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Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman have hit all the right notes with All the Broken Angels! It is a Finalist in the upcoming 2024 Royal Palm Literary Awards!.
If you grew up in the 1950's, 60's and 70's you will be able to place yourself into this book without any trouble at all.
These decades were the decades of many changes! I'm talking about big changes! There were changes in the church, changes in the schools, changes in our collective feelings about war, peace, space, family and our own roles in society!
These were the decades of Peace Walks and Talks, Vietnam, distrust in organized religions, protest marches, army drafts, women working to break the barriers in the job markets, and mother's who wanted more out of life than just raising a family.
It was a time of great upheaval in the family and society as a whole.
All The Broken Angels hits on many of the "hot" topics of the day and brings many painful memories and some of our broken innocence or naive notions to light.
Cousins Cate and Albie are in the center of all this turmoil. They are best friends, go to school together, play together and are being raised by mom's who still care for their immigrant parents. They are "old school" and "new school" at the same time. Falling back into what worked for their grandparents when they first arrived in the country they chose to call their new home, many old fashioned notions needed to change. That change did not come easily for the elders as many stuck to their customs brought to this new land from their old countries.
Cate and Albie are close and yet so far apart in their thinking. Cate is a bit of a rebel and Albie is very much focused on being just like his dad ( a World War II vet). Cate tries to challenge many things she sees as "unbelievable" and "wrong", while Albie knows when to keep his mouth shut and ride whatever wave they are travelling on. Parochial schools with their hard edge on religion and beliefs did not sit well with Cate and try as she might, she really was trying to understand. Albie was much more easy going and let all these things ride without too much personal comments. Needless to say Cate and Albie's school life was not what we look back on with good humor. School could be very distressing to some young minds.
This novel had me laughing and crying, admitting that many of these things were happening around me at that time and by the end of the novel I was totally a part of the world as seen through their eyes. Oh the memories that this book brought to light. Things I hadn't thought of in a long, long time.
All of life has a way of working out and Cate does find her way in this new world with all of it's possibilities. She is able to make peace with many things that caused her numerous sleepless nights. Heartwarming and true to life is this story of All the Broken Angels.
Indies Today writes about All The Broken Angels: "Younger audiences will appreciate the richness of Americana, and older audiences will be kissed by nostalgia!
In my humble opinion this novel rates 5 Stars! I don't give those out easily, but this book really deserves it and I do hope that you will find it and read it. I'd love to hear if you reacted the same way!
Congratulations to the Authors Pat Black-Gould and Steve Hardiman!
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Knowing this book takes place throughout the 1950's, 60's and 70's, I already feel nostalgic as that was my teens and life-beginning time. I know I will be able to relate to the happenings of those time periods and look forward to reading "All the Broken Angels". Thanks for recommending this book, Olivia.
ReplyDeleteBased on your recommendation and review, I am sure this is an excellent book that, as you said, will take a lot of us back to a time we definitely need to remember so we don't repeat it. You have me thinking about a lot of things and the people who intentionally try to stir up problems, distrust and unrest.
ReplyDeleteJust reading your review filled me with old memories and nostalgia. I’m sure I could relate to much of Cate’s and Albie’s experiences. Thanks so much for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like quite the interesting read, and probably talks about more than quite a few things that I could relate to. Thanks for the recommendation.
ReplyDeleteBeing a teenager in the 1970's (I consider myself blessed to live during that time) this book speaks to me - It sounds like an excellent read - and a trip back in time.
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