Status
Available
Call number
Series
Publication
Revell (2011), Edition: Reprinted, 416 pages
Original publication date
2011-02
Description
It is 1936 and Kate Merritt works hard to keep her family together. Her father slowly slips into alcoholism and his business suffers during the Great Depression. As her mother tries to come to grips with their situation and her sisters seem to remain blissfully oblivious to it, it is Kate who must shoulder the emotional load. Who could imagine that a dirty, abandoned little girl named Lorena Birdsong would be just what the Merritts need?
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
416 p.; 8.4 inches
ISBN
0800733819 / 9780800733810
User reviews
LibraryThing member lauriehere
Brand new - just released. Will come back and do proper review.
LibraryThing member jo-jo
When this book was chosen as a book club selection, not one of us ladies realized that it was actually Christian fiction. Although I am a Christian, I have found that much Christian fiction I read just ends up being a bit too unrealistic for my taste. I can tell you that most of the ladies in my
Although I didn't enjoy this story as much as the other ladies, I did find appreciation within the story itself. We are brought to a small community in Kentucky during the Great Depression to follow the lives of the Merritt family. We are shown glimpses of past events that all of the family members have been avoiding, but now realize that they must confront these demons if their lives are going to continue without hurting one another.
Victor and Nadine fell in love long ago, and it was very touching as they both reflected on their love and lives together as they were struggling to keep their marriage intact. They were so young and in love that I don't think either one of them realized how they got to this place in their marriage where they no longer recognized each other. But Nadine kept her faith in the Lord and her husband and once Victor admitted to Nadine that he needed help, she embraced him and offered him her support.
Kate is the middle sister of the Merritt family and for some reason has taken the weight of the family's problems on her own shoulders. When Kate discovers a young girl that appears to be left on the church doorstep her motherly instincts take over and she takes young Lorena Birdsong under her wing. When Kate brings Lorena home everyone is smitten with her, but little do they know the fight that is ahead of them if they intend to try to offer a home to her in the future. This little girl's presence within the Merritt household ignites a tenacity within the household that is needed if they are going to stay together.
I don't want to give away any more of the story in the event that you read it yourself. As I indicated earlier, I did enjoy the story but there were snippets of the writing I did not enjoy. The book is told in third person, but every now and then a phrase was in there that was from a first person viewpoint. I also had a problem with the timeline throughout the novel. Very often a character was reflecting on past events and I found that the flow from past to present to be confusing. I found myself having to stop reading once and awhile and go back over the last couple of pages just to be sure I was following the story correctly.
Besides my few problems with this novel, I did find enjoyment from reading it. The ladies in my book club loved it and it created great discussions with themes of love, forgiveness, war, and familial relationships.
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group loved this novel, while my final thoughts tend to be a bit more reserved.Although I didn't enjoy this story as much as the other ladies, I did find appreciation within the story itself. We are brought to a small community in Kentucky during the Great Depression to follow the lives of the Merritt family. We are shown glimpses of past events that all of the family members have been avoiding, but now realize that they must confront these demons if their lives are going to continue without hurting one another.
Victor and Nadine fell in love long ago, and it was very touching as they both reflected on their love and lives together as they were struggling to keep their marriage intact. They were so young and in love that I don't think either one of them realized how they got to this place in their marriage where they no longer recognized each other. But Nadine kept her faith in the Lord and her husband and once Victor admitted to Nadine that he needed help, she embraced him and offered him her support.
Kate is the middle sister of the Merritt family and for some reason has taken the weight of the family's problems on her own shoulders. When Kate discovers a young girl that appears to be left on the church doorstep her motherly instincts take over and she takes young Lorena Birdsong under her wing. When Kate brings Lorena home everyone is smitten with her, but little do they know the fight that is ahead of them if they intend to try to offer a home to her in the future. This little girl's presence within the Merritt household ignites a tenacity within the household that is needed if they are going to stay together.
I don't want to give away any more of the story in the event that you read it yourself. As I indicated earlier, I did enjoy the story but there were snippets of the writing I did not enjoy. The book is told in third person, but every now and then a phrase was in there that was from a first person viewpoint. I also had a problem with the timeline throughout the novel. Very often a character was reflecting on past events and I found that the flow from past to present to be confusing. I found myself having to stop reading once and awhile and go back over the last couple of pages just to be sure I was following the story correctly.
Besides my few problems with this novel, I did find enjoyment from reading it. The ladies in my book club loved it and it created great discussions with themes of love, forgiveness, war, and familial relationships.
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LibraryThing member sara.edens
Ann Gabhart is a writer of inspirational novels. She doesn’t sugar coat, nor is she “in your face,” with situations her characters experience. She was born and raised in the Outer Bluegrass region of Kentucky, so grew up on a farm. She has been writing since she was just 10 years old. She
Angel Sister is a touching novel set between World War I and World War II. The depression era brings Lorena Birdsong to a poor family where she adopts Kate as her Sister Angel. The family isn’t one that is stable, except in its love. They are poor, dad is an functioning alcoholic, Kate has two sisters (one older, one younger), and mom loves them all. They survive by growing their own vegetables, milking a cow, and running a tab at the general store which happens to be owned and run by Kate’s paternal grandfather.
Speaking of grandfathers, the family is blessed with two, yet neither are loving. Grandfather Merritt is stiff, stern, and unbending in his disappointment of Victor (Kate’s father). He has a heart bent on self-destruction and if it destroys Victor in the process, so much the better. Grandfather Reece is a strict Southern Baptist pastor. He is determined that Kate is belligerent and going to the devil. Together, although the two grandfathers can barely stand each other, they work to remove Lorena from Kate’s home.
Lorena is 5 years old and sees Kate as her angel. The one person that God sent to save her from being lonely and starving after her parents left her at the pastor’s front steps because they were unable to care for her during this horrible depression. Kate was swept away by the love and trust that Lorena gave and was determined to save and keep her until her natural parents could return.
In the meantime, grandfathers are trying to take Lorena away, there are emotional upheavals for the family with man-made problems. They re-find their faith and it grows stronger as this little family work so hard with the help of Aunt Hattie to find their way.
As a plus, Ms. Gabhart is working on a sequel to this novel so that her readers can find out what happens to Rosey Corner after Sister Angel ends.
I give this a 5 of 5 stars. The book is interesting, entertaining, and you fall in love with her very real characters, warts and all.
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first published a historical romance in 1978 and continues to give us fodder for our eyes, spirits, and hearts.Angel Sister is a touching novel set between World War I and World War II. The depression era brings Lorena Birdsong to a poor family where she adopts Kate as her Sister Angel. The family isn’t one that is stable, except in its love. They are poor, dad is an functioning alcoholic, Kate has two sisters (one older, one younger), and mom loves them all. They survive by growing their own vegetables, milking a cow, and running a tab at the general store which happens to be owned and run by Kate’s paternal grandfather.
Speaking of grandfathers, the family is blessed with two, yet neither are loving. Grandfather Merritt is stiff, stern, and unbending in his disappointment of Victor (Kate’s father). He has a heart bent on self-destruction and if it destroys Victor in the process, so much the better. Grandfather Reece is a strict Southern Baptist pastor. He is determined that Kate is belligerent and going to the devil. Together, although the two grandfathers can barely stand each other, they work to remove Lorena from Kate’s home.
Lorena is 5 years old and sees Kate as her angel. The one person that God sent to save her from being lonely and starving after her parents left her at the pastor’s front steps because they were unable to care for her during this horrible depression. Kate was swept away by the love and trust that Lorena gave and was determined to save and keep her until her natural parents could return.
In the meantime, grandfathers are trying to take Lorena away, there are emotional upheavals for the family with man-made problems. They re-find their faith and it grows stronger as this little family work so hard with the help of Aunt Hattie to find their way.
As a plus, Ms. Gabhart is working on a sequel to this novel so that her readers can find out what happens to Rosey Corner after Sister Angel ends.
I give this a 5 of 5 stars. The book is interesting, entertaining, and you fall in love with her very real characters, warts and all.
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LibraryThing member MaryAnn12
I loved the history part, the characters, what the characters represented, the plot... It was a very enjoyable, believable story. The story plot was interesting. I know when I pick up one of her books I won't put it down until it's finished, and this book was no different.
Outstanding. This put me
Outstanding. This put me
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right there with them on every page. I was talking to them through the whole book. I love the story. It was great because it kept me interested through and through. Ann H. Gabhart is a great writer. Show Less
LibraryThing member elizabethcfelt
When fourteen-year-old Kate Merritt goes to her grandfather's church early one morning, she is surprised to find a five-year-old child sitting on the steps. Lorena Birdsong sees Kate and immediately decides she is the “angel” her mother said would take care of her. It is 1936 and the lean years
The 1936 story alternates with flashbacks to the lives of Kate's parents, slowly revealing how their family's many troubles came to be.
Gabhart is one of the best Christian-oriented historical fiction authors writing today. Her characters have depth, her plots are complex, and there are no easy answers. Praying does not always work, at least not in obvious ways, and her characters struggle with their faith the way any sane person would when confronted with war, alcoholism, abuse, and abandonment. Angel Sister is the beautiful, sometimes difficult, story of a family using love, faith and forgiveness to hold itself together.
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of the depression have forced Lorena's family to abandon her. The Merritt family may not have much money, but they have plenty of love and welcome Lorena into their family. However, Kate's two grandfathers have other plans for Lorena. The 1936 story alternates with flashbacks to the lives of Kate's parents, slowly revealing how their family's many troubles came to be.
Gabhart is one of the best Christian-oriented historical fiction authors writing today. Her characters have depth, her plots are complex, and there are no easy answers. Praying does not always work, at least not in obvious ways, and her characters struggle with their faith the way any sane person would when confronted with war, alcoholism, abuse, and abandonment. Angel Sister is the beautiful, sometimes difficult, story of a family using love, faith and forgiveness to hold itself together.
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LibraryThing member Sandralb
This novel takes place in 1936 during the Great Depression. The story is about the Merritt family mom, dad and three daughters. They live in Rosey Corner, Kentucky. Just like everyone else there, times were really hard. It was hard to keep your family fed during this time. When a young girl Lorena
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Birdsong shows up abandoned on the church steps, Kate the middle Merritt daughter wants to take her in. What's one more sister, when there is already three. Besides she is little for 5 and won't eat much. Nadine Merritt, the mom has a big heart and can't say no. Believing like daughter Kate, God must have wanted them to take care of her. After all Kate is the one to find her. That's how she became Angel Sister. Ann Gabhart covers so many different personal and social problems. Victor Merritt is a veteran from the war that came back with PTSD. Of course at that time they did not have a name for PTSD. This was the biggest reason for Victor's drinking problem. Toward the end of the war there was a great influenza epidemic, that took many of Rosey Corners people, young and old. The characters are numerous and multi leveled. Victor, Nadine and Kate are the three main characters to the novel. I found this historical novel to be one I had a hard time siting down. It was a sad and depressing subject and time period, but Ms. Gabhart was able to bring light and hope to the darkness. I am new to this author, but have enjoyed the books I have read recently of hers. I would recommend reading this book. Show Less
LibraryThing member abbieriddle
I enjoy the writing style of Ann H. Gabhart her books are always very real to life. This one is no different. I did find it to be very slow to develop though, unlike some of her other books. I immediately liked the middle sister Kate Merritt, the spunky 14 year old determined to keep her family
The abandoned child, Lorena Birdson, who breaks into this crumbling family sets up the opportunity for true self-evaluation and change. The father, Victor, is brought face to face with his past. He must learn what God would have him to learn and to turn from his drunkenness. The mother also is brought about-face when this child comes in.
Truly a story of God's redemptive powers. Again, I thought it to be a little too slow moving for me. It was too easy for me to put down and make excuses not to pick back up. I found it a disappointment in comparison to Gabharts other books The Believer and The Seeker which were both very excellent in plot development and movement.
Thank you Revell for this review copy.
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together. I will be honest in saying I was frustrated at the fact that the mother left that to this child, but a suppose this is also a true to life experience. My heart absolutely went out to the child who was taking on the responsibilities that her parents ought to have. I was also a little frustrated at the older sister who seemed more self-absorbed than any one. The abandoned child, Lorena Birdson, who breaks into this crumbling family sets up the opportunity for true self-evaluation and change. The father, Victor, is brought face to face with his past. He must learn what God would have him to learn and to turn from his drunkenness. The mother also is brought about-face when this child comes in.
Truly a story of God's redemptive powers. Again, I thought it to be a little too slow moving for me. It was too easy for me to put down and make excuses not to pick back up. I found it a disappointment in comparison to Gabharts other books The Believer and The Seeker which were both very excellent in plot development and movement.
Thank you Revell for this review copy.
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