I’ve been in a rut with reading lately. I’ve started three different books in the last few weeks, and nothing catches me. I sometimes think my cancer has kind of soured me towards reading. I have enough problems of my own without borrowing more from someone else, even if it’s just in the form of a book. It’s either that or I’ve just picked some not-so-good books lately.
Regardless of that, I ended up picking up this book, The Women of Oak Ridge by Michelle Shocklee. The book was on my waiting list with the online library, so I thought I might as well give it a try even though I had been in a slump.
I had said that I hadn’t been in the mood for WWII stories. This one is a WWII story, only it’s told from the stateside. It’s also told in two stories…one from 1944 and the other from 1979. The author makes it easy to toggle between the two stories. I enjoy Rosie the Riveter-type stories about when women worked in the factories. This story had a mystery…and a bit of a romance to it, so there were so many things, none too heavy, that were able to keep my attention.
Here is what Amazon had to say:
In the hills of Tennessee, two women work at a Manhattan Project site during World War II and uncover truths that irrevocably change their lives in this captivating new story from award-winning Southern fiction author Michelle Shocklee.
1944. Maebelle Willett arrives in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, eager to begin her new government job and send money home to her impoverished family. She knows little about the work she will be doing, but she’s told it will help America win the war. Not all is what it seems, however. Though Oak Ridge employees are forbidden from discussing their jobs, Mae’s roommate begins sharing disturbing information, then disappears without a trace. Mae desperately attempts to find her but instead comes face-to-face with a life-altering revelation―one that comes at significant cost.
1979. Laurel Willett is a graduate student in Boston when she learns about the history of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where thousands unknowingly worked on the atomic bomb. Intrigued because she knows her Aunt Mae was employed there, Laurel decides to spend the summer with her aunt, hoping to add a family connection to her thesis research. But Mae adamantly refuses to talk about her time in the Secret City. Mae’s friends, however, offer to share their experiences, propelling Laurel on her path to uncovering the truth about a missing woman. As Laurel works to put the pieces together, the hidden pain and guilt Mae has tried so hard to bury comes to light . . . with potentially disastrous consequences.
Amazon readers gave the book 4.4 stars. I would agree. The book caught my attention and kept it. As I said, that is a hard thing to do right now so hooray for this book getting me out of the slump.
If you are interested, you can find the book HERE.
If you liked this, try the non-fiction book “The Girls of Atomic City.” My book club enjoyed this!
My book club read the same book and enjoyed it very much.
I’ve read that one…also good.
Sounds like this was an intriguing book to read. So glad you were able to enjoy it.
If I haven’t suggested these already, my all time favorites are the Mitford series written by Jan Karon. Best read in order but I love them all. Also the Maisie Dobbs mystery series by Jacqueline Winspear is thought provoking and very well done.
I love the Mitford series and listen and read them over and over!
I’m currently reading every Colleen Coble book I can get my hands on…love every one of them! I just finished “The Inn at Ocean’s Edge.” Very good and I recommend it highly! Her new ones written with Rick Acker are also very good!
I finished listening to this a few weeks ago and almost emailed you to listen to it. I thought it was very good and he kept my attention. I finally figured out how to use Libby and am enjoying listening to books on my drive to work.
Oak Ridge Tennessee is an interesting city. My now deceased 1st husband was born there. His paternal grandmother came there to ‘help the war effort’ but also to leave an alcoholic husband who was abusing their daughter. Once you got ‘into’ the town, no one could get to you except w clearance.
Still today they have a lot of nuclear businesses and labs. a really great nuclear museum, a spring filled pool, and lets not for get the mountains.
Just finished this one! It was fascinating and well written!
Hi Jo,
I recently read “The Last Blue” by Isla Morley. It is set in the Appalachian Mountains and is about the blood disorder that causes the skin to look blue and the prejudice towards it. It was well written and well narrated ( I listened to it while quilting). The characters really came to life. I highly recommend it and would love to hear your thoughts.
Sending good thoughts your way.
I too read a couple of books about the “blues.” … The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek and then The Book Woman’s Daughter. Both were good and educated me pb something I’d never heard of!
Michelle Shocklee is a fantastic author. She has a lot of historical novels. I get my audiobooks free from my library on Libby or Hoopla with my account. Have so much fun picking up more of her books.
Jo, I think you may be right about the connection between not reading and cancer treatments! I dealt with cancer surgery and weeks of radiation treatments several years ago, and, as much as I love reading and quilting, almost nothing was done during those months! Couldn’t concentrate, just had no interest or energy.
Wish you well, looks like you’re getting lots of good suggestions here for reading material!
The author Jenny Colgan is pretty upbeat and her setting are in England. Adriana Trigiani has several stories set in the south and several about Italian Americans. Right now I am trying to read books that I can stop and start with stories that don’t make me think too hard.
Hi Jo, I just finished the book Theo of Golden and thought it was a wonderful story. Might want to check it out.