Saturday, April 19, 2014

The Johnstown Girls

The Johnstown Girls by Kathleen George

About The Book:
Ellen Emerson may be the last living survivor of the Johnstown flood. She was only four years old on May 31st, 1889, when twenty million tons of water decimated her hometown of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Thousands perished in what was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history at the time. As we witness in The Johnstown Girls, the flood not only changed the course of history, but also the individual lives of those who survived it. A century later, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reporters Ben Bragdon and Nina Collins set out to interview 103-year-old Ellen for Ben’s feature article on the flood. When asked the secret to her longevity, Ellen simply attributes it to “restlessness.” As we see, that restlessness is fueled by Ellen’s innate belief that her twin sister Mary, who went missing in the flood, is somehow still alive. Her story intrigues Ben, but it haunts Nina, who is determined to help Ellen find her missing half. Novelist Kathleen George masterfully blends a history of the Johnstown flood into her heartrending tale of twin sisters who have never known the truth about that fateful day in 1889 - a day that would send their lives hurtling down different paths. The Johnstown Girls is a remarkable story of perseverance, hard work, and never giving up hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. It’s also a tribute to the determination and indomitable spirit of the people of Johnstown through one hundred years, three generations, and three different floods.

My Thoughts:
This was an excellent read! How great to produce a story that is both relevant and historical! I love Ellen! She is a great character! I could not put this book down. I hope to read more by this author!

About The Author:
Kathleen Elizabeth George (born July 7th, 1943) is an American professor and writer best known for her series of crime novels set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and educated at the University of Pittsburgh: B.A. (summa cum laude), 1964, M.A. (theatre), 1966, Ph.D. (theatre), 1975, M.F.A. (creative writing), 1988. She teaches theatre arts at the University of Pittsburgh and fiction writing at the Chatham University Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing. She is married to the writer Hilary Masters, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. They reside in Pittsburgh.
 
 

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