Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Daniele

As Bright as Heaven tells a rich tale of World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918. The lovely prose does little to hide the horrors of the time, and I felt like I was right there alongside the Bright family as they faced life and death.

Meissner focuses on a time when the Spanish flu became the deadliest pandemic in history. I think many people are unaware of just how devastating this virus was; my own great-grandmother succumbed to the illness so it has always been in the back of my mind. This book caught my attention because of this, but it also touches on the effects of World War I and prohibition. It is a fascinating account of loss, heartache, grief, moving on, risks, and the repercussions of one’s actions.

Since I worked for years in a funeral home, Uncle Fred’s home and business interest me. I know some will find the early days of embalming and the funerary arts macabre, but I enjoyed these bits woven into the story. Death does touch us all in one way or another.

The story begins in 1918 and is told from alternating viewpoints, each with its own unique voice. We see life through mother Pauline and daughters Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa’s eyes, and their perspectives make the story compelling. How different the same events are from an adult, teen, tween, and child’s point of view. I enjoyed all of these characters, but Evelyn is my favorite of the sisters. I wish we knew more about Uncle Fred, father Thomas, and ward Alex’s thoughts. As interesting as Part One of the book is, the story really picked up for me in Part Two where the story jumps ahead to the mid 1920’s. The daughters are older, the circumstances different yet clearly shaped by the past. My only quibble is that everything is tied up a little too neatly at the end.

I recommend As Bright as Heaven to any reader who enjoys historical fiction. It is a refreshing spin on the time period.

“The heart always does what it needs to do.”

The Bright family never could have predicted how their lives would transpire after moving from the country to Philadelphia. When Tom and Pauline decide to move their three daughters to start anew and create a life in the city, they expect to move forward from the loss they have encountered in losing their youngest son, Henry. As war wages on overseas, and the Spanish flu epidemic hits the cities, escaping death and heartache becomes impossible. Young girls, Evelyn, Maggie, and Willa are pushed into a world of love and loss that no one could have seen coming.

“Sooner or later she will learn time changes everything, takes everything; sometimes in a blink, and sometimes so slowly you can’t even see it happening.”

As Bright As Heaven is a beautiful, heart wrenching tale of resilience. Each character, in their own right, has to endure crushing loss. From the very beginning, Pauline and her family losing baby Henry sets forth a motion of heartbreak. It seems as though they won’t get a break then when the war becomes more demanding of their neighbors and family, and once more a tidal wave when the flu hits the city. Through it all, the girls are determined to support one another, care for those they find in their own despair and continually grow within themselves to follow their hearts. I felt a connection to each character, and was encouraged by how the girls’ grew into themselves as young women, yet didn’t lose their unique individual personalities.

“We are butterflies, delicate and wonderful, here on earth for only a brilliant moment
and then away we fly.”

Fate plays an extravagant role in the lives of the Bright sisters. These girls are drawn to their interests- their heart strings, but regardless fate found a way to turn their lives in the direction it was planning to head in whether or not they were ready for it. Wow, such a lovely novel that I highly recommend!

If you enjoy historical fiction and want something a little different, then I’d recommend this book. It does focus more on family and familial relationships that romance, so if you tend to prefer the romantic historical fiction stories, this will not be it. Surprisingly, even though it can be a dark/heavy book at times, that isn’t the overall feeling that I was left with, so if you’re intimidated at all by the storyline, I would say it’s lighter that you will expect it to be. The writing is solid and enjoyable and I look forward to reading more from Meissner.

Four stars: A wonderful historical novel with four distinct voices set during the Spanish flu epidemic.

The Bright family is still reeling after the loss of their infant son, Henry. It is 1918, World War I is still raging throughout Europe, requiring more and more boys and men to head off and fight. During these hard times, the family comes to a difficult decision. They will leave the family tobacco farm and head to Philadelphia where Mr. Bright will learn the trade of an undertaker. Pauline is ready to go after losing her infant. The three young girls, Evelyn, Maggie and Willa have differing opinions, but they have no choice but to pack up and go. Once the family is settled in Philadelphia, things start looking up, and then the unthinkable happens. The Spanish flu epidemic strikes, killing thousands of people in the city. The Bright family is faced once again with heartbreaking circumstances. How will they pick up the pieces and move forward?
What I Liked:
*2018 marks one hundred years since the Spanish Flu epidemic struck killing an estimated 50-100 million people world wide, a fifth of the world’s population in just a few months, yet most people today are not familiar with this tragic event. As Bright As Heaven chronicles the flu epidemic and the end of World War I. The story is told through the eyes of four unique women. If you are unfamiliar with this era in history, this is a must read.
*I loved that I got four different perspectives in this novel. There is Pauline, the mother, who is still working through her agonizing grief after losing her infant son. She is plagued by thoughts of death, so she eagerly takes on her new life as an undertaker’s wife, in hopes of understanding death better. Evelyn is the eldest daughter, she is smart, driven and she wants to be a doctor. I loved watching her find her way in the psychiatric field, especially since it is dominated by men. Maggie, is my favorite, at thirteen, she is curious and kind. She falls head over heels for her twenty one year old neighbor who is being shipped off to war. Last, there is Willa, the youngest, who is ten years old. It was intriguing to see these girls grow and mature during the eight year time span of the book.
*I am fascinated by this time period. It is only recently that I became acquainted with the Spanish flu epidemic after reading other books set during this era. This book delivers the horror of the flu with all of the fear and death and the subsequent loss of life. It is scary to think how many people succumbed so quickly to the flu. If you are interested in this time frame, you should read this book.
*I liked that this book covered a span of eight years. The main focus of the book is during the flu epidemic, but then it moves forward to 1925. I enjoyed seeing how the family moved forward and how they came to terms with the terrible events that had transpired. Some fare better than others, and each girl is faced with some hard decisions.
*I appreciated that the author explored the undertaker profession. It was interesting to see how people cared for their dead back in 1918, and how they handled the mass influx of bodies during the flu epidemic.
*The ending, though a bit open, ties off the major story lines, and everyone seems to be settled and moving forward. No cliffhangers or nagging, unanswered questions.
*I listened to the audiobook. I appreciated that each voice had their own narrator, it made the voices more distinct. I would recommend the audiobook.
And The Not So Much:
*I was bothered by Willa. I wasn’t a fan of her choices, and I felt like her view point didn’t offer as much as the other three. I also thought her portion was too open ended. There was no clear cut path for her future.
*Pauline’s strange fixation with death was a little weird for me. Her musings on death were not my favorite.
*I wish that there had been just a tiny bit more focus on the war. There isn’t much detail on what was going on during the war.
*There are two small romances. I liked the relationships, but I didn’t feel like either was moving. I wanted more passion and spark.

As Bright as Heaven is an interesting and memorable book that provides the reader with four distinct characters who experience the Spanish flu epidemic. If you are unfamiliar with the Spanish flu, this is an excellent book to read. I liked the characters, the setting and the time period. If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is one worth reading.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

"It's as if the body is a candle and the soul is its flame. When the flame is snuffed out, all that is left to prove that there had been a flame is the candle, and even that we only have for a little while. Even the candle is not ours to keep. And yet how we care for that candle for that stretch of time that it is still ours! How we want to remember the shape and fragrance of the little flame it held."
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"This flu is like a black shroud that has been flung across everything that breathes under the canopy of heaven, and if you could stand back far enough you wouldn't see all the people it touches, only the immense length and breadth of its expanse."
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I could keep posting quote after quote from this beautifully-written novel. I counted and I highlighted 25 quotes from this book. The concept of a family running an undertaking business during the greatest epidemic the world has ever seen was a subject I was excited to read about. They lived in Philadelphia, which of all the cities in the United States, was probably hit the hardest. I read the book The Great Influenza by John M. Barry last year and the author mentioned she read that book as research for this one. I think it would be a great companion read to this to better understand the impact the flu had. The first third of this book goes slowly, and I almost stopped reading, but I'm glad I didn't. The author spent time developing the characters and it really shows. Maggie was definitely my favorite character, but I also liked Pauline and cute little Willa. There was a plot point that was very predictable to me, but that didn't take away from the story too much. The strengths of this book were the characters and their awareness of how death brings a new understanding and appreciation of humanity. I wish I had been able to read this book years ago when I lost someone very dear to me. Its messages would have brought comfort to my heart trying to make sense of grief and loss. You will need tissues while reading this book, but the ending is a good one, I promise. I gave this book four stars out of five. Graceful, poignant, and meaningful.

Review will be posted on 2/26/18
The Bright family has inherited the family's funeral business in the bustling city of Philadelphia. The year is 1918 and this is a great opportunity for the Brights as life in Quakertown, a small suburb of Philadelphia, doesn't hold much promise for them. When they move to the sprawling home in Philadelphia things are looking up for the Brights as now they will live comfortably. The only issue is the world is on the brink of war and Pauline Bright's husband gets sent off to fight. She could return home to Quakertown with her girls, but she decides to stay and help with the funeral business. It helps her deal with her grief surrounding the untimely death of her young son, Henry. Evelyn, the oldest daughter, hopes to start afresh here in Philadelphia as she is a smart girl and her schooling is important to her. Maggie, the middle daughter, finds herself in a heartbreaking situation and one that will change her family's future forever. Lastly, there's Willa, the youngest daughter, who is young, but not young enough to notice the dark cloud of wartime looming over her neighborhood. Each member of the Bright family is not only impacted by the upcoming war, but also the Spanish Flu which is slowly making its way to Philadelphia. Susan Meissner's As Bright as Heaven is a story that had me sobbing, smiling, and appreciating the plight of many families in the past.

I loved the character of Pauline in As Bright as Heaven. The relationship with her husband is a romantic one and I enjoyed learning more about how they initially got together. Once her husband is sent off to war, I felt for her as she has to raise her girls on her own. Thankfully, her husband's uncle is able to help her manage the funeral home and keep an eye on her girls. Each chapter is from a different Bright woman's point of view and my favorite, other than Pauline, was Maggie. I really loved her character and how she is put in a very tough circumstance due to the flu. I don't want to give too much away, but the choices she makes during the pandemic impact her family for years.

Once the Spanish flu becomes a major issue in the city of Philadelphia things get really stressful for the Brights as well as many of the neighboring families. Lives are irrevocably changed by this pandemic and family members, friends, neighbors, and business associates are all impacted by flu. It seemed that each household lost a family member to the flu. I had no idea that the Spanish flu was such a horrendous pandemic until I read As Bright as Heaven. I also had no idea how it impacted Philadelphia so tremendously. This was especially interested to me as I have ancestors that lived in the city of Philadelphia during this exact time. I can't imagine the stress dealing with not only wartime, but also such an upsetting and gripping illness. My heart truly went out to the Brights as they see the influenza from a different viewpoint since they help run a funeral home. Oh, this book made me sob!!

If you can't tell already, I absolutely loved the setting of Philadelphia in 1918 in As Bright as Heaven. I truly cared about the Bright family; Meissner did a great job focusing not only on their struggles and heartbreak, but their triumphs over the years as well. It felt like a sweeping family saga and the story tugged on my heartstrings. If you love historical fiction definitely give this one a try this winter. Meissner is definitely an author I have my eye on!

Usually, when I read historical fiction, the time period and actions of the novel are somewhat removed from my own reality. But As Bright As Heaven, by Susan Meissner, is so relevant to the current flu epidemic in this country. I found myself both fascinated and scared out of my wits!

What I Liked:

Historical Details:
The first half of the story focuses on the devastating Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. The details bring that tragedy to life. I was especially moved by the scene of Pauline and her daughter Maggie going into a poor neighborhood to bring food to the sick. It was like a moment in a Stephen King novel! The streets were empty as entire families were dead or dying in their little homes. Children and old people starved because there was no one to look after them.

The second half of the book is just as riveting as the story moves on to the 1920's and the Prohibition period. Despite a ban on alcohol, Philadelphia is rife with speakeasies, and the temptations of the nonstop party of the Roaring Twenties.

Characters:
The three sisters, Willa, Maggie, and Evie each have dreams and ambitions. I especially liked Willa, a rambunctious child who nevertheless showed patience and kindness toward a neighborhood boy with an intellectual disability. Maggie and Evie also remained steadfastly loyal to their family, even when it would have been easier to leave for a different life. I loved that most of their major decisions (Willa's ambition to sing, Maggie's fierce love for Alex, and Evie's pursuit of a career as a psychiatrist) were based on finding meaning amidst adversity.

There were also many smaller characters that made up the little neighborhood where the family lived. The author illustrated how each family was unique but all suffered some kind of loss, either from the war (WWI) or through the flu disaster. I loved how people developed empathy for their neighbors as the two catastrophes created such immense damage.

Story:
The story follows the Bright family as they move from a tobacco farm to Philadelphia. The father agrees to help his uncle with his mortuary in order to provide more opportunities for his three daughters. The trade off, of course, is that everyone in the family must get comfortable with the constant presence of death.

This puts the characters in a unique position when the Spanish Flu runs rampant through the city. Suddenly, the gentleness and care they employ with the decease must be pushed aside as the bodies must be swiftly dealt with. As they face numerous ethical dilemmas, can they survive while maintaining their humanity?

What I Didn't Like:
Evie :
I was really turned off by Evie's choices at the end of the novel (I will try to describe this without writing spoilers). Given how hard she worked to achieve her goal, I found it hard to believe that she would throw it all away. I found her choices extremely selfish and not consistent with her character. I think this was done so that her story would have some closure. But Evie's hard work to become a doctor should have been enough of an achievement. She didn't need the development at the end in order to be fulfilled.

Regardless of that development, I loved this book. The details of the events were so compelling and the viewpoint of the family was really perfect for the story. You will not be able to put this book down!

Where do I start? I wasn't sure how I started to feel about this book.

It's 1918 and Willa, Maggie and Evie and their parents move from tiny, rural Quakertown, PA to Philadelphia to help out their great-uncle Henry in his funeral home business. Little do they know, the Spanish flu is about to hit and overwhelm the funeral business. The family struggles to not only keep up with the dead bodies but protect themselves. Still new to the area, the family is trying to form relationships and adjust to their new life. As if dealing with the move and flu is not enough, WWI is raging and they must contend with that. and how it affects not only their family but the new relationships they have built in Philadelphia.

Being very familiar with both Quakertown and Philadelphia, PA, I was drawn towards their move. My family owns a funeral home and I was drawn into that story. The best part of the story is the interconnection of the relationships. Maggie to her family, Maggie to Jamie, Maggie to Alex. And how Alex connects with everyone, how Jamie connects with everyone and so on. The end was AMAZING and Susan Meissner did an amazing job of bringing together all the stories.

Will highly recommend it.

As Bright as Heaven is a novel that feels like a friend by the time one finishes it. The storytellers, a mother and her three daughters, each add their own perspective and emotion to the events of 1918: World War I and the Spanish flu on a global level, love and loss on a personal level. I was captivated from the beginning and sad when it ended.

The method of telling each chapter from the perspective of one of the women/girls of the Bright family reminded me of The Poisonwood Bible. Both books include families moved from all that is familiar with faith and expectations packed in their luggage. This book is not as academically written and does not make such an obvious political statement, but it also feels more real. The faith of the Bright family is ever-present but not overbearing. They struggle, make mistakes, love, forgive, and lose precious loved ones in the flu epidemic that stole more from the world than the war did.

If some of the plot twist in this novel was predictable, I think the author can be forgiven. The development of the Bright girls' characters as they grew up and the emotions elicited throughout the novel more than make up for the lack of mystery. The spotlight on the impact of the flu in Philadelphia and the setting of an undertaker business are brilliant choices that make this an original and inspirational story.

I give Part I 3.5 stars, for effectively conveying the anxious dread of living during a time of plague. The devastation of the Spanish flu can hardly be overstated, and it's a period of time that I've always been interested in. As the novel's number of victims mounts, the sheer scope of this epidemic gains a more personal character, which makes it that much more harrowing. I was surprised by the author's choice to make a certain character a victim of the flu, but I think that choice was very effective; the parts centering around that character's demise were very moving to me; I almost never cry when reading, but I teared up here.

Part II was less well-executed in my opinion, with the material there veering towards the overwrought, and I found one of the the romances to be very underdeveloped. Willa's storyline is actually probably the most interesting to me, but it does tend to seem a bit more tangential that Evie and Maggie's; it almost seems like it might belong in a book of its own. Mostly, however, it was the predictability of the second half that bothered me -- I saw the conclusion coming almost immediately after a certain character was introduced, so the process of working up to that inevitable ending seemed like a rather uneventful journey. I would have preferred a messier ending than the one we are given here, but readers who enjoy a tidier resolution may feel gratified.

In conclusion, a strong first half, and a more run-of-the-mill second. I am glad to see the Spanish flu as the focus of a novel, and I think the 100th anniversary of that epidemic is poignant timing. Recommended with some reservations, though mostly for readers who are already interested in the time period and subject matter.

Pauline and Thomas Bright drop everything behind Quakertown when they make the move to Philadelphia in 1918 because the city is the heart of new beginnings and promises.

Thomas has been asked by his uncle to come help him at the funeral home, because his uncle is getting old and does not have any children of his own, with Thomas being his favorite.

Now Pauline and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie and Willa have a chance at a better life as they navigate their ways around the new series and adapt to life in a funeral home. But then the ‘Spanish’ flu sweeps across the globe and as Pauline and the girls watch loved ones die around them, they take in a baby that had been orphaned by the disease and he becomes the source of their hope.

This was a story told in two parts. The first part deals with Pauline and her three girls as they move into the funeral home and how there is just so much hope in that move. Hope for a better life for herself and for her daughters, better schooling. That hope ends up being briefly crushed when Thomas, the father, get’s called by draft into serving at war and Pauline stays at the funeral home with the children as the flu sweeps across Philadelphia, claiming many lives.

It was interesting and engrossing following their lives in the funeral home as well as learning more about the events during this time, not matter how difficult it may have been. The flu ended up claiming a lot of lives of people they knew and the war changed the lives closest to them.

It is a story of family, hardships, lost, love and triumphs with the second half, a strong focus on the years following the events that drastically changed their lives.

I adored following the sister’s chapters separately because I adored how the author handled each of their stories, and how each sister grew with the events affecting their lives. It was wonderful, the writing was amazing. There is always something about Meissner’s writing that simply enthralls me and has me craving for more. I never wanted the book to come to an end. I liked the setting, I liked learning a bit about what happened in the American history during that time. The amount of death and from a funeral homes perspective was both cringe worthy and fascinating at the same time.

The characters were well fleshed out, each sister standing out on her own within their own chapter. Each sister affected not only by the flu, the death, but also by the war and the people around them.

The twist in the end that Meissner delivers about how their actions have also influenced others had been both brilliant and heartbreaking.

The story was beautiful and well told, though at times not easy to read just proves how well the author can get you so invested in the characters and the feelings that it something that stayed with me long after I was done with the pages.

I adore this author and cannot wait to see what she has to tell us next.

Okay, maybe a 4 1/2 stars from me, it's not quite the perfect book...but OH, the writing in this book was SO GOOD! I was so impressed with the character development and the story was REAL. The characters were flawed but really trying to do their best. Provocatively the story centers on a family of an undertaker, so the death themes were inextricably plentiful, with death motifs including caring for cadavers, the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, WWI (including PTSD), and suicide attempts. The plot was rich with other themes, prohibition, flu orphans, love of family, separation anxiety, changing personal identity, and even romance. Intriguingly it was told from the perspective of several different family members, as journal type entries, and even personifying "Death" at one point! WOW, it held me captive. I really want to read this with my book club so that I can discuss it with someone!! I was grateful the story kept true to the time's moral principles.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, thank you!! #NetGalley #AsBrightAsHeaven

I received this arc from NetGalley.
I really liked this book. I enjoyed the alternating points of view of the three sisters. The bond between the sisters was very strong and much needed to get through the events of their lives. The background of living at the funeral parlor was also very interesting. I will highly recommend this book to patrons of the library where I work.

2017’s A Bridge Across the Ocean was a novel that completely blew me away, immediately becoming a Top Read of the Year. It was also my introduction to Susan Meissner (!!! I KNOW), a fantastic writer with over 20 novels to her name. An impressive backlist of new-to-me authors are always a good thing! Because I was so head over heels for A Bridge Across the Ocean, it should come as NO surprise to anyone, that the second I saw her latest pop up on NG, I pounced. I can’t say it enough: A Bridge Across the Ocean was THAT good that I didn’t care what As Bright as Heaven was about, I just knew it was a book I needed in my life.

As it turns out, As Bright as Heaven is not only as good as her previous novel, it just might be even better. Going by my GoodReads rating, at least; ABAtO was a (HIGH) 4-star, ABaH is my first 5-star read of 2018.

Told in four voices: Pauline and her three daughters, Evelyn, Maggie, and little Willa, As Bright as Heaven follows the family as they leave their cozy, quiet rural town for bustling Philadelphia where Pauline’s husband has agreed to join his uncle’s funeral business. It’s apparent from the start that a funeral parlor is no place for girls, especially 6-year-old Willa, but over time, the business becomes second nature – 12-year-old Maggie even begs Pauline to be allowed to help out, curling hair and applying make-up, readying the bodies for viewings.

Whereas Maggie wants to help out as a way to be closer to her mother, Pauline has her own reasons for wanting to spend her days among the dead. Their family wasn’t always a family of daughters. Henry, the doted-upon only boy, fell ill and never recovered, passing away before his 3rd birthday. Since then, Pauline has felt Death always at hand, drawing nearer with each day.

As Bright as Heaven has SO many layers, so many stories within its pages. Maggie falls for an older neighbor boy, her young heart breaking as he leaves to go off and fight in the War. The Spanish Flu arrives in America – in Philadelphia – and I sobbed for so many characters. An baby is discovered, his mother had succumbed to the Flu, and could he possibly be what this family needs to fill the hole left by Henry’s all-too-sudden passing?

While reading, I couldn’t help but be reminded of another 2017 read I absolutely loved: The One True Love of Alice Ann. While Alice Ann was set during the days of WWII, both books featured a boy sent off to war and the girl back home waiting for him to return.

This might be a bit morbid, but I’ve always been curious about mortuary science and becoming a mortician. Pittsburgh has an Institute of Mortuary Science and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t given it some thought! The funeral parlor was such a fascinating aspect to this book and one I don’t think I’ve ever seen featured in a novel before! Things got particularly bad once the Flu struck Philadelphia, bodies were coming in faster than Thomas or his uncle could deal with. At one point, the death toll was so high, bodies were simply piled wherever there was room. Gone were the days of somber remembrances. Now viewings were no longer permitted – no one could say for certain the Flu couldn’t be passed on through the dead.

I could so easily ramble on at length about As Bright as Heaven. I tore through its 400 pages in a single sitting, it was that engrossing. Each layer to the story only added to its richness and I came to care deeply for the characters. I laughed, I ugly cried. I didn’t think a book could top A Bridge Across the Ocean, but this one did it and my first 5-star rating of 2018 was well deserved. I can’t say enough about this book. Do yourself a favor and get a copy.

As Bright as Heaven truly impressed me as a work of historical fiction. I loved the format of the book, following three sisters and their mother in the early 1920s, the chapters cycle through each woman's perspective. Due to this, the book also felt very pertinent as a piece of women's literature. All of the ladies involved in this book were dealing with issues involving what society expected of them based on their gender - one very interesting aspect of this, is that they were all at different stages in their lives so you really got a feel for issues that arise during all points of a woman's life.

I was moved by this book - I found it to be an excellent examination of not just women's lives and issues but also mortality and choices. The book focuses a lot on the choices we make, how they influence the path, or stories, of our lives. Additionally, there was a strong focus on how our choices can also have great repercussions for the lives of those around us. There were some deep and moving passages in this book; passages that gave me pause to reflect on the words and how they hold true even in my life.

I loved the setting of the book and the time - the Spanish flu is not an event I have really heard much about and I love history and reading non-fiction books. This story really brings to light how devastating this flu was around the world and I am definitely interested in learning more history about this event.

I would recommend this book to any of the women in my life but I also think men could really enjoy this beautifully told story - I wouldn't want to leave them out! Well done to Ms. Meissner! Thank you so much to the publisher, Berkley Books, for providing me with a copy to review. I appreciate the opportunity to experience this gorgeous story and share my thoughts on it.

POWERFUL BOOK! I am normally not a historical fiction fan, but this was so engaging. I will definitely be recommending this to friends and book clubs I attend, and I am looking up others by Susan Meissner as I type!

The novel AS BRIGHT AS HEAVEN by award-winning author Susan Meissner takes place in 1918 Pennsylvania where members of the Bright family (Pauline and Thomas with daughters Evelyn, Maggie and Willa) deal with the loss of baby Henry by moving from Quakertown to Philadelphia, leaving behind extended family and their business of rolling cigars to live in a fine house with a bachelor uncle and learn the trade of being an undertaker. When the Spanish flu hits the city, they are forced to confront death on a large scale.

This historical fiction novel is told from multiple perspectives and each of the Bright women shares her thoughts. With positive blurbs from novelists like Jillian Cantor and Helen Simonson, AS BRIGHT AS HEAVEN is apt to appeal to book clubs and received a starred review from Library Journal. This title also appeared on the February 2018 LibraryReads List.

Links in live blog post:
http://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-hours-count-by-jillian-cantor.html
http://treviansbookit.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-summer-before-war-by-helen-simonson.html
http://libraryreads.org/february-2018-libraryreads-list/

As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner is historical fiction at its best—the historical era is impeccably researched and portrayed authentically, and the characters are brought to life with such eloquence that their voices shine true and the reader cares deeply what happens to them. It is 1918, the last year of World War I, when the Bright Family, Thomas and Pauline, and their daughters Evelyn (15), Maggie (12) and Willa (6), leave rural Quakertown, Pennsylvania, for the big city of Philadelphia. Thomas’ unmarried Uncle Fred invites the family to move in with him and help run his successful funeral home with the intention that they will inherit the business when he dies. The move is made at a time when the family is still reeling from the death of a fourth infant child, Henry. The novel is told in chapters through the eyes of all four of the female characters and their “voices” ring beautifully true both in terms of their ages and the historical era. The novel is a balance of family moments and larger historical events. The Brights attend the Liberty Loan Parade, an event that serves to spread the Spanish flu. Soon, thousands of people are dying, and the disease literally lands on their doorstep. Their home and business (which are in the same building) become inundated. In the midst of this, Maggie rescues an orphaned baby boy who provides hope, but who also complicates their lives. A favorite quote from the novel was: “It is easy to make promises in a world where nothing lasts.”. At the end of the book, the author writes the following about why she was inspired to bring this era of American history to life: “You might be wondering what prompted me to write a novel with the Spanish Flu pandemic as a backdrop. As a lover of historical fiction—both reading it and writing it—I am always on the lookout for untold stories from the past that reveal the resiliency of the human spirit despite incredibly difficult circumstances. In 2016, I began to study the 1918 Spanish Flu as a possible setting for a novel, as I was aware its centennial was fast approaching. I realized rather quickly this historic pandemic is an untold story. It is millions of untold stories. Until I started researching, I had no idea how globally devastating this event was and how much it changed the human landscape of the entire world. The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918–19 was the deadliest disease in history, exponentially worse than the Black Plague, yet most people I talk to are unaware of the breadth of its impact. Fifty million people worldwide are estimated to have died from Spanish Flu. That’s a staggering number, far more than the number of the lives lost in both world wars combined. This disease is more than just a sad moment in history; it is the untold stories of people just like you and me—and our parents, our brothers and sisters, our children. It is millions upon millions of stories of people just like us.“. One hundred years later, this book has helped me travel back in time and step into the shoes of what it would have been like to live in that era. Excellent job! Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book and for allowing me to review it.

It is 1918 Philadelphia and this family moves from the country to the city for an opportunity that could change their life greatly for the better. They will become the local undertaker and operate and live in a funeral home. With three daughters and a recently deceased baby son, this family is in need of a change of scenery.

One of the things that made me adore this book was that all three sisters and the mother narrated this book. Divided in small chapters, even the youngest was given an opportunity to tell the story from her point of view. I love when there are multiple narrators, but taking it to the next level and giving space to a young child was just fun.

A thing that I love about historical fiction books is when I learn something new without reading a text book and this one checked the box completely! I didn't know about the flu epidemic and to read about how it impacted families who are already being impacted by the war made it feel even more devastating.

I am a fan of Susan Meissner and will now basically read anything she writes, don't need to know time or place, I will be ready for her next book to come my way!