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    375 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • Chapter 22: Without a Song Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 22: Without a Song opens with Moshe facing the painful task of closing the grocery store he once shared with his late wife, Chona. As he sifts through their belongings in the basement, he is flooded with memories, particularly when he comes across a small barrel that holds significant emotional weight. This barrel, once filled with gifts that Chona lovingly prepared for local children, becomes a symbol of her ability to create joy from the simplest things. The scene is bittersweet as Moshe is…
    • Chapter 21: The Marble Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 21: The Marble begins with Dodo, a young boy, waking up in Ward C-1 of Pennhurst, an institution filled with men who are each grappling with their own struggles. His early days in the ward are a haze of confusion and pain, magnified by the effects of the strong medication he is given. Transitioning from the comfort and familiarity of his room above Miss Chona’s grocery store to the overwhelming, chaotic environment of a ward with over two hundred men proves to be an incredibly traumatic…
    • Chapter 20: The Antes House Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 20: The Antes House introduces Gus Plitzka, the chairman of the Pottstown city council, who has a deep-seated aversion to Memorial Day. This holiday, which includes the John Antes Historical Society’s Cornet Marching Band, brings with it a series of events that Gus dreads each year. These events involve a council meeting, followed by a band performance, a breakfast of German sausages, and a parade where council members dress as Revolutionary soldiers to honor John Antes, a composer with a…
    • Chapter 2: A Bad Sign Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 2: A Bad Sign opens with a flashback to forty-seven years before the discovery of a skeleton on Chicken Hill. Moshe Ludlow, a Jewish theater manager in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, recalls a memorable winter Monday in February. He reflects on his time managing the All-American Dance Hall and Theater, particularly the excitement surrounding a concert by the famous klezmer musician Mickey Katz. Despite the harsh winter conditions, Moshe managed to bring together an eager crowd, creating a sense of joy…
    • Chapter 19: The Lowgods Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 19: The Lowgods begins on a rainy evening in Hemlock Row, a dilapidated area west of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Fatty, the main character, is anxious as he drives an old Packard with his companion, Paper, who is determined to visit the Lowgods, a secluded and self-sufficient Black community. Known for their unique Gullah dialect and insular way of life, the Lowgods have long been viewed with suspicion by the more upwardly mobile Black residents of Chicken Hill. Fatty’s discomfort with the visit…
    • Chapter 18: The Hot Dog Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 18: The Hot Dog begins with Chona waking up in her hospital bed after a week of recovery from a brutal assault. The room is filled with an unsettling silence, but in her mind, the comforting words of the prayer Barukh She'amar begin to play, creating a sense of peace. These sacred words, familiar from her childhood, bring with them a feeling of light and hope, and they evoke memories of her father’s love for her. The memories flood her, giving her a moment of solace as she recalls the deep bond…
    • Chapter 17: The Bullfrog Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 17: The Bullfrog delves into the challenges faced by the Ahavat Achim congregation in Pottstown, especially in the wake of Chona's hospitalization. The temple, a historical structure built by Chona's father, begins to unravel with the arrival of new Hungarian members, one of whom, Mr. Hudson, discovers a giant bullfrog in the mikvah. Infuriated, he promises a significant donation for the construction of a new mikvah, demanding that it be twice the size of the original and made of Carrara marble.…
    • Chapter 16: The Visit Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 16: The Visit opens with Chona, comatose in a private hospital room, receiving special treatment arranged by a wealthy theater owner from Philadelphia. This arrangement creates a sense of discomfort among the hospital staff, who are unaccustomed to dealing with such high-profile patients. The presence of a diverse group of visitors, particularly wealthy Jews and several Black individuals, raises suspicion among the nurses, who aren’t used to this mix on their floor. For four days, Chona remains…
    • Chapter 15: The Worm Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 15: The Worm begins with Mrs. Fioria Carissimi learning about a shocking incident involving a Jewish storekeeper and a deaf boy named Dodo from Vivana Agnello, the president of the Volunteer Women’s Association. Vivana had spread a rumor that the Jewish family had hidden Dodo in an attempt to extort money from the locals, yet paradoxically, they had still called the police on him. Fioria, however, remains largely indifferent to Vivana’s gossip, choosing to focus more on maintaining her…
    • Chapter 14: Differing Weights and Measures Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 14: Differing Weights and Measures introduces Fatty, the owner of "Fatty’s Jook," located at the end of Pigs Alley in Chicken Hill. The establishment is bustling with customers at 2 a.m., yet Fatty's demeanor is filled with concern as he watches Nate Timblin sitting alone at a table, heavily intoxicated. Fatty knows that Nate’s increasing drunkenness could quickly spiral out of control, potentially leading to trouble. As Rusty, a close friend, joins Fatty outside, the two engage in a…
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