In Calling Me Home by Julie Kibler, eighty-nine-year-old Isabelle McAllister has a favor to ask her hairdresser Dorrie Curtis. It's a big one. Isabelle wants Dorrie.
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Write a customer review. Read reviews that mention calling me home julie kibler well written highly recommend book club loved this book debut novel road trip love story present day miss isabelle past and present must read back and forth best books beautifully written year old white woman long time main characters. There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. It's hard to believe that this is the author's debut novel, since it is so well-written and such a beautifully crafted story.
It deals in a unique way with race relations over a 70 year span. An elderly white woman has developed a rapport with her hairdresser, a younger black woman. She asks the woman to drive her to a funeral several hundred miles away. The younger woman is struggling with some personal problems and sees the trip as an opportunity to get away from her difficulties for a while. This unlikely couple sets out on their journey, during which they each divulge more about themselves than either had previously known about the other. The chapters of the novel alternate between the two characters as they disclose more intimate details of their lives.
The older lady reminisces about significant events in her youth which have a connection with the funeral she will attend while the younger woman suffers anxiety and indecision over her current situation. The identity of the deceased is not identified until the end of the journey, which builds suspense as the reader wonders how her remarkable story will end. Hearing the incredible confessions of her older friend gives the black woman courage to face her personal dilemma.
No reader could fail to be moved by this poignant novel. I loved this book. It was one of my book groups choice and I had a difficult time putting it down. This is the story of first love, friendship, struggle, race, injustice, family, and a deeper love. The story is told in present day and then in the 's. Isabelle ask Dorrie to drive her to Cincinnati, which is approximately 1, mile away. Dorrie will be driving Miss Isabelle to a funeral. You don't know whose funeral it is until the end of the book. This novel just flows. It is the authors first novel and I thought the writing was spot on.
On the trip Miss Isabelle begins to tell Dorrie the story of her life as a young girl in the south. In every other chapter we learn more and more about Miss Isabelle's parents and her servants, who are like family to Miss Isabelle. Every alternate chapters is the story of Dorrie and her family and the heartache she has faced in her life.
They share the stories on this trip, along with some crossword puzzles! It is an emotionally charged story.
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It actually reminded me a bit of The Help. A beautiful heart breaking story. Without a doubt, this is a book that will be on my best books read in list. The content and sensitive topics explored were extremely thought-provoking, the heartbreaking forbidden romance both shattered my heart and mended it, and the historical backdrop of the book made the story feel so real, like I was transported in the world the author created and was a silent bystander who experienced everything the characters did.
They leaped off the pages and seeped deep into my heart, crippling me with the stark truth behind the ugly reality presented in the story. And even though all of this is fictional, the impression left afterwards is sure to impact minds and hearts alike, invigorating readers to not let the tragedies and ostracism in the story reoccur in reality.
Of course, not every book that tackles interracial romance and segregation will make a profound impact on me. The tale follows a road trip where an 80 year old Isabelle is heading to a funeral with Dorrie, her 30 something year old hairdresser. And even with Dorrie experiencing her own troubles with her boyfriend and children, she still embarks on this road trip with Isabelle, realizing that her old friend will need her for support.
This way, both women are given an equal voice and keeps the story balanced and me invested. The fact that the story is set during World War II also heightens the pure desperation, the longing and love these two experience. From the beginning and little by little, I could sense my heart splintering in pieces while outwardly maintaining a calm appearance.
Gradually, my throat was painfully clogged up, eyes welled with unshed tears, and mouth slightly quivering. Did I care enough to want to find out what happened to Isabelle? I give this one a solid 3. I'm sorry but 5 stars doesn't do this book justice!!! View all 18 comments. Jan 10, Jeanne rated it liked it Shelves: This story is about a hair stylist in her thirties named Dorrie, who is driving her almost ninety year old good friend and client Isabelle to a mystery funeral several states away.
While on this long road trip, Isabelle tells Dorrie about her life in , and her forbidden love story with Robert Prewitt, the black son of her family's housekeeper. The story then alternates between Dorrie's present day pov and Isabelle's past pov. So, I was fully expecting to love this book, everything about it s This story is about a hair stylist in her thirties named Dorrie, who is driving her almost ninety year old good friend and client Isabelle to a mystery funeral several states away.
So, I was fully expecting to love this book, everything about it should be right up my alley. I love forbidden relationships, and I'm a huge sucker for emotional chick lit types of books. One of my struggles with this book was the format, and that's just a personal preference type of thing. I found the story from to be much more compelling than the present day story, so I felt annoyed when I was pulled out of that story every other chapter.
I think this kind of prevented me from being as emotionally invested in the story as I wanted to be also. Sadly, I didn't find Dorrie's character to be interesting, and so much of their trip felt forced and the dialogue flat. Isabelle's story had some beautiful moments that I really did enjoy reading, especially in the beginning. I think the book would have benefited from having Robert's pov though, because I didn't feel the romance the way I needed to.
I didn't understand what it was about Isabelle that would make him risk his life and his family for her. I loved some scenes early on, view spoiler [ especially the scene at the creek and the car washing. When I was supposed to be emotional, I was wondering if the author saw that scene on The Young and the Restless. I also thought young Isabelle was unbelievably selfish, and Robert's character was inconsistent at this point in the book.
Of course it's not fair, but he was risking his life and his family. It would have been more believable if they kept in touch through the letters longer. It fit her character to be impulsive, but not his. Sometimes there is really no reason why you don't connect to a story or the characters, it either happens or it doesn't.
I would love recs for books on this subject matter, but a book I loved was In the Fields by Willow Aster. Thanks to Ami and Share for the buddy read!!!
Calling Me Home
View all 36 comments. Oct 19, Jessica rated it really liked it Shelves: What a pleasant surprise this book was. It's the kind of book that makes me miss working in a bookstore because it would be such an easy recommendation to make to customers. It's good, engaging and well-written, and it's got a clear audience who will eat it up. One part The Help , one part Water for Elephants , this compelling debut novel is the story of two women travelling from Arlington to Cincinnati for a funeral. Isabelle is 89 and unable to make the trip alone so she asks Dorrie, her African What a pleasant surprise this book was.
Isabelle is 89 and unable to make the trip alone so she asks Dorrie, her African American hairdresser, to accompany her. Dorrie's family life is kind of a mess at the time, so she agrees. The narration bounces back and forth between the present and just before the start of World War II, when Isabelle was a teenager with the audacity to fall in love with a black man in rural Kentucky.
The book is structured in such a way that while Dorrie is dealing with the logistics of the road trip and trying to decide what to do about her teenage son and her budding relationship with a new man, Isabelle is relating her own story and explaining why she needs to travel to this funeral. There's a small amount of overlap in the two stories, but not so much that it feels like it's hitting you over the head.
Some of the racial themes in the book are well-trod but the love story contained inside was so moving, I just had to know what would happen. My only complaint is that the book reached its emotional climax and kept going for another pages. This was necessary to resolve Dorrie's present-day story, but that resolution probably could have been briefer. I was so emotionally spent by that point that I more or less skimmed the last bit. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy. View all 6 comments. Apr 11, Karen rated it it was amazing.
My heart still breaks for Isabel and Robert View all 12 comments. Jan 18, [p]aulie rated it it was amazing. View all 13 comments. Mar 30, Candida Pugh rated it it was ok. The best adjective to describe Kibler's effort is "soapy". One improbable moment follows another in a failed attempt to keep you imagining these cardboard sticks are people. If you imagine that in the late 's and early 's, a 16 year old white girl living in Kentucky could be oblivious to the peril in which her flirtation with a black man would place him, maybe you can swing with this plot.
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My own take is that "Miss Isabelle" if she were a credible character would be either crazy, incre The best adjective to describe Kibler's effort is "soapy". My own take is that "Miss Isabelle" if she were a credible character would be either crazy, incredibly dull-witted, malicious, or so needy she required a man to risk his life for her. But we are to believe instead that an adolescent has been so swept away by "true love," she can't help herself.
As for Robert, he's a modern day Uncle Tom straight out of the cabin, flawless--because how could a white girl fall in love with a black man if he were humanly imperfect? Did I leave anything out? Only the reader interest that an abandonment of rose-colored glasses, a familiarity with the multitudinous layers of racism, and the creation of multifaceted characters could have brought to the story of a young black boy and a young white girl in the pre-civil rights era South might have brought to this novel. The only good thing I can say is the writing is workmanlike. View all 15 comments. I wanted to climb the highest hill I could find to shout until our world saw it's error This story of forbidden love in s Kentucky left me speechless.
Even though Ms Isabelle was telling Dottie her story on that journey I was there too Like the bumps in the road I felt everything, every emotion I saw everything, in the harsh light of day Pull you in, embrace you, not letting go. That embrace more than a hug, that long lingering hold that warms you, penetrates you. I don't think I'll ever forget my embrace with Ms Isabelle View all 31 comments.
Written January 27, 5 Stars - An epic heart wrenching beautiful novel. I need time to put myself together. All tissues were used and I'm still, a week later, easily moved to tears thinking about this story. This will be quite "short Written January 27, 5 Stars - An epic heart wrenching beautiful novel. This will be quite "short and nice". Hopefully without story spoilers. An Magnificent Unforgettable Love-Story Novel Calling Me Home is sincerely recommended to all you readers with a big heart who still love a unforgettable epic tale. My lovely UK-friend Lisa 5 stars recommended me sincerely to try this novel.
An emotional and physical road journey start and we readers, as well as Dorrie, are told an old heartbreaking beautiful love-story by Isabelle. I will never forget Isabelle's story. They did maybe some mistakes, but gee, their love and their strong passion for each other was so beautiful to experience. Check the door-signs from a segregated southern. In the last following words writes the author that this novel is inspired and based on a true story.
Her grandmother's young love to a black boy. A truth that is partly terrible cruel reality thronging but also so wonderful romantic. I would like to write an angry essay about inequality, racists among ordinary people and the horrible skin-color segregation against a big part of the population in Southern US, but we all know how awful these injustices were, and can only hope for great penance and much improvement today and for the future.
Not as heartbreaking, but I could identify me with her and her everydays problems in life. A single mother, two teens and maybe a future new man in her life. She had some things to solve and what happened under a week on the road maybe chango her future life as well. I'm just so glad that Dorrie learned to know Isabella and that these two strong women got this journey together.
And that we got the chance to hear about it. I watched in the mirror. Her lids twitched as her eyes moved back and forth beneath them. I only wondered what she was dreaming. I just sat there a long time It is impossible to describe this book here. I don't want to spoil this in many parts so surprising story, it has to be read to really understand. They both did a great job. Perfect voices for these main characters.
I know this one will take a place in many readers hearts. Should not be read in public places!! The guests at the local lunch restaurant glared wondering what happened to that poor sobbing woman with earphones View all 51 comments. What a beautifully heartbreaking story! I have had this one on my to-read shelf for awhile.
I actually started it and gave up, thinking I have a pile of books I'd most likely enjoy much more than this one. Then as I pushed it aside, I received a little nudge from a Goodreads friend to read it now demanding, I know! But I have to admit, she was right, and I did, indeed, love it. In fact, I am pleasantly surprised and pleased how much emotion I felt for the characters and their stories. I highl What a beautifully heartbreaking story! I highly recommend this wonderful book! View all 3 comments.
Calling Me Home
Jan 12, Sofia rated it really liked it Shelves: I never purposely choose books that make be cry. Crying is not a kink of mine. This one snuck up on me with stealth via my friend Ingela. Oh I knew from the blurb that there was a possibility but I decided to join in the read anyway. Angrier, more and more, that we still have to deal with this even in our day and age both within us and in the world we live in.
I liked that Kibler did not shy away from e I never purposely choose books that make be cry. I liked that Kibler did not shy away from exploring a bit the racist that lives within each and every one of us. We have to acknowledge this before starting to move forward. It is a battle I think that each of us has to fight, each in the context of our lives. After that the emotional tugging went into overdrive and I get the feeling that yes it drained me emotionally but my brain was left dry.
Is it realistic, possibly, not all of us view the world pragmatically especially during our teenage, rose coloured years, the time when we think that just by trying we are able to change the world.
And like us Isa and Robert paid dearly for that naivety. BR with Ingela and Irina who drag me along where I wouldn't normally go: Dec 21, Lisa B. My Thoughts Not many stories make me cry, but the ending of this one sure did. The relationship between Dorrie and Isabelle was special because they simply liked each other for who they were, without concern for skin color or age.. What a bond between these two women!
I rooted for Dorrie to find peace with her struggles and worries.
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And My Thoughts Not many stories make me cry, but the ending of this one sure did. And the ending - OY! This is a debut novel for Ms. What beautiful, beautiful writing. I am thrilled to have been given the opportunity to read this in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to St. Jan 14, Pamela rated it it was amazing. And while Kibler's story certainly contains a healthy dose of racism and conflict, the heart of the book is a love story--a tragic tale of forbidden love and the consequences that love carries with it throughout generations.
While it seems redundant to summarize the book here, I will say that Isabelle's story is one that grasps you from the first chapter and won't let you go. Kibler weaves a tale that binds two women from different backgrounds, different generations and defines 'family' without regard to skin color or economics. It causes us to examine the people in our lives who cross our paths and change us for the better. You won't want to miss this novel. You most certainly won't want it to end! Jan 22, Karen rated it it was amazing. When I had to put it down I could not wait to get back to it.
You know, when you are reading something that you wish the book would not end. The time period shifts back and forth from the 's to the present day. Isabelle who is white asks her African american hair stylist named Dorrie to drive her to a funereal from Kentucky to Ohio. Isabelle is in her nineties and Dorrie has two teenagers who she is raising alone.
Dorrie is fed up with meeting men who for her have been bad luck and Isabelle has an interesting story to tell. This book is about friendships. Its about finding your soulmate. It is about racism in the deep South. Isabelle grows up with a racist mother and two older brothers. Isabelle and her father are not racist. Isabelle tells Dorrie about her life growing up in a southern town where African american's cannot be in town after dark. This fictional town in Kentucky borders a state where it is okay with the law for White people to marry African americans.
Cora and Nell and Robert all work for Isabelle's family by day, but at night they have to be home before sunset. Isabelle and Robert get romantically involved secretly. What happens between Isabelle and Robert? How would you feel if your soul mate was a different ethnic background from you and your own family not to mention the state had laws against you getting married? Would you follow your heart? This is an aged old dilemma that is spun into a story that will captivate you and break your heart. I am truly sorry that I finished reading this story. The pages turn themselves and there is a twist of an ending that totally surprised me..
It is an old story that is told in a refreshing, imaginative new way. It is a redeeming story. One that I will recommend highly. I will not forget this book. View all 28 comments. Really loved the relationships in this novel, Isie being so much older but a good friend to Dorrie all the same. Together they brought closure and a new way of looking at the problems they needed to solve.
These are the two characters with a few more that I will remember from this story. Racial affairs, relationships, and friendship were all explored in this 3. Racial affairs, relationships, and friendship were all explored in this story. This was a wonderful novel to curl up with, watching the snow coming down, creating a beautiful landscape, in which to read a bout a love that was beautiful but could never be. A sentimental story for sure. Jan 19, Judy Collins rated it it was amazing Shelves: A vivid, engaging first book with strong characters, dramatic storytelling, which should establish Julie Kibler as a strong novelist.
She most definitely possesses a gift of telling a tragic story, in an entertaining way with an inspiring takeaway of friendship and love. She has just been added to my favorite author list, and so look forward to following this author! A complex and compelling portrait of the painful intricacies of love, loyalty, discrimination, and racial tensions.
An insightful story of two women caught between their hearts, families, and their future. CALLING ME HOME no ordinary love story; however, a book of astonishing precision from past to present, from one younger black woman and an older white woman; raw, painful, beautiful feelings told in honesty, unfolding precisely and eloquently, during this long road trip between friends of two different eras and color. A heartfelt story and forbidden love of two people —fighting for a life they so deserve — a fearless, heart-wrenching story about the power of true love and friendship.
A complex tapestry of lives intertwined a compassionate story of those who are destroyed by love by secrets and betrayal. An emotionally charged, absorbing novel about friends, lovers, secrets, and families. A powerful and memorable story you will not soon forget. Ideal for book clubs and discussions. Cannot wait for her next book.
View all 5 comments. Feb 18, Dem rated it liked it. With no clear explanation why and they must leave the following day. Dorrie is plagu 3. Dorrie is plagued with problems of her own but not wanting to let her friend down she agrees to drive Isabelle to the Funeral. There is so much to love about this book and to be honest once again I was drawn in by the cover and the blurb of this Novel This is one of those books that you pick up and you seem to settle into the story within a few chapters.
Julie Kibler has painted two wonderful characters that are very well thought out and by the end of the story you feel you know these two women. I especially loved and envied the friendship between Miss Isabelle and Dorrie as easy friendships like these are hard to come by. I loved how these two strong woman came together and gave each other support and without any pressure or any expectations of each other. Julie Kibler also tackles the difficult issue of racial equality and I believe that this novel was inspired by a relationship her grandmother had.
Calling Me Home is a book that is going to appeal to so many people and this is certainly more than a story about racial equality, it is a story about hope love and friendships that come along once in a lifetime. This is a well written historical fiction novel and I certainly will be recommending this book to many of my friends as it had wonderful reader appeal. Definitely worth cosying up on the couch for this one.
View all 10 comments. I loved this book! Julie Kibler is an amazing first time novelist! I hope she is busy writing her next book, because I can't wait to read it! I have to say the first third of the book was a little slow, but midway through, I couldn't put it down. I was drawn to this book, after being in an interracial relationship myself, years ago.
I had a taste of how hurtful people can be t I loved this book! I had a taste of how hurtful people can be towards couples of different races. This special story brought tears to my eyes more than once. It reminded me of a couple of elderly lady friends I have grown to love. I will recommend it to my friends. View all 14 comments. Apr 17, Pamela rated it really liked it Recommended to Pamela by: Sometimes, in spite of their enthusiasm for embracing change, it takes years of experience before they truly see the whole picture.
One relatively young, the other considerably aged. One with ebony hair and skin, the other whitish-blue. Both s "It's an irony that young people mostly see things as black and white. Both seeking answers to voids in their past and present lives. And on a road trip from Arlington to Cincinnati, as stories are told and secrets immerge, they both might find their worlds turned upside-right in surprising ways. Calling Me Home is a story of joys and sorrows, secrets and revelations, love and loss, courage and fear, friendship and family, prejudice and acceptance, crossroads and dead-ends.
It's also a journey. Maybe it wasn't as in your face now as it had been back then, maybe it was no longer politically correct to keep someone out of your town just because of skin color, but that didn't stop some folks. Along the way there are moments of hilarity, mystery, intrigue, and witty wisdom. Something about the way in which it's woven together not the story itself reminds me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
Which, in my opinion, is a wonderful thing. And it rings authentic, both in story and dialogue. I also think it's quite amazing for a debut novel. Certainly it's no wonder the ratings on Goodreads are so high; it's a novel that deserves accolades. Overall, except for the too-neatly-tied-in-a-convenient-melodrama-bow-resolve, a really great read.
Four exceptionally strong stars. Jan 19, Beverly marked it as to-read. Very exciting to be starting this audiobook! When eighty-nine-year-old Miss Isabelle asks her black hairdresser, Dorrie to drive her from Texas to Ohio, Dorrie realises it must be for a very good reason. Single mother of a teenaged boy and girl, Dorrie welcomes the break from her busy life and the new man on the scene who seems too good to be true.