A National Best Seller Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler is a soaring debut interweaving the story of a heartbreaking, forbidden love in 1930s Kentucky with an unlikely modern-day friendshipEighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser Dorrie Curtis. It’s a big one. Isabelle wants Dorrie, a black single mom in her thirties, to drop everything to drive her from her home … everything to drive her from her home in Arlington, Texas, to a funeral in Cincinnati. With no clear explanation why. Tomorrow.
Dorrie, fleeing problems of her own and curious whether she can unlock the secrets of Isabelle’s guarded past, scarcely hesitates before agreeing, not knowing it will be a journey that changes both their lives.
Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle have developed more than just a business relationship. They are friends. But Dorrie, fretting over the new man in her life and her teenage son’s irresponsible choices, still wonders why Isabelle chose her.
Isabelle confesses that, as a willful teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell deeply in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family’s housekeeper in a town where blacks weren’t allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences makes it clear Dorrie and Isabelle are headed for a gathering of the utmost importance and that the history of Isabelle’s first and greatest love just might help Dorrie find her own way.
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I very seldom rate books with 5 stars, but this one there was no hesitation. Very cleverly written. I am going to try to find more books by this author.
This is a beautiful story, well written. I read it recently and can’t get it out of my mind. I wish there were more books available from the author.
I loved this book. I’m now reading it again.
This book was so well written and kept me involved from the beginning.
Great characters. Emotions packed on every page. Surprise ending.
Wonderful read!
Absolutely fantastic!!!!
Laugh – cry –
Easy Read –
About half way into this book twists and twists and twists just do not stop….
I never guessed the ending!
Soooo heart endearing!!!!!
Excellent. Two lives become intertwined unexpectedly changing the lives of both characters and readers alike.
Great plot! I’m certain this will be made into a movie.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It makes you look hard at people, their beliefs, and what makes them do the things they do. It’s a reminder that you can’t help who you fall in love with; then it’s a decision of how much you are willing to risk (both for yourself and others) to commit to that person.
I love the positive attitude that Isabelle …
Overall, I thought the book was good. I loved how we could read Isabelle’s and Dorey’s stories separately. From an African American perspective, some of the things that happened in Isabelle’s story would not have happened realistically. Especially during the time her story took place…the author took some creative liberties in telling the …
What an amazing journey this book provides! It jumps back and forth between the lives of the two main characters – 89 year old Isabelle and 30ish year old Dorrie while on a road trip to a funeral. The book flows well, alternating chapter by chapter between the lives of the two characters. It’s the type of book that pulls at your heartstrings and …