Thanksgiving
Publerati, 2013
Thanksgiving is the only one of my books published as an ebook and a print on demand through the Espresso Book Network, and I’m lucky about the bloggers who championed it and the readers who found it, and keep finding it.
It’s epic in its own way: one family in New England, through five centuries, always on a Thursday in late November.
Beginning with a turkey in a backyard tree in the 1600s and ending at a dining table in the present time, the chapters are all based on the preparation of one element of a Thanksgiving meal by women in the same house, which evolves through the years, just as the generations of the family do, from the Puritan founders to the contemporary girl who is heir to the homestead, hates turkey, and daydreams of having a motorcycle.
Is it “American history” that women in the past labored in their homes, thought their thoughts, lived their lives? Well, yes. Every chapter is centered by a woman in her home, doing what she’s doing, dealing with what’s she dealing with, big, small, funny, somber, troubling, happy, terrible, joyous. It’s all in the intimacies and dramas of families. And it’s a story of change, change, change, politically and personally. And women fighting back against all sorts of gender restrictions and repressions, starting with a young woman named Patience, quietly and truly a Puritan rebel.
Praise & Reviews
“Centers on a single family and how they relate to one another and the world around them over a period of 350 years…The novel is full of memorable moments, and some funny ones too. If you enjoy literary historical fiction, consider adding Thanksgiving to your e-book shopping.”
—Reading the Past
“The novel encourages us to consider women’s work while also offering a pleasurable read…We get to experience the delight of watching Cooney’s prose subtly switch style to reflect the changes in American culture.”
—Necessary Fiction
“A book that is going to stick with me for quite a long time.”
—Roundtable Reviews
“A fascinating look at generation after generation of one family and the history of our country as they lived through it. Ellen Cooney proves herself to be a masterful storyteller.”
—Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
“Covers 350 years of Morley family women at Thanksgiving, with a hearty dose of family drama…Reading this book feels like hopping in a time machine. If you like family sagas, highly recommended.”
—The Grand World of Books
“I like the message of the book, which is that we are still deeply connected to the past…An excellent novel.”
—History from a Woman’s Perspective
“I know what you’re thinking–350 years is a long span of time for a novel to cover. But the genius here is that Cooney does this in only 22 chapters and less than 250 pages…This story of the Morley women unfolds like a flower coming into bloom.”
–Davida Chazan, Curious Book Fans
“To read this book is to want to be a Morley… Cooney writes about them with insight, humor, and grace.”
–Elaine Ford, author of The American Wife