Songs in Ordinary Time (Oprah’s Book Club) by Mary McGarry Morris

Summary:

Songs in Ordinary Time is a novel by Mary McGarry Morris, selected as part of Oprah’s Book Club in 1995.

Book Genre:

The book is a historical fiction novel.

Main Topic:

The main topic of the book is the struggles and hardships faced by a family in a small town in Vermont during the 1960s.

Key Ideas:

• The book explores themes of family dynamics, loss, betrayal, and the desire for a better life.
• It also delves into the consequences of secrets and lies, and the power of forgiveness and redemption.
• The characters struggle with poverty, addiction, and societal expectations in a changing world.

Main Parts of the Book:

• Part One introduces the characters and their relationships, as we see the Collier family struggle to make ends meet in a small Vermont town.
• Part Two delves deeper into the family’s secrets and tensions as they are faced with unexpected challenges.
• Part Three takes a darker turn as the past catches up with the Colliers, leading to a devastating climax.
• The epilogue follows the aftermath of the events, as the family tries to rebuild and find hope for the future.

Key Takeaways:

• The book offers a poignant and gripping portrayal of human relationships and the burden of secrets.
• Readers may be moved by the characters’ struggles and inspired by their resilience and capacity for forgiveness.
• The story also serves as a commentary on the societal expectations and norms of the time period.

Author’s Background and Qualifications:

• Mary McGarry Morris is an American author from Vermont known for her novels exploring the lives of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
• She has received critical acclaim for her writing and has won several awards, including the Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award and the New England Book Award.
• Her personal experiences growing up in a small town heavily influenced her writing, as she often draws from real-life situations and characters in her work.

Target Audience:

• The book is recommended for fans of historical fiction and literary fiction.
• Readers who enjoy intricate family dramas and character studies may also appreciate this book.

Publisher and First Publication Date:

Songs in Ordinary Time was published by Penguin Books in 1995.

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