Just Where You Stand - Softcover

Lewis, Sandra Marie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0994947801 ISBN 13: 9780994947802

Publisher: Sandra Lewis, 2015

Synopsis

In Victorian Berkshire, England, the author’s dying, abused and defeated ancestor Lenore tells her son George that she is not good enough for Heaven. Deeply dismayed, George spends ten years seeking a Christian faith which will not condemn her to Hell. Through three generations, three obsessive men undermine the lives of their wives and children. Alcoholism consumes the first of them and a distressing brand of religious piety takes over the next two. Unexpected financial problems arise and in 1913 George moves his family across the Atlantic in hopes of secure employment in Toronto, Canada. Like his unfortunate mother, George's wife and daughter must function within their circumstances. Will their admirable stamina and courage make a difference?

About this title

Review:

' ... the story seeps into you, opening with a set of ordinary conventional characters, the husband distasteful from the outset, a sinking feeling, the familiar awkwardness of events, like the meals shared by the group and the pointed lack of resolution. tragic. Bringing to life those characters and telling a slice of life story through all those generations in a way that rings true. It is such an interesting study too of male -female power relations.' Beverley Conner M.A. retired public school elementary specialist '... high quality. The ease with which the story moves through so many years is so well done. Characters are very well drawn ... Of the many things in the book, three made a particular impression ...: the amount of research ... which made each era come alive; the part where Zandra visits great grandma. There's such love shown in that part, and such a clear depiction of old age; the part about Wexford Retirement Home. .... really aced that one!' Marge Kelley, retired librarian, the Berkeley Retirement Home Halifax, Nova Scotia 'Characters were very much alive to me.' Jill Richardson retired principal Toronto Public School Board 'It was gripping!' B. Clarkson M.A. M.D. '... stirred up new feelings in me toward my ancestors... ' Denise Roberts piano teacher Wales, UK '... huge appreciation for all the research and the enormous effort that must have gone into completing it...and at the same time, realizing how much of themselves every author must put into his/her work.' Ann Kertesz RN; B.A. London, Ontario, Canada

About the Author:

Once upon a time, Sandra Marie Lewis was a teacher/chairperson in Ontario's public school system. Retirement and a pension after thirty-two years of work for pay allowed time for creative writing and family history research. The link between those two pleasures eventually provided an obvious set of facts and a theme for this current novel. Sometimes gardening wins against writing and even genealogy in fights for her time.

About this edition

• Publisher: Sandra Lewis
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 0994947801
• ISBN 13: 9780994947802
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 242