2024 the best of me plot review

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(as of Dec 14, 2024 20:37:09 UTC - Details)

Eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a big favor to ask her hairdresser, Dorrie. She wants the black single mother to drop everything and drive her from Texas to a funeral in Ohio - tomorrow. Dorrie, fleeing problems of her own and curious about Isabelle’s past, agrees, not knowing it will be a journey that changes both their lives.

Isabelle confesses that, as a teen in 1930s Kentucky, she fell in love with Robert Prewitt, a would-be doctor and the black son of her family’s housekeeper - in a town where blacks weren’t allowed after dark. The tale of their forbidden relationship and its tragic consequences just might help Dorrie find her own way.

Reviewer: Lady Vigilante (Feifei)
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: 5 STARS!! ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN A LONG TIME...
Review: One of my bookish resolutions for the year was to start reading more books that weren’t just pure romance and seeing a couple of friends who loved this particular book motivated me to finally pick it up. Without a doubt, this is a book that will be on my best books read in 2015 list. The content and sensitive topics explored were extremely thought-provoking, the heartbreaking forbidden romance both shattered my heart and mended it, and the historical backdrop of the book made the story feel so real, like I was transported in the world the author created and was a silent bystander who experienced everything the characters did. This was one of the hardest books for me to read, not because I didn’t enjoy it or wasn’t invested, but because of how powerful the author’s words are. They leaped off the pages and seeped deep into my heart, crippling me with the stark truth behind the ugly reality presented in the story. And even though all of this is fictional, the impression left afterwards is sure to impact minds and hearts alike, invigorating readers to not let the tragedies and ostracism in the story reoccur in reality.Of course, not every book that tackles interracial romance and segregation will make a profound impact on me. It all depends on the author’s delivery of said premise, and in this case, I couldn’t be more impressed with the way the author presented her story and characters. The tale follows a road trip where an 80 year old Isabelle is heading to a funeral with Dorrie, her 30 something year old hairdresser. Over the years, Dorrie and Isabelle’s relationship has gone from employer/employee to dear friends, yet there’s always this cloak of mystery that surrounds Isabelle that Dorrie can’t figure out.And even with Dorrie experiencing her own troubles with her boyfriend and children, she still embarks on this road trip with Isabelle, realizing that her old friend will need her for support. Along the way, it warmed my heart to witness the friendship dynamic between the two, from arguing about the pettiest things to confessing hidden secrets, the biggest one being Isabelle’s romance with Robert, the black son of her family’s housekeeper and her one true love, and the consequences that arose because such an interracial relationship was forbidden.From there, the author alternates between past/present scenes, with Isabelle being the narrator in the past and Dorrie in the present. This way, both women are given an equal voice and keeps the story balanced and me invested. As Isabelle’s tale is unveiled chapter by chapter, I got stomach butterflies while I read about her sweet and tender romance with Robert but also felt the unbearable heartbreak when the inevitable happened. The fact that the story is set during World War II also heightens the pure desperation, the longing and love these two experience.One word can’t really describe the range of emotions I felt while reading this story. From the beginning and little by little, I could sense my heart splintering in pieces while outwardly maintaining a calm appearance. Gradually, my throat was painfully clogged up, eyes welled with unshed tears, and mouth slightly quivering. It seemed like with each new obstacle uncovered in the story, a heavy weight would be dropped onto my heart until it completely crushed three quarters into the story and I could not stop sobbing after that point. And when I got to the very end, I closed the book feeling three distinct emotions: sadness, contentment, and determination. Immense sadness for all the injustice the characters suffered and their jagged pain. Content because the story came full circle and left me with a teary smile on my face. And determination to not let the mistakes in the story be repeated in the present, at least not by me, and to bring more awareness to the topics explored in the book because sadly, they still permeate society today.Everyone needs to read this book. Love is love, regardless of race, gender, age, and background.Calling Me Home is a part women’s fiction, part romance, part historical fiction standalone.

Reviewer: GossamerWriter
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Solid Read
Review: The first book I chose to read for 2017 was Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler. It’s the story of Isabelle McAllister, an elderly white widow, and Dorrie Curtis, the black single working mom who has been the older woman’s hairdresser for a number of years. They have developed the traditional small-town beautician/client relationship (reminiscent of Steel Magnolias), which means they have more than a casual business relationship. The story opens with Isabelle asking Dorrie for a favor: she wants Dorrie to drive her from Texas to Ohio for a funeral. After initial reluctance, Dorrie agrees, and the two women set out on a road trip that will change their lives.The story bounces back and forth between time and locales, from the present-day to 1930s Kentucky. In bits and pieces, Isabelle relays her story to Dorrie. Despite their differences, there are parallels between their lives, and the author takes her time unraveling the story without it ever feeling like she’s just killing time.The relationship between the protagonists felt real and true. In fact, the entire story held the same realistic air throughout. I figured out early on whose funeral they were attending, but it didn’t detract much from my enjoyment of the story.The “buddy-movie” road trip was nice to read, as I don’t think I’ve ever read one that featured two female characters as the leads, and I would recommend it if that sort of thing interests you.

Reviewer: Christy Baldwin BBU
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: It’s tragically beautiful, heart wrenching and devastating to read
Review: Calling Me Home is an unforgettable book. It’s tragically beautiful, heart wrenching and devastating to read. Forbidden love at it’s finest.This was a book that completely flew under my radar. I’m so happy a friend recommended it to me and I picked it up. Even though it wasn’t an easy read, it was worth it. I listened to this book on audio and the narrators did a fantastic job. They captured Isabelle and Dorrie perfectly. I listened to the last little bit on my way to work yesterday morning and went in looking like I’d been crying the entire way to work. Because I had. It’s just that type of book. Going into reading this, be prepared to FEEL.Calling Me Home is an epic love story. It’s a story of friendship. It’s written in dual pov- the past is from Ms Isabelle’s perspective. It’s written from the past as she’s telling her friend, Dorrie her love story. It starts in the late 30’s. Isabelle is a young white girl living in Kentucky. At that time, not only was it forbidden to be with someone of another race, it was illegal and dangerous for both parties. But that didn’t stop Isa from falling in love with Robert. And it didn’t stop her from fighting to be with him.In present day, we’ve got Dorrie, a middle aged hairdresser who is driving Isabelle back to her home town for a mysterious funeral. Dorrie has problems of her own, but listening to Ms. Isabelle’s story changes her.As Isabelle’s story unfolds, you will get swept away in the love of Robert and Isabelle. You will smile, cry, and your heart might shatter. This was one of those books that made me completely break down. I wish I could say I just teared up or just cried- but it was more like a sobbing type of cry. I just loved this story so much. I loved the characters, the writing, and everything about it. It was worth every bit of pain I felt while reading. This is one I will be recommending to everyone. I think no matter what type of books you read, this is one you should pick up.

Reviewer: MamaLorelei
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: The depth, compassion and understanding in this story are such a breath of fresh air. I felt like I was coming home just reading it.

Reviewer: Joey
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Una storia bella e commovente dall'inizio alla fine. Uno dei libri che mi sono piaciuti di più fra tutti quelli che ho letto in vita mia. Il viaggio che ripercorre la storia delle due donne, la giovane e l'anziana, la bianca e la negra, il razzismo, l'amore, le lotte, le ingiustizie. Consigliatissimo.

Reviewer: Laurie ‘The Baking Bookworm’
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: This review is also posted on my blog, The Baking Bookworm ([...]).My Thoughts: I read this book a couple of weeks ago while I was vacationing in Florida and I have to tell you -- this was a very hard book to put down. It's heart-warming story of forbidden love and an unlikely friendship that has great main characters and an emotional ending that ensures that this book will stay with me for a long time.I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised to learn that this was Ms Kibler's debut novel. Not every author is able to write a story that flows back and forth between two different eras without a few bumps in the storyline but Ms Kibler does so fluently and flawlessly. It's interesting to note that Ms Kibler got the idea to write this book after she discovered that her grandmother had fallen in love with a black man in her youth. At that time the hope of having an interracial relationship was almost infeasible and that is how this story was born.But it's the relationship and bond between thirty-something Dorrie, a black single mother of two, and eighty-nine year old Isabelle, an elderly white woman in Texas, that made these two characters stand out for me. They are sadly, even in modern times, viewed as an unlikely pair which causes some small minded people to look at them with suspicion.It's through Dorrie and Isabelle's narratives, which were so engaging, that the story really comes to life. Isabelle's flashbacks to the 1930's and 1940's helps the reader to gain more insight into what life was like back then for both Whites and Blacks in Kentucky and how even though Blacks had rights they still were far from being treated as equals or even respectfully by their white peers.I'd love to think that we've come a very long way from racial discrimination but after reading about how people responded to Isabelle and Dorrie in a local restaurant it made me wonder and made me, quite frankly, sad that we may have not come as far as we think we have. Personally, I felt that Dorrie and Isabelle's friendship was believable, they had a deep connection and it never felt forced for the sake of making a good read. It's authentic and I felt their connection strongly.I also enjoyed seeing Isabelle at different ages (as a spunky, opinionated 89 year old as well as a teenage girl and young woman) and seeing what happened in her life to make her into the 89 year old woman we first meet. Sometimes it's good to remind ourselves (as I do/did with my own grandparents) that the older generation has not always been old. That they had a long life before their hair turned grey and if we just listen we could learn a thing or two from their experience. This is one of the things about this book that I loved. How Isabelle's life story was the catalyst to help Dorrie deal with and come to terms with the issues she was facing in her life. A passing down of knowledge from one generation to the next.But I digress ...Now let's talk about the ending (without divulging any info), shall we? I loved it. It shocked me so much that I had to read it THREE times because I just couldn't believe how wonderfully the author sprung this truth on me. I actually sucked in my breath, whispered "No!" and proceeded to get a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. A wonderful ending to a great book.Calling Me Home is a beautiful story that successfully deals with many topics. It's a historical fiction read that deals with interracial marriage, civil rights, parenting and women's rights. But mostly it's about forbidden love and a friendship that, sadly, society still doesn't whole-heartedly support.It's a story about the importance of handing down wisdom from older generations to the new.It's a story that focuses on what ties people together instead of the differences (race, gender, generation) we allow to push us apart.I highly recommend this book.My Rating:4.5/5 starsNote: My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with a complimentary e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Reviewer: Lety K
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A moving story that keeps you hooked until the end... I loved this novel from the first to the last page, it's a must-read for love stories lovers!

Reviewer: K. M. Paton
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Many previous reviews of the synopsis so I will stick with my views. Some reviewers have said "Calling me Home" is a predictable read, given the place and time that Isabelle's part of the story is set in, Kentucky, 1939. I'm not sure that "predictable" is the right word, possibly "inevitable" is better, especially given that, even today, there is still so much bigotry in some parts of the US (and worldwide). Some questioned why Isabelle didn't stand up to her parents, her mother especially, but the reality is, girls just didn't back then. Even considering Isabelle wanted to go to university but her mother has other plans for her future - marriage and babies with a suitable boy from the same (or preferably better, well-off) white class background - defines what life was like and girls did what they were told.The premise of an inter-racial relationship was, I thought, handled really well and didn't fall into the schmaltzy traps of almost-unbelievable "happy ever after" or the more vicious (and probably far more common reality) of "death at the end of a rope" outcome. Isabelle and Robert's relationship walked a fine line between the two and despite understanding the outcome, I found myself, like Dorrie, wishing, hoping for it all to be different.I liked the telling of the two stories, Dorrie's in modern day and Isabelle's, just as WWII was beginning. I also liked the way Dorrie was unsure of her standing, her relationship with Isabelle who, although she had known her for 10 years as her customer, wasn't sure how this translated into friendship beyond those boundaries. We've all had friendships that are limited to a certain area in our lives and some adjustment is necessary to be with and view a person differently out of the familiar confines. Dorrie dealt with this and all that was asked of her as she listened to Isabelle's story and began to understand the love, loss and pain that she had suffered as a consequence of having fallen in love with Robert.There were several moments when I was moved to tears, the ending being one of them and I always think that its the mark of a good read to provoke a response like that.