Title: Junction of Earth and Sky
Author: Susan Buttenwieser
Genre: Historical/Literary Fiction
Publisher: Manilla Press
Publication Date: 1st August 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover:
Summary:
Coming of age in 1940s England, Alice’s life is thrown into chaos under the shadow of the war. Forced to let go of her hopes and dreams, she finds herself uprooted to America and a life she never could have imagined.
Decades later, it is the 1990s and Alice’s granddaughter Marnie is living out of a worn-out Chevy Nova, running heroin and cocaine along the New England coastline. Yet she carries with her memories of a nurtured childhood in hardscrabble Rhode Island, where all the disappointments of her young parents were eclipsed by her grandmother’s love.
Spanning six decades and two continents, from the shores of WWII England to the underside of 1990s America, JUNCTION OF EARTH AND SKY unfolds -in multiple timelines -the enduring bond of grandmother and granddaughter, plagued by the past but determined to find their place in the world against all the odds.
Review:
Junction of Earth and Sky spans decades and covers many events, however at its core, this is a sweeping and emotional story of the bond between a grandmother and granddaughter. The relationship between Alice and Marnie is beautiful – full of love and strength for each other despite the hardships they sadly have to face. I found both of their narratives pretty equally affecting and this is in large part due to the quality of Buttenwieser’s writing, which is compelling, lyrical and full of humanity.
Junction of Earth and Sky covers some pretty harrowing and tragic themes throughout, and yet there is still a hopefulness that ultimately perseveres and pushes through using the enduring power of human connection and familial love. Overall, this a beautifully written and deeply emotional story of loss, grief, hope, memory and generational trauma which I guarantee will stay with you long after turning the final page.
★★★★.5
Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton of Compulsive Readers and the publisher for my place on the tour and sending me a copy of the book. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.
Buy the book:
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases – at absolutely no extra cost to you!)
Life With All The Books 