April 17, 2020
Under lockdown orders due to COVID-19, I’ve thought many times of Susan Meissner’s book As Bright As Heaven which is about the 1918 Flu Pandemic. It’s amazing that what I read two years ago about a pandemic that happened one hundred years ago is relevant today! I’ve also enjoyed The Secret Library’s Book Review Blog posts for #flashbackfriday. So even though it’s not the first Friday of the month, I’m joining Kerry @ Chat About Books to share my review of As Bright As Heaven that was first published in February of 2018. I hope I’ll be forgiven for joining the meme mid-month….I couldn’t wait until the first Friday of another month to bring your attention to this relevant read! Also….the Kindle version is $3.99 today!
***This post contains Amazon affiliate links
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
Genre: Historical Fiction
Summary:
Three events coincide in this story: the Bright family moves to Philadelphia in 1918 for a fresh start, many men go off to fight in the Great War, and the Flu spreads in America. As Pauline Bright and her husband pursue their dream of giving their three daughters a chance at a better life in the big city of Philadelphia, the Flu Pandemic and the Great War greatly impact their lives and rearrange their priorities. Told from four perspectives (mother and the three daughters), it’s a story of survival, making difficult choices, facing challenges, and finding hope. Amazon Rating (early reviews): 4.7 Stars
Meet Two Sisters, Evelyn and Maggie Bright
Historical fiction is my favorite genre because in the stories we find ordinary people doing extraordinary things under difficult circumstances. Not too different from the inspiring stories we hear today on the news involving COVID-19 heroes. We are living the historical fiction stories of the future.
Timely…memorable…uputdownable…
In As Bright As Heaven, Evelyn (Evie) and Maggie Bright are the two older sisters and they become memorable characters with unique personalities and different strengths and weaknesses. Fifteen and twelve when the story opens, Evie is the oldest sister, smart, inquisitive, and a reader, while Maggie is feisty, opinionated, good-hearted, fearless, and determined. As their father leaves to fulfill his war-time responsibilities and the Flu begins to ravage Philadelphia and affect their family, the girls are forced to take on adult-sized responsibilities and concerns. As Evie and Maggie experience love and loss, they are also resilient, courageous in the face of challenges, and make many difficult decisions and choices. Despite dire circumstances, the sisters value family and never lose their ability to love and care for each other. While Evie embraces her role as the eldest and assumes responsibility and leadership, Maggie is a wild card who stubbornly insists on accompanying her mother on errands of mercy to the poorest and most needy population of Philadelphia to deliver food and medicine, bravely seeks to work in the family mortuary business, and one day impulsively makes a heart-wrenching discovery that leads her to make a life-changing decision that will impact all their lives. Her actions will promote great book club discussions about taking risks to do the right thing and facing the consequences.
Readers will laugh and cry with these unforgettable characters as well as learn facts about the Spanish Flu and its impact on Philadelphia.
Recommended. As Bright As Heaven is wholeheartedly recommended for readers who love reading about strong independent women, for those who love historical fiction and against-the-odds stories, for those who are looking for a value-centered and inspiring read, and for book clubs. It’s a simply written and straight-forward story despite alternating between four perspectives. Its memorable characters and tragic circumstances make this a solid and unforgettable read. As Bright As Heaven and A Fall of Marigolds are my two favorite Meissner titles!
Trigger Warnings: death from flu, dire circumstances
Content Warning: the setting is a funeral home
My Rating: 4+ Stars.
As Bright As Heaven Information Here
Meet the Author, Susan Meissner
I cannot remember a time when I wasn’t driven to write. I attribute this passion to a creative God and to parents who love books and more particularly to a dad who majored in English and passed on a passion for writing.
I was born in 1961 in San Diego, California, and am the second of three daughters. I spent my very average childhood in just two houses. I attended Point Loma College in San Diego, majoring in education, but I would have been smarter to major in English with a concentration in writing. The advice I give now to anyone wondering what to major in is to follow your heart and choose a vocation you are already in love with.
I’m happy and humbled to say that I’ve had 17 books published in the last dozen years, including The Shape of Mercy, which was named one of the 100 Best Books in 2008 by Publishers Weekly, and the ECPA’s Fiction Book of the Year, a Carol Award winner, and a RITA finalist. I teach at writers’ conferences from time to time and I have a background in community journalism.
I’m also a pastor’s wife and a mother of four young adults. When I’m not at work on a new novel, I write small group curriculum for my San Diego church. Visit me at my website: http//:susanmeissner.com on Twitter at @SusanMeissner or at http://www.facebook.com/susan.meissner
QOTD:
Have you read As Bright As Heaven? Have you read another book about a pandemic? (I know it was briefly mentioned in Last Christmas in Paris.) Do you think ABAH would be too difficult to read right now in light of COVID-19 or do you think it would be interesting?
ICYMI
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Lighter Reads During Stressful Times
Ten Signs That I’m a Book Lover
Ten Favorite Books About Books
The Last Ten Books That Gave Me a Book Hangover
Happy Reading Bookworms!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Let’s Get Social!
Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.
Find me at:
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Pinterest
***Blogs posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.
Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.
Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website.
© ReadingLadies.com
Fantastic review Carol! I have this on audio as I love her books but haven’t got around to listening to it yet.
It’s one of my favs by her!
I must listen to it soon?
You’ll need to see I’d it’s too intense for you considering our current reality!
I know I could always give it a try and see how I get on.
Def my favorite of her so far, was such an amazing read.
Memorable for sure!
This sounds like a book that I’d love. I love historical fiction and especially war fiction. The added interest of pandemic really has me interested. Thanks for the review
You’re welcome! I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for sharing this Carol. I just downloaded the ebook from my library. It sounds really good and of course with what is happening now, somewhat timely.
You’ll need to see I’d it’s too intense for you considering our current reality!
I will see, if I need to leave it for a bit, I can always get it out again.
[…] – The One Chocolate’n’Waffles – Queen Bee Reading Ladies Book Club – As Bright As Heaven Swirl and Thread – The Book of Longings Book After Book – Family for Beginners […]
Thanks for including my review! 😍🙌
I love historical fiction and this seems like a book that will be right up my alley. Amazing review. Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hi Carol — seen this author recommended before, but haven’t read any of her books. This one sounds interesting right now!! thanks thanks. Hope you’re doing well…
We’re well….just feeling very cooped up! Our 6 yo grandson lives with us and it’s challenging to keep him entertained! But he livens things up too!
This one and A Fall of Marigolds are my favs! I’ve been to a few author events with her and she’s a lovely person!
Yes, I’ve been thinking of this book a lot, too! It’s a very vivid portrayal of the 1918 flu. It’s not my favorite of Meissner’s book, but it was definitely interesting and memorable.
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
It’s eerie that something that happened 100 years ago is our current reality!
[…] #flashbackfriday As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner […]
[…] a solid read! Three favorite books by Susan Meissner: A Fall of Marigolds (my favorite of hers!), As Bright As Heaven (a favorite, too!), The Last Year of the […]
[…] solo works I’ve reviewed by these authors include The Nature of Fragile Things (Meissner), As Bright As Heaven (Meisner), A Fall of Marigolds (Meissner), I Was Anastasia (Lawhon), Code Name Helene (Lawhon), and […]
[…] The Nature of Fragile Things, a historical fiction/thriller, is my favorite Susan Meissner read after A Fall of Marigolds and As Bright As Heaven. […]
[…] forward to a new Meissner release! I loved The Nature of Fragile Things and A Fall of Marigolds and As Bright As Heaven.(Pub Date: […]
[…] Other books by Susan Meissner I’ve reviewed are As Bright As Heaven, A Fall of Marigolds, The Nature of Fragile Things, and The Last Year of the War. (Nature of […]