The Trip: Speeding Toward the Cliff at the End of the World Review by Elizabeth Kern Author Armando Garcia-Davila takes us on a trip of a lifetime as four friends travel 7,000 miles cross-country on their motorcycles in the turbulent 1960s. The experiences of his main character, Tino, are alternately poignant, funny, mind-bending, and life-changing as he grapples with the issues confronting him: his first true love, bubbling racial tension, the morality of the escalating Viet Nam war, and a wafer of LSD in his pocket just waiting to be used. The Trip is a page-turner as Tino and his companions—his older and wiser brother who happens to be a priest, and their two friends—roar from adventure to adventure: spending uneasy nights in small town jails to save money; sneaking out of town under the mask of darkness to avoid the pursuit of Southern rednecks; and finally, for Tino, an…
Tag: Elizabeth Kern
Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern
Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern Reviewed by Janet Snyder: Fire Angels by Elizabeth Kern will touch your soul with its grace, its grit, and its gravitas. It’s a tragic story of a fire that took place at the Our Lady of the Angels school in Chicago on December 1, 1958, and resulted in the deaths of 92 children and three nuns. Kern guides her narrative through the viewpoints of a janitor, teachers, survivors and their families, church leaders, firemen, the suspected arsonist, and his parents. But the most unique and powerful voice is that of Fire itself, a lofty and sardonic protagonist if ever there was one. Fire’s voice is woven deftly throughout this tale of despair and grief and bravery and hope. Whenever a match is struck, Fire makes its appearance. Sometimes Fire struts like a peacock, preening and showing off. Other times it’s alternately cruel and egotistic, like…
Mercy Goodhue by Elizabeth Kern
Elizabeth Kern has done a fabulous job in creating the world of Mercy Goodhue and the details of life in New England in the mid-1600’s. Elizabeth’s outstanding talent as a storyteller make Mercy Goodhue a wonderful reading treat. Elizabeth’s skillful writing as well as her historical writing ability is so perfect that it feels like this is a true story. Her expertise in handling intricate subject matters could be illustrated lessons on how to write controversial and challenging situations. Elizabeth has an admirable ability to write tension-building scenes with care and finesse. This adds to the delicate nature of how to bring fictional characters to life on the page. Elizabeth could teach a class on how to write difficult scenes. I admire how she builds tension, then swiftly continues with action and dialogue, moving the reader along with the protagonist on her journey. Elizabeth’s deft handling of this sensitive and…
Wanting to be Jackie Kennedy is like a box of fine chocolates.
I could have devoured Wanting To Be Jackie Kennedy by Elizabeth Kern in two days. But instead, I chose to savor it like a box of elegant chocolates. I absolutely love this book. The opening introduces Ellie Manikowski in “present time.” Kern takes readers on a rich journey with Ellie as she travels the rocky path to becoming an adult. I love these memorable characters. Kern expertly uses strong verbs and well-chosen adjectives. Her detailed scene description made me feel like I was right there, even though I have never been to Chicago. Wanting To Be Jackie Kennedy is a heartwarming story of love, loss, and family secrets. It’s the story of a young Polish girl’s journey to womanhood in Chicago in the 1960s, and the role the nation’s elegant first lady plays along the way. Elizabeth Kern was born and raised on the Northwest side of Chicago in the old Polish neighborhood…