"A Song of Home"

A Novel of the Swing Era

(Pearl Spence Novels)

by Susie Finkbeiner

Description

Pearl Spence has finally settled into a routine in Bliss, Michigan, far from her home in Red River, Oklahoma. Like all the other kids, she goes to school each day, plays in the woods, and does her chores. But there's one big difference: Mama is still gone, and doesn't seem to have a thought for the family she's left behind.

Escaping from her worries is another part of Pearl's new routine, whether that's running to Aunt Carrie's farm, listening to the radio with Ray, or losing herself in a book. In fact, a chair in the stacks, surrounded by books, might be her favorite place on earth--until she discovers swing dancing. The music transports Pearl to a whole other world.

When Mama unexpectedly returns, it isn't the happy occasion Pearl had imagined. Mama is distant and Pearl can't figure out how to please her. And the horrible way she treats Daddy is more than Pearl can bear. Seems life would be better if Mama would just stay away.

Finkbeiner's portrayal of both tragedy and everyday life in times of great change is charged with a raw beauty that will haunt readers. Fans of the two prior Pearl Spence novels won't be disappointed! 

Biography

Susie Finkbeiner is a story junkie. Always has been and always will be. It seems it's a congenital condition, one she's quite fond of.

After decades of reading everything she could get her hands on (except for See the Eel, a book assigned to her while in first grade, a book she declared was unfit for her book-snob eyes), Susie realized that she wanted to write stories of her own. She began with epics about horses and kittens (but never, ever eels). 

It takes years to grow a writer and after decades of work, Susie realized (with much gnashing of teeth and tears) that she was a novelist. In order to learn how to write novels, she read eclectically and adventurously (she may never swim with sharks, but the lady will jump into nearly any story). After reading the work of Lisa Samson, Patti Hill, and Bonnie Grove she realized that there was room for a writer like her in Christian fiction.

Her first novels Paint Chips (2013) and My Mother's Chamomile (2014) have contemporary settings. While she loved those stories and especially the characters, Susie felt the pull toward historical fiction.

When she read Into the Free by Julie Cantrell she knew she wanted to write historical stories with a side of spunk, grit, and vulnerability. Susie is also greatly inspired by the work of Jocelyn Green, Rachel McMillan, and Tracy Groot.

A Cup of Dust: A Novel of the Dust Bowl (2015), Finkbeiner's bestselling historical set in 1930s Oklahoma, has been compared to the work of John Steinbeck and Harper Lee (which flatters Susie's socks off). Pearl's story continues with A Trail of Crumbs: A Novel of the Great Depression (2017) and A Song of Home: A Novel of the Swing Era (2018). 

What does she have planned after that? More stories, of course. She's a junkie. She couldn't quit if she wanted to.

My Perspective ~

Still tormented by her mother's desertion and failure to return, Pearl clings to her father and Uncle Gus and Aunt Carrie. Her dearest friend, Ray, is both brother and soul mate, a youngster whose own pain is raw and disheartening. Opal Moon, hired helper and caregiver, is discovered to be a swing dancer! Pearl is enchanted and begs Opal to give her lessons, creating a reason to blossom, a diversion from her haunting reality.

Pearl has become a part of my life. Her grit, determination and gentle spirit are endearing, and my heart aches for this young girl whose childhood is filled with chaos, torment and disappointment. This author possesses a rare gift, creative insight into the souls of her characters. This gift, unwrapped, penetrates the hearts of those who read her compositions.  Steeped in rich detail, accurate historical facts, and tenderness for her characters creates a very real portrait of humanity. Leaving the reader enraptured, these stories are unforgettable.

Although this series has ended, Pearl's story continues in the hearts of those of us who know and love her. My life has been changed by Pearl and the many other characters I've grown to love in this series. I'm smitten with each of the Pearl Spence stories, and the transition from one installment to the next is seamless. This book could be a stand alone, but there is so much more to Pearl's young life that I would be remiss in not encouraging you to read all three books. I hope you love them as much as I do!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as a gift, and there were no expectations for me to write a positive review. All expressed opinions are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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