Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline

Hello Bookworms!,

     Today I have a new review for you. Today’s book is part contemporary fiction, part historical fiction. Take a look at Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline.

Summary

2011

     Molly is a foster child. The home she is in now is at least a little more stable that the last several. Except for the fact that her foster mother is a total jerk. She refuses to accept that Molly is vegetarian, or that she is gothic, or really anything else about her. Ralph, Molly’s foster father, tries to keep the peace but that really only amounts to him shrugging, grimacing, and saying totally useless phrases that usually make the situation worse rather than better. Molly has been passed around enough that she is resentful and angry and she couldn’t care less is Dina, her father mother, likes her.

1929

     Niamh (pronounced Neev) is an orphan. Her parents died tragically after having been in America only a short time from County Galway, Ireland. The only thing Niamh has left to remind her of home is the Claddagh cross necklace her grandmother gave her before they left. Niamh has been sent to the Children’s Aid Society of New York and now she will be put aboard what has been called the “orphan train”. The idea is to send Niamh to a town where there are people waiting to take in orphans. The problem is, what kind of people are they? Niamh’s new found friend Dutchy says that they just want a kid to basically be a servant or slave. Niamh tries to hold hope that the family that takes her will be nicer than that.

 

Review

     I became interested in this book shortly after having learned about orphan trains and their intentions in a class at University. Before that, I really had not heard of orphan trains so I was excited to see a fiction author’s take on this little heard of piece of American history.

Molly:

     Okay… I wanted to like Molly. I really did. But I feel like her story has been done to death: The foster child who has been passed from one horrible home to another until she is bitter and angry and takes it out on everyone. I am sad to say that Molly’s story is not uncommon in the real world, but its also not the only story. Where are the stories where the conflict is not with horrible foster parents but with something else in their lives and the foster parents are like their real parents and they can turn to them?

 However, I held out hope that sooner or later her story would change. That Molly would grow. It took quite a while for Molly to make any changes and those were minimal. I found myself sorry to have to come back to the contemporary sections of the book.

Niamh:

     I got really interested in Niamh’s story and I think maybe a whole book about Niamh would have been a really good story. A whole story just about Niamh’s travels to New York, onto the orphan train, and to various parts of the country on her journey to find stability would have been wonderful.

The story in General:

     As I said, the historical fiction parts of the book were good. I enjoyed it and was really happy that most of the book was made up of the historical fiction. I felt that a huge opportunity was wasted though. I wanted to hear about what it was to be brought in as an orphan, of waiting, and then of being put onto the train. I wanted to hear more about the process.

     The ending bothered me a bit. It was sort of a last minute transformation that wasn’t complete. Not to mention that several things that were put forth as a solution were actually illegal. And I don’t mean little crimes that can be overlooked for the greater good. I’m talking about serious, federal fraud in the foster system.

     Finally, a note to parents and school personnel. I want to offer up a brief warning about some of the content of the book. To me, I could easily have seen a parent buying this book for their child or a school buying a copy for their library because it looks like a book young people would want to read and it seems like it will be filled with historical facts about this period of American history. The thing is, there is a scene where there is graphic detail about Molly and her boyfriend making out and a bit more (which I found unnecessary to the conversation and the overall plot of the book. Molly’s character had already been established as was Jack’s so I didn’t see where it furthered the story). There are also graphic details about an attempted rape of a 10 year old girl. I understand why the author wanted to tell that part of the story, but I think the details were too graphic for a young audience. So please adults, be careful.

     While there were good aspects of Orphan Train, I do not recommend the book.

 

Until Next Time,

         Lizzie <3

See Lizzie Read 5 Minute High 5 with The Countess of Carnarvon!

Hello Bookworms!,

          I am excited about the interview I get to share with you all today! Fans of the popular BBC drama Downton Abbey get ready! Today’s 5 Minute High 5 is with Author of Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and its sequel Lady Catherine, The Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey! That’s right! Today’s interview is with Lady Fiona Carnarvon of Highclere Castle!

1.    You have recently written 2 books about the history of Highclere Castle. What has it been like researching such a rich history?

 

It’s a tremendous privilege working through all the different archives here at Highclere. There are an enormous number of stories about what my predecessors have done and I really enjoy tying it in with the events that they were living through.

 

2.    Did you always intend to publish the history of Highclere Castle or was the project inspired by the television series Downton Abbey?

 

I had already researched the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon (who discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun with Howard Carter) and had published a photographic story about the two men. I therefore knew the story of his extraordinary wife Almina and it was a wonderful opportunity to publish it.

 

3.    Your two books follow the lives of Lady Almina and Lady Catherine as a means of telling the Castle’s story. How do you decide which family member’s story to follow?

 

I started with the 5^th countess, Lady Almina, because she made such an amazing contribution to other people’s lives. She worked tirelessly to save men’s lives although in the First World War they were often returning into battle yet again. I found the letters from the patients and their families very humbling.

 

4.    Are there plans for a third book?

 

I have started a photographic book looking at the rhythm of a year here at Highclere, recipes, and anecdotes.

 

5.    After all the research you have done, which figure from Highclere Castle’s past (that you have not met already) would you most like to have lunch with?

 

I find Egypt and the ancient culture and works of art completely fascinating so I would absolutely love to have lunch with the 5^th Earl of Carnarvon.

 

 

You can find Lady Carnarvon’s books in bookstores and online! I’ve included the links to purchasing Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey and Lady Catherine, The Earl, and The Real Downton Abbey below!

 

Buy Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey *Here*

Buy Lady Catherine, The Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey and *Here*

 

Read See Lizzie Read’s review of *Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey*

 

**A special thank you to Lady Carnarvon and Mrs. Julie Robins for working with me to bring this interview to the See Lizzie Read readership!

 

Until Next Time,

                   Lizzie <3

Out of the Shadows: The Untold Story of Arthur Conan Doyle's First Family by Georgina Doyle

Hello Bookworms!,

          I’ve recently finished reading a lovely book about the first family of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes Stories, the Brigadier Gerard Stories, The White Company, and so much more.

 

Summary

          There have been many skewed biographies of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his family, and his career. Over the years many myths have been taken and fact, and many facts and been believed to be myths. Arthur’s first family, His wife Louise Hawkins, and their two children Mary and Kingsley Conan Doyle, were, for a time, all but erased from the history of the family…Until now. Family member Georgina Doyle (Daughter-in-law of Arthur Conan Doyle’s baby brother Innes Hay Doyle) has spent years compiling the facts and has published Out of the Shadows: The Untold Story of Arthur Conan Doyle’s First Family setting the record straight for the first time in years.

 

Review

          Out of the Shadows has been a joy to read. I’ll start out by saying that I highly recommend it to all who will read it. Why do I love it so much? I’m so glad you asked ;-) .

          The first pleasant surprise was the author of the forward. In looking for a book about what happened to Mary and Kingsley Conan Doyle, I reached out to author Alistair Duncan (author of Close to Holmes, Eliminate the Impossible, and An Entirely New Country). Alistair put me into contact with Doug Wrigglesworth from whom, after several pleasant online interactions, I bought my copy of Out of the Shadows.  As soon as I opened the book, I found that the forward was written by none other than, Douglass Wrigglesworth, whom I may add did a lovely job and I suggest that you take the time to read the short forward at the beginning of the book.

          Next was the lovely prologue by Georgina Doyle in which she explains her reasons for doing the book. For me this section (only about a page and a half long) really set the tone for the rest of the biography. You really get a sense of Georgina’s lovely character and her intention not to hurt anyone, but to help everyone understand the whole story of the Conan Doyle family as it actually happened. She evens mentions that the time of publication ( © 2004)  was best because now anyone who might be hurt by the truth had passed on, which I found extremely thoughtful.

          The book gives the history of the Doyle and Hawkins side of the family and then goes into how Louise and Arthur met and married and subsequently had children, Mary and Kingsley. It continues all the way to Mary Conan Doyle’s golden years detailing the life of her and her family from family documents, first and second-hand accounts from family members, and even statements from Mary Conan Doyle herself.

          I found it beautiful to read Mary’s own words. I loved getting to hear her story from her perspective in many places. I also loved Georgina Doyle’s writing. She had an easy style that makes it easy to read. It reminded me a lot of movies that have a person telling a story in conversation and then slowly slips into a flashback. That’s how it feels reading Mrs. Doyle’s writing. It was wonderful. I found myself becoming so attached to the family members through Georgina’s writing that I began to grieve each time a family member died, especially at the deaths of Louise Hawkins “Touie” Doyle, Kingsley Conan Doyle, and Innes Hay Doyle.

          I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to read, enjoyable, plus there were pictures and several discrepancies from earlier biographies set straight. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the family of Arthur Conan Doyle. This is easily the most reliable book in existence. It is hard to find a copy now, but if you can find one, borrow one from a friend, or check one out at the library, it is well worth it!

A special thanks to Alistair Duncan and Doug Wrigglesworth for helping me in obtaining a copy of Out of the Shadows.

 

 

Normally, I would post a link where you can buy Out of the Shadows. However, it is hard to find now. I was not able to find a link to an online seller so if you know where readers can get a copy of the book, please feel free to post it in the comments or let me know at @LovelyLizzie10 on Twitter and I'll add it here.

Until next time,

                   Lizzie <3