LoveReading Says
LoveReading Says
July 2013 Debut of the Month.
A stunning and moving debut of forbidden love. Inspired by the experiences of the author’s grandmother, Calling Me Home sees privileged white 16 year old Isabelle fall for her black housekeeper’s son in racist segregated 1930’s Kentucky. The doomed relationship has consequences that ricochet down the decades. Perfect for reading groups and fans of The Help.
In addition to our Lovereading expert opinion for Calling Me Home a small number of Lovereading members were lucky enough to be invited to review this title - 'I didn't so much read Calling Me Home as devour it in less than a day, so powerful was its hold. I'd defy anyone not to be moved to tears by Isabelle's story...a perfect read.' - Linda Hill. Scroll down to read more reviews.
Reviewed by Sarah BroadhurstSarah Broadhurst spent her early working life in the book trade in both retail and wholesale until the arrival of children forced her to look for freelance work she could do from…
More reviews by Sarah Broadhurst About Calling Me Home
In Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser Dorrie Curtis. It's a big one. Isabelle wants Dorrie, a black single mom in her thirties, to drop everything to drive Isabelle from her home in Arlington, Texas, to a funeral in Cincinnati. With no clear explanation why. Tomorrow. Curious whether she can unlock the secrets of Isabelle's guarded past, she agrees, not knowing it will be a journey that changes both their lives. Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle have developed more than just a business relationship. They are friends. But Dorrie, fretting over the new man in her life and her teenage son's irresponsible choices, still wonders why Isabelle chose her. Isabelle confesses that, as a willful teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell deeply in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family's housekeeper--in a town where blacks weren't allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences makes it clear Dorrie and Isabelle are headed for a gathering of the utmost importance and that the history of Isabelle's first and greatest love just might help Dorrie find her own way.
Read the full description
Find This Book In
About
Calling Me Home Synopsis
In Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser Dorrie Curtis. It's a big one. Isabelle wants Dorrie, a black single mom in her thirties, to drop everything to drive Isabelle from her home in Arlington, Texas, to a funeral in Cincinnati. With no clear explanation why. Tomorrow.
Curious whether she can unlock the secrets of Isabelle's guarded past, she agrees, not knowing it will be a journey that changes both their lives.
Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle have developed more than just a business relationship. They are friends. But Dorrie, fretting over the new man in her life and her teenage son's irresponsible choices, still wonders why Isabelle chose her.
Isabelle confesses that, as a willful teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell deeply in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family's housekeeper--in a town where blacks weren't allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences makes it clear Dorrie and Isabelle are headed for a gathering of the utmost importance and that the history of Isabelle's first and greatest love just might help Dorrie find her own way.
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781250020437 |
| Publication date: |
7th January 2014 |
| Author: |
Julie Kibler |
| Publisher: |
St. Martin's Griffin an imprint of St. Martins Press-3PL |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
352 pages |
| Primary Genre |
Historical Fiction
|
| Other Genres: |
|
| Recommendations: |
|
Press Reviews
Julie Kibler Press Reviews
We have asked a select number of members and browsers to review Calling Me Home. You can read their reviews below.
Linda Hill - ''Calling Me Home' is a wonderful, wonderful book...I'd defy anyone not to be moved to tears by Isabelle's story...a beautiful book and a perfect read.' Click here to read the full review.
Teresa Majury - Lovely Treez Reads - www.lovelytreez.com - 'Calling Me Home is a remarkable debut novel, a story which will draw you in and lead you on an emotionally fraught journey from a racially divided 1930s Kentucky to the "supposedly" more liberal present day.' Click here to read the full review.
Siobhan McDowell - 'Calling Me Home was a tremendous read with lively and engrossing characters...although the themes covered were heart-breaking I came away with a feeling of satisfaction.' Click here to read the full review.
Marie Fitzgerald - 'This novel is a perfect example of how the best writing is that which is done from experience...I loved this book and would highly recommend it as a must read of 2013.' Click here to read the full review.
Catherine Burman - 'I absolutely loved this book. In spite of my efforts to savour it by reading it slowly I couldn't put it down!... A wonderful book, beautifully written, a must read.' Click here to read the full review.
Emma Caddick - '‘Calling Me Home’ is a story of redemption. A story of segregation, separation, loss, and love in the face of all the odds...it’s a summer holiday ‘must read’.' Click here to read the full review.
Suzanne Marsh – www.ireadnovels.wordpress.com - 'A Splendid novel! Readers must put Calling Me Home on your wish list to read for 2013. Awards are calling out for this page turning novel.' Click here to red the full review.
Lynda DeFreitas - 'This is an emotionally charged book that features the harsh realities of pre-war USA with undertones that are still evident today.' Click here to read the full review.
Francesca Ashurst - 'Julie Kibler has written a debut novel which is haunting, tender, funny and heartbreakingly sad...I really loved this novel.' Click here to read the full review.
Sue Broom - 'Prepare for your heart to be broken. A desperately sad story, made more poignant when you realise it was inspired by events in Julie Kibler’s own grandmother’s life in 1930s Kentucky.' Click here to read the full review.
Joan Hill - 'Calling Me Home’ is an astoundingly powerful, moving and informative debut novel, based on a true story and introducing an exciting new talent in Julie Kibler...Please read it, it's an absolute stunner and certainly one not to be missed.' Click here to read the full review.
Richard Hamlin - Calling Me Home will be a huge success and deservedly so...Quite simply this is a stunning literary debut; a flowing well paced narrative with fully rounded characters and an ending that reaches out and touches the reader.' Click here to read the full review.
Julie Bertschin - 'Calling Me Home is a poignant reminder of the segregation and racial discrimination that blighted American society during the 1930's and how it still has resonance today...The plot slowly unravels yet keeps the reader gripped throughout. I loved this story and would thoroughly recommend it.' Click here to read the full review.
Author
About Julie Kibler
Julie Kibler began writing Calling Me Home after learning a bit of family lore: as a young woman, her grandmother fell in love with a young black man in an era and locale that made the relationship impossible. When not writing, she enjoys travel, independent films, music, photography, and corralling her teenagers and rescue dogs. She lives in Arlington, Texas. Calling Me Home is her debut novel.
More About Julie Kibler
