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    375 Results with the "Historical Fiction" genre


    • 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…
    • Chapter 13: Cowboy Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 13: Cowboy introduces Moshe, who finds himself at the Ringing Rocks skating rink, grappling with the complex emotions that have consumed his life. As he leans against the pavilion railing, he watches the teenage skaters below, feeling an overwhelming sense of detachment from their carefree laughter and warmth. His thoughts drift to the nearby rocks, an unusual tourist attraction that serves as a temporary escape from the turmoil engulfing his family. With his wife, Chona, lying in a coma and their…
    • Chapter 12: Monkey Pants Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 12: Monkey Pants begins with Dodo waking up in the Pennhurst State Hospital for the Insane and Feeble-Minded, recovering from the serious injuries he sustained from falling off Miss Chona’s roof. Immobilized in a steel crib, Dodo meets a boy named Monkey Pants, who is extremely thin and contorted into an awkward position that reminds Dodo of a monkey. The sight of this strange boy immediately evokes empathy and a sense of connection in Dodo, prompting him to name the child "Monkey Pants" based on…
    • Chapter 11: Gone Cover
      by testsuphomeAdmin Chapter 11: Gone begins with an eerie shift in the atmosphere of the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, as the overhead light flickers, signaling the arrival of an unexpected visitor. Dodo, hidden behind a trapdoor ladder, watches intently as Miss Chona’s calm composure falters upon the entry of Doc Roberts. Doc, a man feared throughout the community, is dressed in a black coat and fedora, and his presence immediately unnerves Miss Chona. Known for handling her disability with grace and dignity, Miss…
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