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Book Jacket

Calling Me Home
by Julie Kibler

Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication date: 02/12/2013.
Novels, 336 pp.

Number of reader reviews: 27
Readers' Consensus: 4.5
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First Impressions: Page 4 of 4
Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Lynn R. (Wautoma, WI)

Calling Me Home
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, but I can not put it on my list of best books I ever read. The story was very nice and had a few small twists in it that weren't expected, but on a whole it was very predictable and maybe a little too nice. This book would go on my 'read in between heavy reading books' list. It was a very easy read and I got a picture in my mind of the two main characters that held true to the end. I would highly recommend this book for a summer or vacation read.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Rayna T. (Auburn, CA)

Calling Me Home
Once I got into this book I really liked it. The 2 main characters interrelated so well even though their ages were far apart and being black and white. They were lovely to each other.

I never did guess the ending till I was all done with the book.

I will write some more in a little while.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Linda P. (Medford, WI)

A Great Debut
Julie Kibler's story starts slowly. Two distinct personalities, races, & ages that seem so disimiliar that one wonders how this is going to come together, but come together it does, beautifully! I so enjoyed this novel & look forward to reading Ms. Kibler's works in the future. Four stars for Miss Isabelle & Dorrie!

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Sandra S. (Charlotte, NC)

A moving story
A cross country car ride brings two unlikely friends closer than they thought possible. The story Miss Isabelle shares is a bittersweet tale that will move anyone who picks up the book. It's a great read and I recommend it.

Rated 4 of 5 of 5 by Jean N. (New Richmond, OH)

Journey of the Heart
I am glad that I read this book. For me, it was slow getting started, but I soon became hooked by the story of these two unlikely friends.

The relationships and memories of Miss Isabelle brought this painful period to life in a very heartfelt way.

I would definitely recommend Calling Me Home to book discussion groups.

Rated 3 of 5 of 5 by Molly K. (San Jose, CA)

Wishing for More....
It is difficult to criticize a story whose subject and characters are so compelling.

I found the story to be well written, if occasionally overtold and often repetitious. The random crossword puzzle injections were welcome and pleasantly distracting.

However, the story itself was predictable. Within the first few pages, I easily anticipated what would happen next, in the same way we predict the next crisis of a good soap opera. As I read, I felt I was always 2-3 chapters ahead of the writer. This story has been told many times.

This is not to say that it is not an important story. However, I learned nothing that enhanced my interest or broadened my understanding of this dreadful piece of American history.

One final thought. The writer developed her main characters in terms of black and white (no pun intended. Isabelle, Robert, and Dorrie were presented as "all good". Dorrie's mother and brothers were presented as "all bad." A story told from the viewpoint of Cora and Nell, whose lifelong struggles of allegiance to two worlds, might have been a better read.

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