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Susie Finkbeiner has used this quote on which to base her new book, "All Manner of Things." Taking place during the Viet Nam war, the book chronicles the lives of Annie, her brothers, her mother, and to some degree, her father.
Annie lives with her family and works in the local diner belonging to her Uncle Bernie. Her wages go to help out her mother keep food on the table for her and her brothers.
Her older brother, Mike, comes home one day to tell his mother that he has enlisted, because he knows that his number will come up in the draft and he may as well beat the rush. Before he leaves, there are a few family adventures he must participate in.
His grandparents all live in the same town in Michigan, and his grandfather is suffering the debilitations of dementia. He wanders off and all the family comes together to find him. Annie and Mike know where he used to like to go. They find him disoriented and very slightly injured. They bring him back home to safety.
Annie's life is pretty much the same day to day, except when she starts getting letters from a former neighbor. She finds out it's because his fiancee wrote him a Dear John, and he's wanting to find a replacement. Mike doesn't approve of this man, he's known as a player. About the same time, Annie gets a new customer in the diner, a man working for the park service. They strike up a friendship that appears to become more than just friendship.
When Mike is finally deployed to Viet Nam, he goes as a medic. In one of his letters home, he uses this quote by St. Julian.
Susie has made this book a compelling read. The side characters fill out the plot and add to the richness of the novel. It's a five star read, two thumbs up, and a left-over pastry from the diner.
Revell Publishing supplied the galley I read through NetGalley.com, asking only for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.
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