Book Review - A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

By greatlakesmom
     To immerse yourself in this fictional tale is a treat.  The cleverness of the twists woven with the help of a beautiful scarf between 1911 Ellis Island and 2011 Manhattan keeps the reader intrigued throughout the entire book.  The tragedy of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Fire leaves one woman heart broke and on a healing journey that starts with her devotion to nursing the immigrants newly arrived on Ellis Island.  Here a young immigrant arrives with his deceased wife’s scarf around his neck and is escorted to the Scarlet Fever ward on the island still in a daze.
     A century later, another tragedy has left a widow convinced that love and life lost will keep her moored to the past and even her daughter remains protected from the whole truth of that fateful day.  With that same scarf in her hands, she is rushing to meet her husband to share the news of their expectant baby.  Almost there, the World Trade Tower tragedy hits and a stranger helps her to safety while her husband isn’t as fortunate.
     I highly recommend this read because you will be compelled to think about the journey of life.  Two women separated by a century yet connected with similar loss and love learn the remarkable ability to heal.  This story Illustrates how little the basic human condition changes even though the world in which we inhabit is unrecognizable from the past.  Enjoy……………

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