Kibler, Julie ; Calling Me Home ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 1 Feb 2015

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

What is a Buddy Read?

This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

Book synopsis
A National Best Seller!

Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler is a soaring debut interweaving the story of a heartbreaking, forbidden love in 1930s Kentucky with an unlikely modern-day friendship

Eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser Dorrie Curtis. It's a big one. Isabelle wants Dorrie, a black single mom in her thirties, to drop everything to drive her from her home in Arlington, Texas, to a funeral in Cincinnati. With no clear explanation why. Tomorrow.

Dorrie, fleeing problems of her own and curious whether she can unlock the secrets of Isabelle's guarded past, scarcely hesitates before agreeing, not knowing it will be a journey that changes both their lives.

Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle have developed more than just a business relationship. They are friends. But Dorrie, fretting over the new man in her life and her teenage son’s irresponsible choices, still wonders why Isabelle chose her.

Isabelle confesses that, as a willful teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell deeply in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family's housekeeper—in a town where blacks weren’t allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences makes it clear Dorrie and Isabelle are headed for a gathering of the utmost importance and that the history of Isabelle's first and greatest love just might help Dorrie find her own way.

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Margaret]

Wonderful....see you all in February :)

[Kristie]

I agree. I'm looking forward to this one too. :)

[Cathie]

I'd like to join you in reading this in February :-)

[Kristie]

Just checking in! I'm planning to start this tomorrow. Is anyone else still planning to read it or about ready to begin?

[Margaret]

I am hoping to start as soon as I get it. :)

[Kristie]

Ok, Margaret. :)

I started today and made it through about 18% (in chapter 5). I initially thought that this might not be as good as I hoped. I can't explain really, just the characters didn't grab me immediately. However, that has already changed. I am finding Isabelle's back story interesting and I'm hoping to hear a bit more about Dorrie's story as well, though (view spoiler)[ I'm not really caring about her current romance. I'm happy for her and all, that she seems to have found a nice man, but it's just not all that interesting to me. At least not yet. (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Kristie wrote: "Ok, Margaret. :)

I started today and made it through about 18% (in chapter 5). I initially thought that this might not be as good as I hoped. I can't explain really, just the characters didn't gra..."

oooh....I can't wait to start this, my daughter tried to pick it up for me today but had to request it from another library. I'll try to get it asap. I am once again "booked up" lol....what else is new!

[Kristie]

lol, Margaret! I'm always "booked up"! That's why I started a day early. I have something else I need to get to.

[Kristie]

I'm at 37% (chapter 11) I'm enjoying the book, but I'm annoyed with (view spoiler)[ Isabelle acting so selfish and foolish. She might be risking her reputation or a punishment, but she is risking his life and his family's future because she refuses to stop chasing him around. It is so selfish of her and it makes me really angry. She is not nearly as sly as she likes to believe. She needs to get a grip. (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

oh! I can't wait to get it and read it, I am resisting that spoiler :)

[Kristie]

in Chapter 33 (about 77%) (view spoiler)[ I feel so bad that Isabelle and Robert couldn't be together, but I knew it was coming. I just read the part where Isabelle ran into Nell at the market. I don't think Nell was being honest. I think that Robert is still pining for Isabelle. I think she'll also tell Robert that Isabelle has met someone else to help him get over her.

I wonder what will happen with Max. I think she marries him and that is her husband in all the pictures at her house. But, her heart still keeps a spot for Robert.

Ok, so the ending...all this time I thought it was Robert's funeral that she was going to, but now I'm wondering if it is Nell's. If so, will she see Robert there and live the end of her life with him after all these years?? Hmmm.... (hide spoiler)]

[Kristie]

Margaret - Have you been able to get this one yet?

[Margaret]

no...I am still waiting :) hopefully soon though :)

[Kristie]

Can't wait to chat!! lol Hope it comes soon. :)

[Kristie]

in Chapter 41 (96%) Oh my goodness! A few shockers along the way. I definitely should not have listened to this part while driving home. o_O (view spoiler)[ I can't believe the funeral was for her daughter! I had a feeling early on that she survived. I thought she might be reunited with her at the funeral, but did not think it would be her funeral. Wow!

And I can't believe how awful her mother was! Making her think that her baby was dead, then sending her off with that note.

I'm glad that her father helped the baby survive and helped the family financially, but I'm still disappointed in him for allowing it and not being able to stand up to his nasty wife. I'm sure part of him thought it was best for Isabelle (and maybe the baby) for them to not be together, but really he's afraid of his own wife and children. Sad. (hide spoiler)]

[Margaret]

Oh man.....I can't wait until I get my book! you are killing me here! lol

[Kristie]

Hahaha...sorry!!

[Kristie]

Finished! So glad I read this one. It started out a little slow for me and I didn't think I was going to like Isabelle at all, but it ended up being such a good story! Can't wait to see your thoughts, Margaret.