What if you grew up as a special daughter of the leader of a cult? You know and accept the rules and are content on the compound with your mother and her sister wives. But then imagine that your home is shattered and your mother takes you out into the world. Would you adapt or would you hold on to the teachings of your father?Two sisters sit, side by side, in the backseat of an old car. Amity and Sorrow.—Amity & Sorrow by Peggy Riley (Hachette Book Group / Little, Brown, 2013, p. 3)
Their hands are hot and close together. A strip of white fabric loops between them, tying them together, wrist to wrist.
Their mother, Amaranth, drives them.The car pushes forward, endlessly forward, but her eyes are always watching in the rearview mirror, scanning the road behind them for cars.
Amity watches through her window, glass dotted by chin, nose, forehead, and calls out all she can see to Sorrow: brown fields and green fields, gas stations and grain elevators. She calls out the empty cross of the power pole. She is watching for the end of the world. Father told them it would come and, surely, it will. They will see its signs, even far from him. Even here.
Sorrow has her head down and her back curled over so she cannot watch. She cups her belly and groans.
Quick Facts
- Setting: mostly Oklahoma; Idaho
- Circumstances: a mother escapes her husband and a polygamous cult, taking her daughters with her
- Characters: Amaranth, Sorrow, Amity; Bradley, a widowed farmer; Zachariah, the cult leader
- Genre: contemporary, coming of age, family
- Themes: power of faith, redemption, hope, belief, family, sisters, cults, parental control
In this very short video, author Peggy Riley talks about the inspiration for her novel.
Celebrate Release Day!
Peggy Riley's Amity & Sorrow goes on sale today. As part of the celebration, Riley will be participating in a live Twitter chat today (April 16) at 1:00 PM EDT. Tweet questions to @LittleBrown or @Peggy_Riley and follow along with the hashtags #Amity and #Sorrow.
Buy Amity & Sorrow at an indie or at a bookstore near you. (Link leads to an affiliate program.)
ISBN-13: 9780316220880
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).
I almost chose an intro from this one this week as it's on my April/May planned reading list...hope it's as good as it sounds.
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining in.
I just can't read books about cults - I get so very irritated!
ReplyDeleteI've been noticing this one around...and that opener (and the blurb) have me adding it to my list. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHere's MY TUESDAY MEMES POST
This book is fascinating and disturbing!
ReplyDeleteCult books are so compelling but, like Jill, I usually find myself irritated and frustrated.
ReplyDeleteI am so tempted by this one, but am trying to make a deal(with myself) not to add any more books to my shelves before my daughter's wedding.
ReplyDeleteGood choice! I downloaded an e-galley of this book last week and am looking forward to starting it.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Tuesday post: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2013/04/first-chapter-first-paragraph-9-and.html
This is a lovely and compelling read :) Thanks for sharing the video, I hadn't seen that before!
ReplyDeleteI have often wondered about those people.
ReplyDeletecompelling paragraph, I'd probably keep reading. Though my experience is unless the author has had actual experience with this type of thing they usually get it wrong. kelley—the road goes ever ever on
ReplyDeleteThis kind of story has always fascinated me. I like seeing what happens when people are thrust into a different culture. I'll read it.
ReplyDeleteI am reading this one now, and can't put it down! It's such a great book, and it is disturbing. The further in I get, the more disturbed I get. I think this will end up being a favorite of the year.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a powerful read--will have to look up more about it. My teaser: I’d Tell You That I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
ReplyDeleteSounds wicked good! Hard to pass this one by. We don't see too many books covering these two taboo subjects.
ReplyDeleteNot convinced yet. Cults bother me. I wouldn't rule it out though, but will need to read some reviews first and see.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this one before, but it sounds like a fascinating read. Thanks for stopping by my TT :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard about this one but it sounds like an excellent read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an interesting read -- I've seen it on a couple of other blogs, as well, may have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my teaser post! :-)
The setting and circumstances/plot would make me pick up this one. It souns a bit different.
ReplyDeletesounds compelling
ReplyDeleteI don't think this one is for me but I hope you enjoy it. Here's Mine
ReplyDelete