September 2022 Group Read - The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

[Gretchen, Keep your head up or the crown slips]

Not really sure where September came from or how we already are nearly a week into it but here's the thread for this month's read.

April 18, 1906: A massive earthquake rocks San Francisco just before daybreak, igniting a devouring inferno. Lives are lost, lives are shattered, but some rise from the ashes forever changed.

Sophie Whalen is a young Irish immigrant so desperate to get out of a New York tenement that she answers a mail-order bride ad and agrees to marry a man she knows nothing about. San Francisco widower Martin Hocking proves to be as aloof as he is mesmerizingly handsome. Sophie quickly develops deep affection for Kat, Martin's silent five-year-old daughter, but Martin's odd behavior leaves her with the uneasy feeling that something about her newfound situation isn't right.

Then one early-spring evening, a stranger at the door sets in motion a transforming chain of events. Sophie discovers hidden ties to two other women. The first, pretty and pregnant, is standing on her doorstep. The second is hundreds of miles away in the American Southwest, grieving the loss of everything she once loved.

The fates of these three women intertwine on the eve of the devastating earthquake, thrusting them onto a perilous journey that will test their resiliency and resolve and, ultimately, their belief that love can overcome fear.

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War and As Bright as Heaven comes a gripping novel about the bonds of friendship and mother love, and the power of female solidarity.

We are only opening one thread for book discussion so please make sure you are making any potential spoilers.

Happy Reading!

[Kelli]

I’m about 2/3 of the way through. A significant plot point was just revealed, and I’m interested to see where it leads!

[Maureen]

I just finished. I really enjoyed it. Looking forward to what everyone thinks about this book.

[Gloria]

This was a page-turner for me. The twists and turns kept me guessing throughout the entire book.

[Cindy]

Finished this book up earlier this week. For some reason I thought this was the October book so I kept waiting for the witch theme! Finally figured that it was the wrong month about a quarter of the way through.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns of the book. Didn't remember all the characters from the blurb, so when these women start to come together, I was necessarily expecting that to happen. But thought it was not a surprise that these women would come together and bond after each of these women were wronged by the snake in the grass Martin.

[Alice]

I read this one awhile ago and enjoyed it well written. Interesting to see how things developed in it.

[Kelli]

I loved the hopeful message of this book. One of my favorite quotes: “It is the nature of the earth to shift. It is the nature of fragile things to break. It is the nature of fire to burn. And just as it is the nature of men and women to build, it is also in our nature to begin again after disaster.”

And a good reminder, considering today’s anniversary in the US.

[Debra]

Great summation of the nature of things, Kelli! The power of women working together is amazing and the author demonstrated that so well. Really enjoyed it, also.
Debra

[Maureen]

What do you think of Sophia’s decision’s, Do you think you could marry someone you do not know?

[Kelli]

I don’t think I could have done what she did. In her position, considering what happened in Ireland… I would have been a little more wary. I suppose she thought things could only get better.

[Cindy]

Maureen wrote: "What do you think of Sophia’s decision’s, Do you think you could marry someone you do not know?"

I think with the situation she was in, that was one of the best options she could see to get out of the city and keep her identity. While it was a risk, it might have been the best of two bad option. Would I have been able to do that? I don't know but think it would have been an option I would have considered.

[Angela]

I really enjoyed this book! The first half had an eerie undertone that was reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. Author Susan Meissner did an excellent job maintaining suspense, which kept me glued to my Kindle for two days!

The part I really liked was how (view spoiler)[ Hocking preyed upon victims who were alone or without family support, but the women formed their own family unit to strengthen themselves against his abuse. (hide spoiler)] Also, the historical details about the San Francisco earthquake created the transportive experience I like in historical fiction.

Many books I've read lately had rushed or ambiguous endings. Not so, here! I felt the ending was quite satisfying. All-in-all, it was a captivating read!

[Debra]

Thank you for mentioning Daphne du Maurier. I felt the same way about the beginning and couldn't put my finger on it. Debra

[Charlene]

I just finished this one as well, and really enjoyed it! I love the author's style...extremely readable. Kept me glued to my reader until I finished. Totally agree on the ending...this one was very satisfying.

[Nicola]

I enjoyed the book immensley. I know what you mean, Angela, about Rebecca which is a favourie of mine. I reckon I could marry someone I didn't know if the circumstances were right and he was handsome of course!

[Darrah]

Ok whattt I just got to the plot twist and I am shocked. Cannot wait to see where the rest of this novel goes. Honestly, I don't think I would make the same decisions as Sophie. I understand wanting to create a stable life for yourself, but be a mail-order bride? Oof. I could never, no matter how handsome or how pretty his topaz-colored eyes were.

[Gianna]

I just finished reading the book. It has a very interesting premise. I like San Francisco, have visited it multiple times, and it was nice to see references to some familiar areas. The use of the historic earthquake as a backdrop was done quite well.

Although I enjoyed the book overall, I found the main character unconvincing at times. For example, she is described as being born in a rural and poor family in Ireland. However, she sounds as a highly educated, middle- or upper-class woman. although some references to her accent are made in the beginning. She also adapts to her new role as a housewife and to her new social status almost effortlessly. There were numerous veiled references to her past throughout the book, which were somewhat repetitive.

To answer the question: Personally, I would not have married a stranger. However, there are women today who still feel forced to marry someone because of social and economic reasons.

[Stephanie]

I just finished this book in record time. It was sooo enjoyable. I just love the strength and resilience of the main character, not to mention her capacity to love. What a great read!

[Patricia]

I finished this tonight and greatly enjoyed it. I have read several books by Meissner and found them all to be well-researched as well as entertaining. Strong characters who aren't perfect but ones you can root for.

[Jessica]

I really enjoyed this book. I didn’t get the Rebecca vibe like some of you and I’m glad because I was disappointed by Rebecca, I felt she needed to grow a spine, but that is a debate for another time. I found it ironic how Martin repeated his bad deeds again and again but then, so did Sophie.

[Jasmine, Gatekeeper of Giveaways.]

For those that also read our previous group read A Fall of Marigolds how did this compare? Did you notice a lot of similarities in the stories or the author's craft? Did you have a favorite?

[Nanette]

I am 3/4 of the way done, and sure love this book! I'm glued to it! Wouldn't it make a great movie? Thank you for suggesting this book. I love her other books.

[Peaktopeak]

I really liked the hopefulness of this story. I was pleasantly surprised at how the women worked together. The detail and timing of the historical setting was well done and added a lot of interest. @Patricia - that is great to hear this is something the author is know for! Susan Meissner was new to me but I think I will seek out some of her other books.

I appreciated that the author kept everything very grounded in reality and didn't romanticize the mail order marriage. I thought it was a valid option for Sophie given the situation she was in and I thought it was very brave of her to strike out that way.

I think that was my favorite Epilogue of all time! (view spoiler)[and I was glad to see the US Marshal got resolution too ! (hide spoiler)]

[Donne]

I didn't read this as part of your group read, but did enjoy it when I read it later. I don't read a lot of historical fiction but it is my go to genre when I need a break from all the murder and mayhem with the crime thrillers and murder mysteries I usually read.

Meissner is a good writer and I've added another one of her books to my to-read list.


My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...