Thursday, October 10, 2013

CITY OF HOPE (KATE KERRIGAN)

 
 
Story Description:
 
William Morrow|June 25, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-06-2223728-6
 
The heartrending and inspiring sequel to “Ellis Island”, Kate Kerrigan’s City of Hope is an uplifting story of a woman truly ahead of her time. 
 
When her beloved husband suddenly dies, young Ellie Hogan decides to leave Ireland and return to New York, where she worked in the 1920’s.  She hopes that the city will distract her from her anguish.  But the Great Depression has rendered the city unrecognizable.  Gone are the magic and ambiance that once captured Ellie’s imagination. 
 
Plunging headfirst into a new life, Ellie pours her passion and energy into running a refuge for the homeless.  Her calling provides the love, support, and friendship she needs in order to overcome her grief – until, one day, someone Ellie never thought she’d see again steps through her door.  It seems that even the vast Atlantic Ocean isn’t enough to keep the tragedies of the past from catching up with her. 
 
My Review:
 
City of Hope is the second installment of Ellie’s story.  The first book was titled: “Ellis Island.”
 
In City of Hope, Ellie’s husband, John, suddenly dies.  She decides she doesn’t want to stay in Ireland and returns to New York where she started out a few years ago when she came to live out the American dream in the 1920’s. 
 
Ellie is having a difficult time grieving and is unable to cry over John’s sudden passing.  Looking for something to distract herself she again decides to return to New York city, hoping beyond hope that living among the hustle and bustle of a large city will quell her anguish. 
 
Upon her arrival, Ellie is disappointed to see that the Great Depression has taken its toll on her beloved New York.  She just doesn’t feel the magic anymore. 
 
Not knowing what to do with herself she starts up a tenement house, a refuge for homeless people.  She has enough money and purchases her first run-down house and hires some workers to help her fi it up.  Once repaired, Ellie begins finding people to place in her home and one day meets up with someone she thought she’d never, ever see again. 
 
City of Hope has a little of everything in it:  love, hate, compassion, grief, and even a murder!  It was an enthralling read and I would have read it in one sitting but had to break for an appointment.  City of Hope is simply a must read.
 


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