Grand Central: Original Stories of Postwar Love And Reunion, Book review

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (July 1, 2014)
• ISBN-13: 978-0425272022
• Also available in KINDLE format

SYNOPSIS:

A war bride awaits the arrival of her GI husband at the platform...
 
A Holocaust survivor works at the Oyster Bar, where a customer reminds him of his late mother...
 
A Hollywood hopeful anticipates her first screen test and a chance at stardom in the Kissing Room...
 
On any particular day, thousands upon thousands of people pass through New York City's Grand Central Terminal, through the whispering gallery, beneath the ceiling of stars, and past the information booth and its beckoning four-faced clock, to whatever destination is calling them. It is a place where people come to say hello and good-bye. And each person has a story to tell.
 
Now, ten bestselling authors inspired by this iconic landmark have created their own stories, set on the same day, just after the end of World War II, in a time of hope, uncertainty, change, and renewal....

My thoughts:

Located on 42nd Street in Manhattan, Grand Central Station pulsed with life during WW 2 and was the place of many hellos and goodbyes. Each of these people featured into a story of their very own. 

A majestic landmark, Grand Central Station shaped New York and to date unforgettable memories for many, some bittersweet, others treasured for their wonderful denouement. 

So to choose this particular location for the different stories included in this anthology was nothing but a stroke of genius. I think we all cherish one or more locations for personal reasons.
It goes without saying the ten authors who collaborated on this novel portrays countless emotions you will not soon forget, each with one single goal: Hope! At a time when so many lives had perished, hope helped us to live!

Weaving specific characters in and out of another short story makes this collection of real life happenings even more attractive. Superbly written and an absolute keeper! I applaud heartily this skillful collaboration and can only hint at a very pleasurable time whilst reading it. There was not one recollection that did not touch me in some way, not even one I liked more than another, it was just as it should be!

I give it 5 stars!

(Photo source Google)

Meet (Some Of) The Authors:

From Amazon:

Karen White tells readers: "I grew up being a voracious reader and it was a natural step to turn my interest to writing. I have published 18 award-winning and bestselling novels including my January 2014 release, RETURN TO TRADD STREET, which debuted on the New York Times bestseller list at number 6.

I write what others have termed "grit-lit"--southern women's fiction, as well as a contemporary paranormal mystery series set in Charleston, South Carolina. All of my books are set in the US South, and feature a female protagonist at a crossroads in her life."

Visit her website (HERE)

From Amazon:

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including The Kommandant's Girl, which received widespread acclaim, earned her a nomination for the Quill Awards and became an international bestseller. She previously served as a Foreign Service Officer for the U.S. State Department in Europe, as the Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army at the Pentagon and as a practicing attorney at a large firm and in-house. She received her juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania, her masters degree in history from Cambridge University and her bachelors degree in international affairs from The George Washington University.

Visit her website (HERE)

From Amazon:

Sarah Jio is the international, USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (a Library Journal Best Book of 2011 and a USA Today bestseller), THE BUNGALOW, BLACKBERRY WINTER (an instant New York Times and USA Today bestseller, as well as an international bestseller), THE LAST CAMELLIA (a Kirkus Books Most Anticipated Book of 2012), MORNING GLORY, and GOODNIGHT JUNE (to be published in June 2014)--all from Penguin (Plume). To date, Sarah's novels are published in 24 countries, including Italy, France, Brazil, Turkey (where two of Sarah's books have become nationwide bestsellers), Slovenia, Russia, China, Norway, Germany, Lithuania, Poland, Spain, and many others.

Visit her website (HERE)


Note: This was a library loan and all opinions are mine only!