Fiction by Ellen Baker
This story begins in 1924 when four-year-old Cecily’s mother drops her off at an orphanage in Chicago, promising to come back for her. Then it jumps abruptly to 2015 when 95-year-old Cecily falls down at home and breaks her hip. After that the book goes back and forth between past and present events to tell Cecily’s story.
I liked the characters and plot of this novel, but I had some trouble with the time line. I wanted to spend much more time understanding past child Cecily before being thrust into present old-woman Cecily and her attendant family members. Later another set of characters are randomly introduced (it is possible to guess how they will fit in but the connection is not revealed until later) and it adds to the slightly jarring feeling. It was not that I was confused, exactly. It just felt like the story could have flowed more pleasantly.
I say all of that (probably unnecessary) explanation to make the point that I liked the book but did not love it.
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