[bookshare-discuss] ROMANCE DISCUSSION GROUP DEC. 16, 2011
- From: "Bob Acosta" <boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bookshare-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:07:42 -0800
Newswire:
Haven, Pennsylvania, is a cold and lonely place during World War II. As the
residents of this small town quietly go about their lives, there is no one more
lonely than Andy Gilbert. When all the young men his age go off to serve in
World War 2, Andy is rejected and stays behind taking one of the few jobs
available. Daily, through telegrams, he delivers the news his former friends
and neighbors can't bear. As more husbands, fathers, and sons are lost, Andy's
lonely alienation grows. Without the love of family or friends, his day to
day existence is filled with hopelessness. What is it like to truly live a life
of this kind? How would you handle a life in which you were seen as the bearer
of bad news and the town pariah? With no idea of how long the war will go on,
he experiences a crisis only lack of love can bring. Will the townspeople
come to realize how much he needs them? Who will come along to set things
right? Is it possible to abandon hope forever or to live without love? If life
were the light of a candle, Andy Gilbert's light is almost out.
Tracie Peterson's very short novel, Silent Star has much to save about the
faith and resilience of the people and even more to say about how very much we
truly need each other. If you are lonely and feel you have nothing to share or
that no one needs you, Silent Star will renew your belief in others and in our
connection to each other.
Silent Star is available in Braille from your branch of the National Library
Service and on bookshare if you prefer to get it there. It is one of my
favorite Christmas novels. After reading it, it may just be one of yours. Below
you will find a short review and details about how you can attend a discussion
of this inspirational and very short novel. December
Eighteen year-old Andy Gilbert lost his faith in God when both of his parents
died. He lives alone, has no friends, and is ostracized by the small town of
Haven, Pennsylvania because America is at war (World War II) and he delivers
telegrams informing families that their loved ones have been killed in action
(he was unable to join the Army because he is crippled). Andy is considered the
bearer of bad news and most of Haven's residents refuse to talk to him and
cross the street when they see him. One Sunday, Andy goes to the cemetery to
see his parent's grave and meets Estella Nelson, a widowed senior citizen who
recently moved back to Haven. When Estella tries to befriend Andy, he runs away
because he cannot believe that she would want to talk to him once she learns
about his occupation. Estella sees the pain and hurt in Andy's life and vows to
try to help him. A few days later, Estella feels that Andy needs her and rushes
over to his house and finds him deathly ill. After nursing him back to health,
Estella tries to convince Andy that God loves him and that the people of Haven
do not hate him, they just fear the news he carries. Andy refuses to believe
Estella. Estella then meets Mary Beth, one of Andy's old classmates who also
recently moved to the city, and convinces her to help Andy. Mary Beth reminds
Andy to read the Bible and learn its lessons. On Christmas Eve, Estella stands
up in front of church and tells Haven's residents how unintentionally mean and
cruel they are being to Andy. Estella and Mary Beth then lead the congregation
to Andy's house to apologize for their actions. Andy graciously accepts their
apology, reads the Bible to rekindle his faith in God, makes plans to move in
with Estella, and begins to fall in love with Mary Beth.
Geographical Setting: Haven, Pennsylvania
Time Period: November & December 1944
Appeal Characteristics:
This non-literary, Gentle read, Christian inspiration story is set in
small-town America during World War II. The plot is character driven, develops
slowly, and focuses on the main character's internal struggle for faith and his
strained interactions with society. Church, belief in God, and the positive and
negative aspects of community play a large part in the story.
Bonnie Blose, Group Facilitator
E-Mail: bookmaven1@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Friday, December 16, 2011
Time: 5:00 PM PST, 6:00 PM MST, 7:00 PM CST, 8:00 PM EST,
and elsewhere in the world Saturday 1:00 GMT.
Romance Literature Room
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsfd8219297b18
Approximately 15 minutes prior to the event start time; go to:
www.accessibleworld.org and enter on The Romance literature Room.
Enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen.
If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing
software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and
then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the
Accessible World rooms.
All online interactive programs are free of charge, and open to anyone
worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound
card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and
others in the virtual audience. To speak to us, hold down the control key and
let up to listen. If no microphone is available, you may text chat with the
attendees.
Accessible World uses News Wires, like this one, to inform people of the topic
and times for the many Discussion Groups on Accessible World. The lists are
announce only to keep the traffic to a minimum. You can join the Accessible
World Announce List, the Tek Talk Announce List or the Sports Talk Announce
List by completing the form at: www.accessibleworld.org/mailinglists
Accessible World Contacts:
Robert Acosta, Chair
Accessible World
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.helpinghands4theblind.org
Marcia Moses, Events Coordinator
Accessible World
734-495-1496
Email: mgmoses@xxxxxxxxxxx
Steve Hoffman, President
Talking Communities
Email: steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Accessible World, a division of Helping Hands For The Blind, a 501(c)(3)
not-for-profit organization, seeks to educate the general public, the disabled
community and the professionals who serve them by providing highly relevant
information about new products, services, and training opportunities designed
specifically to eliminate geographic and access barriers that adversely affect
them
Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site: www.helpinghands4theblind.org
You can assist Helping Hands for the Blind by donating your used computers to
us. If you have a blind friend in need of a computer, please mail us at the
above address.
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Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
Email: boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx
Web Site: www.helpinghands4theblind.org
You can assist Helping Hands for the Blind by donating your used computers to
us. If you have a blind friend in need of a computer, please mail us at the
above address.
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