The Grave of God's Daughter

by Brett Ellen Block

A woman is faced with the past she's tried to put behind her only to find that what transpired in her childhood has never been further away than her own shadow.

The year is 1941. Rooted in the lonely outreaches of the Allegheny Mountains lies the town of Hyde Bend. Its heart: a steel mill; its bones: the tight community of Polish immigrants who inhabit it; and its blood: their fierce Catholic faith. But buried in the town's soul is a dangerous secret surrounding the death of a revered priest.

Upon returning to Hyde Bend, a young woman accidentally uncovers the truth behind this crime, which leads to a second murder. The town quickly erupts in fear and finger pointing. The girl is forced to unravel the now-intertwined mysteries and discovers her own family at the center. Now she must confront all she holds sacred if she is to save her family and herself in this story of lost innocence, transgression, faith, and forgiveness.

Genres: Fiction, Polish Literature, Historical, Family, Domestic, American

304 pages, ebook

First published April 12, 2005

About the author

Brett Ellen Block was born and raised in Summit, New Jersey. She received her undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from the University of Michigan, where she was awarded the Hopwood and Haugh prizes for fiction writing. She went on to earn graduate degrees at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the University of East Anglia's Fiction Writing Program in England.

Writing under her full name, Brett Ellen Block, she won the Drue Heinz Literary Prize for her debut collection of short stories, Destination Known, and is a recipient of the Michener-Copernicus Fellowship. She is also the author of the critically acclaimed novel, The Grave of God’s Daughter, as well as the Macavity Award-nominated thriller, The Lightning Rule.

Reviews

[Roberta · Rating 1 out of 5]

This came across as the author's version of "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" without the charm or authenticity. The dogfight scene was graphic and violent. Not my favorite book ever.

[B. Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Block is a skilled author. I read THE LANGUAGE OF SAND and found this title in a review. Hyde Bend, a coal mining town on the Allegheny River, provides a harsh life for this feisty narrator and her younger brother, Martin. When she sees her mother looking longingly at the shadow on the wall where a portrait of the Black Madonna once hung, the narrator becomes determined to find it and buy it back. Along the way she learns about people, greed, anger, frustration, pride, and love. I found the book absorbing and thoroughly satisfying.

Lynn
www.writeradvice.com
Author of You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about a childhood of unrelenting poverty and misery and a murder tossed in as an aside. It can't be compared to Angela's Ashes because in this book there are no neighbors with a helping hand and it's a rare person in this town who has a trace of the milk of human kindness. There is one actually and he is a butcher, go figure.

The young protagonist is afraid of everyone including her God and has no one to turn to. Don't read this book with out a glass of water and an antidepressant at hand.

[Crimelpoint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fabuła tej książki bardzo mnie zaciekawiła, tytuł również mnie zaintrygował, dlatego postanowiłam sięgnąć po tę pozycję.

Początek szedł m bardzo mozolnie. Jakoś nie mogłam się wciągnąć, jednak w końcu historia mnie pochłonęła. Na pewno nie uczyniła tego fabuła. Choć zapowiadało się na intrygujący kryminał, to jednak otrzymałam coś innego.

Styl pisania mnie pochłonęłam. Z czasem to się po prostu dobrze czytało. Jednak oczekiwałam od niej trochę czegoś więcej, więcej tajemnic czy sekretów. Troszkę się rozczarowałam, ale mimo wszystko była to całkiem niezła lektura.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came accross this title in the library's card catalogue while looking for something else. It had no description/summary but the title was intriguing. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. It kind of reminded me of listening to the stories of my grandparents who spent their lives in southwestern Pa.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book doesn’t really match the title, and you can literally skip the whole book and read the last 5 pages and you’ll know the whole plot. There was no leading up to the mystery. It’s just there, and then not, and that’s all.

[Lokabrenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel ini merupakan sebuah karya debut. Plot dalam novel ini juga diceritakan lambat. Namun gaya penulisan sang penulis yang sangat deskriptif menjadi keistimewaan novel ini, bagaimana sang penulis --- melalui sudut pandang naratornya --- mengisahkan kenangan masa kecil yang dia ekspresikan dengan detail mengesankan. Bahkan pembaca bisa membayangkan seperti apa kota Hyde Bend kala itu, dengan udara tercemar dan kota miskin yang kotor.

Hingga akhir kisah sebenarnya saya masih menerka-nerka korelasi judul novel ini dengan kisahnya. Barangkali saja itu sebuah kiasan, tentang si narator yang melakukan sederet perbuatan yang tidak dirasanya benar. Si narator yang dididik untuk menjadi seorang yang agamis, malah harus berbohong; dia berbohong pada ibunya tentang apa yang dilakukannya sepulang sekolah, dia melibatkan adik laki-lakinya dalam kebohongan itu. Sementara dia tahu kebohongan adalah sebuah dosa. Dan dia terkejut dengan seberapa mudah dirinya berbohong. Di sisi lain, dia merasa tiada apapun yang cukup untuk menebus kesalahannya ini, entah rasa sakit akibat pukulan suster sekolahnya, atau perih yang dia rasakan saat tangannya tidak sengaja terbakar. Selagi dia merasa semakin jauh dari keyakinannya, dia mendapati fakta bahwa warga kotanya pun hidup dalam kemunafikan.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked some elements of this book, but overall, it was just okay. The author truly captured the essence of 1940s mill town poverty, and what it was like to be a part of a small community where everyone knows everyone. The plot was weak though, centering on a big reveal that isn't much of a big reveal when you get down to it. I thought there was promise in the title, too, but now that I've finished the story I'm not sure why the author chose this title.

[Cheekey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Man, that sucked. It sucked so hard. The whole "mystery" is cleared up about 5 pages from the end, and if you blink you'll miss it. How the hell this little girl figured out the truth in a short minute, I'll never know.

Was the whole book supposed to be leading up to the finished mystery? It didn't. It felt rushed at the end.

Whatever. Stupid stupid stupid book.

[Kasia Grossman · Rating 1 out of 5]

The title of the The Grave of God's Daughter is mismatched to the story to hide a waste of time. Had it been properly matched it would have been an average read at best. More accurate titles would be the Grave of God's Daughter's Mother or the Grave of God's Mistress, because when the book ends God's daughter is is quite alive and burying her mother.

[Sandee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, I am enjoying Ms. Block's writing style, and characters. So far, of all the books I've read of this author, I'm looking forward to more.

From Indie Books:
A woman is faced with the past she's tried to put behind her only to find that what transpired in her childhood has never been further away than her own shadow.

[Denise Kruse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just before WWII, a 12 year old girl tells her experience of life with her 6 year old brother, Martin, in a poor Polish Catholic community, Hyde Bend near the Allegheny Mountains, with distant parents who are often hurtful. Mystery, fear and sadness pervade their little lives but does it break them? Beautifully written.

[Alissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow moving, very literary and descriptive. Set in Pennsylvania mill town in 1941 - you can hear the polish and smell the smoke. Might be good for book discussion. Not much to the plot when you get right down to it.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did I miss something? I was really drawn in by the characters in the beginning and I struggled through some tough parts....and then....the ending was kind of a disappointment. I could see what was coming, but I didn't like HOW the author brought closure to the book.

[Chere J · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the begining this book had me on edge. I had a powerful sense of impending doom as I read. I didn't want to put it down. The story is tender, sad and sweet at the same time. Once I figured out what this young girl is about to learn; I wanted to protect her from finding out.

[Tracie Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would read this again. I really related to the setting because I grew up in the Allegheny mountains. The only thing that troubled me was that we never knew the main character's name. Or am I missing something?

[Grace Chaffey · Rating 2 out of 5]

It works up really well, and you think there's going to be a big shocking ending, and well...

It passes some time.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a riveting book! I didn't want to put it down. Cliche, I know, but so true! The story wasn't what I thought it was going to be, but I wasn't disappointed at all.

[Janna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who likes coming of age stories, and stories that take place "back when".

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this to be an interesting, but sad read.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow moving storyline.

[Tjherbst]

never finished

[Karenjuvenal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather depressing setting with some mystery and interesting characters.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book but was disappointed at the ending