Book Review
of Wings of Hope by Hillary Peak
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Title: Wings of Hope
Genre – Literary Fiction
Publisher – Create Space
Release Date – December 2011
Publisher – Create Space
Release Date – December 2011
Purchase Link:
Link to Tour on Main Site -
http://www.virtualbooktourcafe.com/3/post/2012/04/wings-of-hope-by-hillary-e-peak.html
Book
Synopsis:
The letter said he was dying,
that’s all Jules Weinstein knows when she leaves her life in San Francisco and
moves to New York City to be with her father. She goes for the remarkable
opportunity to really know her father. She never dreamed he had liberated a
concentration camp, dealt cards to Bugsy Siegel or saved the life of a Black
Panther. Wings of Hope is a road trip through the memories of a man making
peace with his life. Little does she know that by getting to know her father,
she will find herself. While her father struggles with whether his life was
meaningful, Jules discovers that her father’s last gift to her is the ability
to reach for her dreams. Her journey teacher her that “the goodbye” is
sometimes the most heartbreakingly beautiful part of life.
Author
Information:
Hillary Peak is a recovering
idealist. She became a lawyer to change the world and is still somewhat shocked
that didn't occur. Now, her goal is to retire from practicing law and write
novels that people love. She is currently a practicing attorney in the District
of Columbia. She lives with her family in Alexandria, VA.
Book
Excerpt:
Excerpts :
Excerpt 1: As we sat at the table sipping coffee, I ventured my
first question, “Dad, what were your parents like? You haven’t told me much
about them, except that your mother had more brains in her pinkie than you’ve
ever had.” I worried I wouldn’t have time to find out all I wanted to know.
He looked up, surprised. “Haven’t I told you about them?”
I shook my head. “But I’d really like to know more about
them--especially what they were like.”
A smile spread across his face, “Really? I can’t believe
that. My mother would have loved you--eaten you with a spoon. Remember when I
took you to Fiddler on the Roof?”
I nodded, not wanting to break the spell by speaking.
I nodded again. That had horrified me, I couldn’t imagine
not falling in love, courting, all that comes with the fun of meeting someone
special, dressing up to go out, etc. The coffee mug warmed my hands, as I
listened enraptured.
“Well, my parents were married like that.”
Rather than actually seeing it, I felt my jaw hit the
floor. “You’re kidding!” I exclaimed without thinking.
“Nope.” He shook his head, watching me with
amusement.“They’d never even seen one another. Married in a little village in
Poland called Tarnapole. It is gone now--burned to the ground by the Nazis, I
think.” His eyes misted over, but continued anyway. “My mother got pregnant
with your Aunt Rebecca almost immediately. My dad was a barrel maker--and a
fine woodworker. He made furniture for people as well. Six months after Rebecca
was born, my mother got pregnant again--with Aunt Rachel. The pogroms went on
at that time, and getting worse every day from what I gathered from my parents.
Money and food were running out. It was quite desperate. My father decided to
come to America, make some money with my mother’s brother who already lived
here in New York, then send for my mother and the two girls. He left taking
nearly two months to get to New York. It was barely three weeks after he
stepped onto Ellis Island when World War One started. My mother and your aunts
were trapped for the next three years. For a while, my dad could get in touch
with them. He sent money, but after about a year, the lines were totally cut
off. He didn’t know where they were, if they were even alive. As far as I know,
he kept working, saving money. My mother on the other hand, was starving. The
pogroms were continuing. The Cossacks were riding through villages, raping
women and running everything that moved through with a sword.” He licked his
lips, concentrating, clearly thinking about what it must have been like for his
mother. My hair stood on end.
“One day, my mother was in the town rather than at their
farm when the Cossacks came riding in. One grabbed my mother around the waist
and lifted her onto the horse while he was moving. He intended to rape her in
the saddle and kill her. She grabbed his pistol from out of the holster around
his waist. She shot him dead as they rode.”
My mouth was open and my eyes were far bigger than
saucers. My dad laughed at my expression. “I know. Totally amazing--she was an
amazing woman. She never told me that story. Her brother told me after she
died. I remember saying to him, ‘My Mother?’ I couldn’t believe it.”
“What happened?” I asked mesmerized. “How did she get away
with it?”.
He nodded solemnly. “I asked the same question. She rode
back to the farm. Her brothers buried the body. They slaughtered the horse and
ate the meat—they couldn’t keep it, even though it would have been great for
the farm, because it would have aroused suspicion and questions--but it was no
longer safe for her or your aunts. People had seen it happen. They knew it
wasn’t long before someone turned her in for a loaf of bread.” He bit the
inside of his cheek, just a bit; frightened for them even though he knew it
turned out alright.
“So she took what she could carry, along with my sisters
and started walking to America.”
“Walking? Are you serious?” I literally could not imagine
walking thousands of miles.
“Yep. She and my sisters hid in the woods during the day
and walked at night for months. Eventually, she joined a refugee line.”
“How long did it take?” I couldn’t imagine. The fear I
felt hearing about it was palpable--what must it have been like to go through
something like that?
“Two years.”
Book Review:
This
story really resonated with me. I
connected with Jules from page one and laughed and cried along with her during
the story. I am coming to the age where
the roles between parent and child are beginning to reverse. I have already seen a little bit of it with
helping my parents with their computers and cell phones, but I know the day is
coming when it will be me taking care of them rather than them taking care of
me. It is hard for me to imagine my fiercely
independent parents as needing to be taken care of, but they are getting older
and that day will come sooner than I want.
The
only thing that seemed out of place to me was her immediate physical and
intense emotional connection with Jacques.
It just seemed out of character.
Otherwise a great read.
My
favorite part was the quotes that started each chapter. My favorite is below
the day when God will deign to reveal the future to
man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, Wait and hope.
~Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo (1845), Chapter 117
I am
glad to give this book 4 out of 5 clouds.
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Thank you for having me and for your great review!
ReplyDeleteHillary Peak
Thank you for letting me have the chance to read and review your wonderful book.
ReplyDelete