Parish families. Bethlehem is told through the eyes of matriarch Susannah, flashing back to her youth in the 1920’s, and her daughter-in-law Joanna in the 1960’s, who’s family has come to stay with Susannah and her mother in the family mansion. The views of both women are clear and concise, but despite the depth of the characters themselves, and their stories, I fought to connect with them, despite the depressing and suppressive situations they both find themselves in.
Truth be told, this novel isn’t particularly what I had been expecting. To me, it didn’t really feel like a historical fiction, which is what I was hoping for, but it’s lacking any significant historical events. There are a few cultural references in the flashbacks, but otherwise the story could really fall into any time period.
There is a certain charm to the tale that kept me engaged, especially the 1920’s time line. I absolutely adore that era and honestly would’ve been fine if Joanne’s story wasn’t even included. It’s a strong enough premise to hold its own, and I believe I would’ve liked it better if it would’ve been the main focus.
All in all, Bethlehem wasn’t a terrible read, but the pace is on the slower side, the entire premise and feel is dark and depressing, and I had really wanted to love it, but it was just ok.
*I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.
3.5.
I have had Bethlehem on my NetGalley list since early 2019. I have tried multiple times to read it but I would lose interest very quickly. I finally took the time to read and listen to the audiobook this summer. I liked it but it was not a favorite.
The first half of the book is character development and there are a lot of characters. Almost too many. I would get very lost very easily and have to go back and look at my notes on who was who and how they fitted in the family.
I love reading books that go back and forth between current and past and I pride myself on being able to keep everything straight but I could not with Bethlehem. I think I would have preferred to have a two-book series with book one in the past and book two the present.
If you like family sagas this is a great read to fulfill that like but be prepared there are a lot of characters and the book does not pick up until the second half.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Joanna Collier, her husband Frank, and their two young children move from the Philadelphia area into Frank’s palatial family home in Bethlehem, PA. Frank’s grandfather was the founder of Bethlehem Steel and Frank is working at the family business. His hours are long and he often travels for the business. His family’s home is a richly decorated, enormous mansion; very different from the home Joanna grew up in. Frank’s mother and grandmother still reside in the mansion, and the history of the family is told in chapters which alternate with the time of the story, 1962. There is romance, grief, secrecy and as Joanna gradually adjusts to her opulent surroundings and her husband’s frequent absences, she learns how everyone, rich or not, makes choices that can reverberate for years to come.
This was an absolutely wonderful read. I just loved it. I am very familiar with Bethlehem and really enjoyed the descriptions of the town and its streets. The writing was excellent. It was smooth and elegant and held my interest completely. I very strongly recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author Karen Kelly, and the publisher St. Martin’s Press for the digital ARC I was given. This is my honest opinion.
A working-class girl married into an elite industrial family, Joanna Collier must bring her young children to live at her husband’s family home in the steel-town of Bethlehem. Lonely and losing herself into a listless existence, Joanna struggles to connect with her children’s grandmother, Susannah, and great-grandmother, Helen. Meanwhile, having taken over his father’s company, Frank’s work pulls him away more and more, leaving little time for the two to mend the cracks that threaten to tear their marriage apart.
Forty years earlier, we see the story of Frank’s mother, Susannah. Raised as the privilege daughter of a steel titan, Susannah Parrish was always destined to wed Wyatt Collier, until the autumn she discovered that his older brother was in fact “the one.” The pain of a secret romance and the untold stories swirling around Susannah’s life come to the surface to explain the quiet, guarded woman who raised Frank Collier and who will come to be a friend to Frank’s wife Joanna.
This was a beautifully rendered dual narrative novel that shows both the flapper era of the 1920s and the nearer era of the 1960s. In a story with no “bad guys,” the tension created by circumstance was palpable and propelled me with barely a break from cover to cover. When stories deal with infidelity or incipient infidelity, there is always the question of how duty and desire will be dealt with. This story handles the concepts with the appropriate gravity and perspective. The terrible weight of secrets and deception is skillfully portrayed, and the final epilogue nearly made me shed a tear. Bethlehem surprised me by being one of my favorite books of the year so far. Recommended.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Bethlehem by Karen Kelley is the story of three generations of wives in the Collier family. For a short time, all lived under the same roof. The book hops from time period to time period, primarily the 1920’s when Wyatt and Savannah had been young adults, and 1962, when Frank And Joanna have come to live in the family home in Bethlehem. Each of the women has secrets that they don’t share with anyone. Joanna feels like she is living a lie; in someone else’s home and with her husband at work all of the time. Now that both her children are in school, she has time to herself but she makes only two friends, and elderly lady who lives at the cemetery, Doe; and Doe’s grandson, Daniel. Each of them has their own story, away from the main story. Susannah, Joanna’s mother-in-law, is slowly opening up to Joanna, trying to help in her own way. Frank’s father and grandfather have both passed on, leaving Joanna as the only married woman in the group.
What a truly wonderful book. I cried through the last ten percent of it. These women and the things in their lives that never broke them show the kind of strength it takes to live a life. It is an intriguing look at people’s lives and loves and how they manage. It is the story of marriages and how they survived. It is also the story of lost love and love that never quite happened. It is a masterfully crafted piece of writing. One I will not forget any time soon. I recommend it.
I received a free ARC of Bethlehem. All opinions expressed herein are solely my own. #netgalley #bethlehem
Karen Kelly is a new author to me so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I found Bethlehem to be a book that kept me wanting to turn pages to learn more about the characters and the town of Bethlehem.
The story of Frank and Joanna who go to live at Frank’s family home along with their two children are set in the 1960s. In the home resides the two matriarchs of the family, Frank’s mother and grandmother. This leaves Joanna feeling like she is a visitor in her home, decisions are made without her being asked, her children are given freedoms and without her consent, and Frank is always at work. Joanna feels like she is losing herself. The mother-in-law, Susannah, also gets to tell her story that starts in the 1920s and leads to the revealing secrets that she has kept close to the heart to not cause any family problems.
I felt that the start was a little hard to follow because there were so many characters introduced at one time. I struggled to keep them straight and to follow who’s story I was reading. As the story continued it became easier to figure out and I grew more attached to both the characters and the story itself.
Bethlehem is a woman’s historical fiction. It tells of life in a town that is supported by the U.S Steel industry but goes on to show the bond between a mother and daughter and the struggles of marriage. The cover should draw your attention but the storyline will keep you entertained.
A very fast if not a bit predictable story!
The book alternated back and forth from past to present effortlessly. I thought each storyline was interesting. I thought all the characters were likeable. I really enjoyed the book!
A poignant book that tells the story of how these two families at the height of the steel insurgence, are so intertwined. Hollins Parrish with his wife Helen and their 3 kids Kit, India and Susannah. Charles Collier with his wife Frances and their sons Chap and Wyatt. The story is told in present of 1962 and the past starting in 1918. Through the roaring 20’s with flappers, jazz and the Charleston. In the blink of an eye, everything changed.Secrets were made and kept through the years. It amazes me how the more things change, the more they stay the same.
I almost didn’t accept the invite to review for Bethlehem. The blurb didn’t sell the book. I also decided to read some of the reviews on Goodreads before making my decision. What made my decision for me was the cover. I thought it was beautiful.
I thought that Bethlehem was well written. The author did a great job of bringing the characters to life. The writing was descriptive and drew me right in. I love it when a story does that.
My issue with the book fell with the characters. While they were well written, I couldn’t connect with them. I must connect with at least one character in the book.
I did like the plotlines. I thought that they were well written and flushed out. I was able to immerse myself in the plotline. I also liked the dual plotlines.
There were dropped storylines and characters that seemed to disappear. The storyline that I am referring to was the one with Daniel and Joanna. I did think that it was going in a specific direction. Then it was dropped, and Daniel was never heard from again. Drove me nuts. I needed to know what happened to Daniel!!
I didn’t like Joanna. She didn’t try to cultivate a relationship with Savannah or Hedy. She kept to herself. She pursued a relationship with Daniel instead of focusing on fixing the one with her husband. She flipped out when Gigi gave the kids their Christmas presents. Her attitude was horrible. She did start to change about halfway through the book, but I couldn’t change my view of her.
I did figure out what was going on with Susannah about halfway through the book. I did think that it was sucky what she did to Wyatt. But, at the same time, she did remain true to herself.
The end of Bethlehem didn’t sit well with me. It seemed rushed. Joanna’s change of heart was not believable. I did like how the author brought together the main storylines. That wasn’t rushed.
This book is one of my favorite historical books of the year! Set in Bethlehem Pa when Bethlehem Steel was still up and running. This book was wonderfully written and felt like I was there every moment. For historical fiction lovers, I definitely suggest this book!!
Bethlehem by Karen Kelly
Always been fascinated by the steel industry in our travels.
Enjoyed this read from a new author to me for many reasons.
I learned new words, love hearing of the location that we’ve by many times, the mine stories and the history.
Drama of the women and who they marry, their lives before and after as they grow older.
Secrets kept and pain they do cause over time.
Very detailed descriptions I can picture the scenes in my mind. Would like to read more from this author.
Received this review copy via the publicist from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
#NetGalley
Joanna Collier is the mother of two young children and married to Frank, an engineer working for his family’s business…Bethlehem Steel. After his father’s death, Frank’s responsibilities increased dramatically and felt the pressure to move his family to the headquarters in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. And, he needed to be closer to his aging grandmother and mother, both living alone in their ancestral home. Joanna doesn’t mind the move but reluctantly agrees to live in the mansion. The divide between her and Frank only widens as she feels even more isolated, struggles to connect with his grandmother and mother and fears she’s losing her identity.
This story takes quite some time to develop and I highly recommend you stick with it as the payoff is worth it. The story transitions between 1962 (Joanna’s perspective) and 1918/24 (in the time of Frank’s maternal and paternal grandparents). Hollins Parrish ran the steel company and Charles Collier worked there as chief engineer. The families were close, their children even closer and their story is told through the eyes of Frank’s mother (Susannah Parrish Collier). Susannah is a formidable presence in both eras but in entirely divergent ways. I was always intrigued to learn how that happened and it was slowly revealed but perfectly timed. The details are important and I’m glad I was patient as the attention given to develop each character made such a difference in the power of the storytelling. All the while, Joanna’s story continues and I knew at some point there would be a connection although it was wildly, wonderfully elusive.
I guessed what most likely happened 38 years earlier but by the time it was revealed, I was hopelessly connected with these people, experiencing every emotion fresh and raw. And, there were a few twists that I didn’t anticipate that provided even more shape, form and texture to the story. This is a beautiful, touching story that I didn’t see coming. I’m really glad I stayed with it because once you reach the halfway point, you’ll not want to put it down.
(Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Linda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Bethlehem” by Karen Kelley, St Martins Press, July 9, 2019
Karen Kelly, Author of “Bethlehem” writes a Fiction novel, with some Historical Background. There are two storylines from around 1918 and 1962, two timelines that eventually connect. There is suspense, secrets, betrayals, romance, and twists and turns. Karen Kelly describes her characters as complex and complicated. The author discusses the importance of family, forgiveness, love, and hope.
The Historical part of the story describes the upstart of Bethlehem Steel, and the importance of the use of such materials, as well as the wealth it provided some families. The story is also described in the cemetery and the caretakers who know the history of the town. I would recommend this suspenseful and surprising novel.
Bethlehem by Karen Kelley is a well-written family saga exploring the lives and ties between the Parrish and Collier families. The story is set in Bethlehem, PA beginning in 1918 and ending in 1962. Hollins Parrish is the CEO of Bethlehem Steel and Charles Collier the head engineer for the company.
As with all families, life brings unexpected blessings and glory days, as well as hard times and hard truths. The two families find themselves connected forever through friendship, marriage, love, loss, betrayals, and secrets.
Kelly writes strong characters. At the beginning, I admittedly had a bit of difficulty keeping the members of the families and their nickname straight (a page with a family tree of each of the families would’ve been much appreciated). But as I read further, I was simply swept away with the currents of the story and the impacts time had on these two families.
Two of my favorite passages in the book are:
“I’m never here to judge you; I’m only here to help you.”
“…the fact that some skin doesn’t show scars does not mean there haven’t been wounds.”
I give Bethlehem 4 stars. A very good read, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the flow, the sense of family, of forgiveness, of repentance and of love.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Karen Kelly for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
This was such a good story. It jumped from the 1960s to the 1918s. It flowed so smoothly and was told in such a way that you really felt you was there in each time frame.
Great characters and so well written. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It was a very quick read for me and so enjoyable.
This was a first for me by this author and I hope to read more.
A 4.5 star book for me and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to #NetGalley, #St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With a dual timeline focusing on two strong female characters, the family saga focuses on the intertwined Parish and Collier families. Beginning in 1960, Joanna and Frank Collier and their two children move into Frank’s family home after his father’s death, joining his mother and grandmother. Joanna is from a working-class family and has a tough time adjusting to the wealth of her husband’s steel-magnate family. In her explorations, she befriends the cemetery caretaker and her grandson, finding a bit of normalcy and a few secrets, which send us back in time to find more about the family history.
A slow-burning story, you won’t realize you are hooked until you can’t put it down. This is a well-written story with characters that are realistic and intricately drawn. A novel of family, secrets, love, and more tragedy than I expected, the wrap up was beautiful and heart-breaking.
#Bethlehem #KarenKelly #StMartinsPress
I was completely enraptured by this book, swept away by emotions, in love with its characters. The dual timelines wove together beautifully, each chapter leading to the next seamlessly. This wonderfully moving story of two families whose lives are entwined through friendship and marriage was heartfelt and poignant. I especially loved Susannah and her daughter-in-law Joanna, two women who appear to have very little in common; two complex women whose lives are filled with joys, sorrows, and secrets which reveal their true selves, their desires and their dreams. Bethlehem is brimming with love and family, sacrifice and devotion.