Thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers for allowing me to join the book tour and the gifted copy of the book.
Coming of age in 1940s England, Alice’s life is thrown into chaos under the shadow of the war. Forced to let go of her hopes and dreams, she finds herself uprooted to America and a life she never could have imagined.
Decades later, it is the 1990s and Alice’s granddaughter Marnie is living out of a worn-out Chevy Nova, running heroin and cocaine along the New England coastline. Yet she carries with her memories of a nurtured childhood in hardscrabble Rhode Island, where all the disappointments of her young parents were eclipsed by her grandmother’s love.
Spanning six decades and two continents, from the shores of WWII England to the underside of 1990s America, JUNCTION OF EARTH AND SKY unfolds -in multiple timelines -the enduring bond of grandmother and granddaughter, plagued by the past but determined to find their place in the world against all the odds.
My Review
Junction of Earth and Sky by Susan Buttenwieser is a story that spans six decades. It’s emotional and powerful in its telling. The author deals with sensitive issues throughout and does it so well.
The present day, we meet Marnie and Alice. Marnie is struggling with addiction, and Alice is her grandmother. The story is told from both perspectives, and we are taken back in time to the absolute carnage that was World War 2. We follow Alice’s journey through life, which is one of tragedy and hardship.
As the years unfold, we see Alice having to act as a parent to Mamie, her grandaughter. Alice attempts to break the cycle, which is teeming with trauma. She wants better for Mamie and is doing her best to get her there.
Wow, such an extremely well written novel. I found myself on this journey with both characters, and yes, it tore my heart to shreds. The bravery that both these women show while being heartbroken and pigeonholed by society. The way Susan Buttenwieser writes is so heartfelt, even in the midst of anger and bitterness, which Alice and Mamie experience. I felt everything that they went through.
I couldn’t tell this was a debut novel in any way. An author to keep an eye on for sure.
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