Disclosure: I received this book to review. The post contains affiliate links; opinions shared here are 100% mine.
The main character in this story is Rose Pavlesic, an experienced nurse who knows how to heal everyone in physical ways yet seems completely lost when it comes to emotional healing. Although Rose overcame many obstacles in her life, they hung around her heart like so many chains. As I read her story, I became frustrated with the life she led. Going home to a house full of people who didn’t lift a finger to help her would have been so maddening! At first, I sided with Rose. Why should she make all the meals, clean up after everyone, even babysit the younger children while her sister-in-law laid around the house all day? There are people in my family who behave that way but thankfully they don’t live with me; they only visit every few months. I don’t know if I could stand it the way Rose did. As the story went on, though, I realized that Rose’s passivity was really masked aggression. Her foul mouth was a huge turn-off. I couldn’t stomach the way she talked with the children in her life. She was clearly an educated woman with a broad vocabulary; she expected her children to rise above their circumstances. So why did she curse like a sailor? That juxtaposition was hard for me to understand. This is not a book that I’ll pass on to my grandmother, due to the fact that the book contains several references to marital intimacy and….well, self-intimacy. Grandma had six children but doesn’t need to be reminded about the act! As I mentioned, there was a great deal of profanity in the book as well.
My biggest complaint about this book was its snail’s pace. Several times I flipped back to make sure I wasn’t mistaken; the events took place over several days that seemed more like years. I couldn’t skip ahead, though, because every page seemed to contain information I needed to make sense of the story. I loved the symbolism in the story. The fog represented Rose’s heavy cloud of guilt, shame, and self-absorption. Even the twins she bore seemed to be the embodiment of Rose’s duality. The mistakes of her past met her broken potential within her two children. Throughout the book, the burdens of her past threatened to overtake Rose’s sanity. Would she be able to come through? You’ll have to read After the Fog to find out!
A Nurse’s Obligation
A Town’s Demise
A Mother’s Regret
A Son’s Calling
A Daughter’s Mistake
A Time to Forgive
For every woman who thinks she left her past behind…Historic, environmental drama wrapped in a love story…
It’s 1948 in the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous “killing smog.” Public health nurse, Rose Pavlesic, has risen above her orphaned upbringing and created a life that reflects everything she missed as a child. She’s even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her doting husband, loving children, and large extended family.
When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose’s nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she’s not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family’s healing begin?
***National Indie Excellence Awards: 2012 WINNER– Literary Fiction***
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– Melissa Foster “A great and satisfying read. Rose’s triumph over adversity touched me deeply. Ms. Shoop truly knows how to tug the heartstrings. S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir.”
– S. K. McClafferty, author of The Ghost and Devlin Muir“This is a well-written story set authentically in a historic place and time, around an intricate plot which includes most of the elements that provide for a good “soap opera,” or a book that would be accepted by Oprah Winfrey.”
-Historical Novel Society
NOW FOR THE AUTHOR’S GIVEAWAY !!
I have a similar experience with books that develop too slowly, but are still engaging enough to keep reading…. This may be one I want to put on my “on the bus” reading list while traveling to and from meetings!
I never thought about the fog representing Rose’s hidden demons although now you mention it it’s obvious 🙂 I couldn’t put this one down I just love the reality of Kathleen’s writing x
I love historical romance novels. I love adding new books to my collection when traveling. Definitely putting this on top of my list.
I love that reference to the duality. I didn’t catch that, but now I can see it. I really liked this book. I haven’t decided about Rose though.
As far as I am concerned this is one of the best books I have read all year-and I have read a LOT of books! Everyone should read this book-it is an eye opener for sure.
Doesn’t sound like a book that I would read. I stopped reading graphic sex novels after high school, and I hate profanity.
This sounds interesting and like a great read. From what you said I don’t think I would give it to your grandmother either. I will have to add this to my list. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t decide whether I’d like this one or not. It might be a library book so I wouldn’t feel badly if I didn’t like it.
Thank you for the incredibly layered and insightful review! It was tricky capturing the many sides of Rose and I know she is not likable to many people. Her language was part of the layering of Rose’s character and I have heard from some readers that the swearing was very troubling to them. Others found that it made sense in the context of the setting and the unfolding tale. I think it fits the story and the characters, their lot in life, but responses like yours have definitely made me think harder about using profanity in the future! I really don’t want to push readers away! For anyone who loves romance, this story is not romance! To me it’s a love story of sorts, but definitely not romance in terms of the genre we’re all familiar with.
Again, you’ve expressed some lovely sentiments. I love your thoughts about the twins and the duality of Rose and how that plays out in her children’s lives. Thank you for such an exceptional response to the book.
It certainly sounds like a story of many layers. Always looking for a good book. Can’t wait to check it out.