FI MessiahLifeways UnscriptedMagazine Fall2024 - Flipbook - Page 26
WHAT WE’RE READING
“ T H E H E AV E N & E A R T H G R O C E R Y
“THE NIGHTINGALE”
STORE ” BY JAME S MCBRIDE
BY KRISTIN HANNAH
Recommended by: Marjorie Woodward,
Recommended by: Kim Valvo, Messiah Lifeways’
Messiah Village Resident
Chief Operating Officer
Who might be interested in this book: Readers with a
Who might be interested in this book: Someone who
particular interest in exploring topics of social justice
enjoys reading historical fiction and/or stories about
and equality and enjoy stories based in local settings
resilience in the face of adversity
“The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store” takes place in
“The Nightingale” offers a moving portrayal of women's
Pottsville, PA—a city located just over an hour from
experiences during World War II, in the context of
Mechanicsburg, and a cross-cultural neighborhood
occupied France. Through the characters of Vianne
where Black, Jewish, and immigrant families lived next
and Isabelle, as well as other women they encounter
to each other for decades. In the story, a skeleton
throughout the story, Hannah brings to life the
is unearthed, but as the investigation is underway,
extraordinary courage and resourcefulness of
Hurricane Agnes washes away any remaining evidence
women who found themselves forced into
of the crime. The book jumps between the 1970s and
undesirable circumstances.
the 1920s, when the Heaven and Earth Grocery Store
opened, to get to the bottom of who the skeleton
belongs to and what story lies behind it.
Vianne initially appears to conform to the stereotype
of the passive housewife, but she proves herself to be
a formidable force as she fights to protect her family
The local details alone interested me because I
and maintain her dignity in the face of unimaginable
could relate to aspects of the story as I lived through
cruelty. The more fiery Isabelle, defies the Nazis at
Hurricane Agnes and remember the damage it left
every turn—risking her life to help others. Her brave
behind. However, it was the rich cultural descriptions,
acts of sabotage and defiance serve as a reminder of
the unity found in a local grocery shop, and the deeper
the vital role that women played in the fight against
exploration of themes of resiliency, racial injustice,
the invasion.
compassion, community, and hope that left an impact
on me. It’s a beautiful story about how through difficult
times, community and love sustain us.
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This book was hard to put down. It is a profound
reminder of the resiliency of the human spirit.
