Before We Were Yours
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
15
Ratings5
Average rating4.2
A heartbreaking story of love and loss, based on a true story ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD OVER 40 WEEKS IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTELLER LIST'S TOP TEN WINNER OF GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS 2017 BEST HISTORICAL FICTION AWARD *************************** Memphis, Tennessee, 1939 Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her four younger siblings live a magical life aboard their family's Mississippi River shantyboat. But when their father must rush their mother to the hospital one stormy night, Rill is left in charge, until strangers arrive in force. Wrenched from all that is familiar and thrown into a Tennessee Children's Home Society orphanage, the Foss children are assured that they will soon be returned to their parents - but they quickly realize the dark truth... Aiken, South Carolina, present day Born into wealth and privilege, Avery Stafford seems to have it all: a successful career, a handsome fiancé, and a lavish wedding on the horizon. But when Avery returns home to help her father weather a health crisis, a chance encounter leaves her with uncomfortable questions and compels her to take a journey through her family's long-hidden history, on a path that will ultimately lead either to devastation or to redemption. ********************* 'It is impossible not to get swept up in this near-perfect novel' Huffington Post Based on one of America's most notorious real-life scandals, in which Georgia Tann, director of a Memphis-based adoption organization, kidnapped and sold poor children to wealthy families all over the country, Before We Were Yours is a riveting, wrenching and ultimately uplifting global bestseller. 'A tale of enduring power' Paula McLain
Reviews with the most likes.
Life is not unlike cinema. Each scene has its own music, and the music is created for the scene, woven to it in ways we do not understand. No matter how much we may love the melody of a bygone day or imagine the song of a future one, we must dance within the music of today, or we will always be out of step, stumbling around in something that doesn???t suit the moment.
Overall, I loved the primary story line, and I was fascinated by the non-fiction aspect inside of the fiction – that there was a time when children were taken in large numbers away from their birth families and sold to rich adopters, and that much of this was public knowledge. I was drawn in to the story of the Foss family, although they were fictional, and wanted to read their story and discover what happened next.
What proved to be less successful for me was the modern day story line, with a wealthy, privileged woman finding out the truth her grandmother had been hiding. Although this meshed with the story I cared about, I really had less of a passion for what felt more like a romance novel that barely brushed against the plot I cared about.
I have no issue with romance novels, having reading literally thousands, but it wasn't the book I wanted to read at that moment. Avery's wealthy family and the people who swirled around them were also unappealing – shallow people concerned about reputation and comfort. We are told Avery's parents are good people, but little of that is shown.
And I get the irony there – that I didn't care much about this aspect while saying there should have been more of it so that I could grow to care. But this book is simply too short to do right by all the characters and plot lines.
I am asked to care about Avery, and I do, just not as much as I do the Foss family, but the things I've been asked to be concerned about are then settled off the page. To say much more would be a spoiler, but 20 more pages given to the modern story line to add some depth and tie up a few loose ends would have probably done a world of good for my enjoyment. I certainly would have enjoyed even more time on the timeline I really enjoyed.
I do want to thank the author for making me aware of a fascinating and tragic detail of American history.
Anyhow, I borrowed this from the library through my Kindle, and had a pretty long wait. I just looked, and my library system had 8 copies of the ebook to lend, and SEVEN people waiting per copy. This is a really popular read, and so many people do love the story in it's entirety, so my issues don't add up to much. I will return my copy in a minute, and the next person will receive an email to tell her (am assuming it will be a her) that the book she's been looking forward to is ready.
Happy reading!
