Gina L Mulligan

I received this book as part of Early Reviewers from Librarything. Dear Friends is the result of a project started by a breast cancer survivor, Gina L. Mulligan. Gina shares in the introduction how once she beat cancer, she knew she wanted to start something to encourage other women going through the same experience. And the result is a series of handwritten letters of encouragement, letters written by survivors, siblings, children,men, some soldiers-to women who've been recently diagnosed, women who are feeling overwhelmed, scared and out of control. Thus this book is a bound copy of handwritten notes, pictures and poems, addressed to "Dear Friend" or "Dear Sister".
Many of the notes say the same thing- you are strong, you can beat this, you are not alone, you are brave, my mother beat cancer, my grandmother beat cancer, you will too. I think the idea is wonderful, to hand letters of encouragement to women fighting cancer. But I couldn't help feeling that there is something missing here. Not everyone beats cancer, and people know this. Women know that they may not survive it. And there doesn't seem to be any acknowledgement of this truth in this book. I know that it is culturally and societally appropriate to spread messages of "positivity" and hope, but when there is a denial of the reality of possible death, it just screams something out to me .. The big elephant in the room is stomping. Won't anyone have the courage to mention possible death? Won't anyone mention what *every* woman thinks of when she is diagnosed? And while it is encouraging to hear positive outcomes, there is something sorely missing when the obvious isn't stated: yes, you may die from this....
I guess that would make a lousy book though. The pretty handwriting (in some cases) just doesn't fit with bad news. I admire Gina L. Mulligan for all the work she put into this project. And I hope it encourages many women.… (more)

Author Thomas Galdwell takes a working vacation to the all new Hotel New Coronado in San Diego to find inspiration for his newest novel. While there, he bumps into a young woman, Mary Harting. Mary intrigues Thomas with her spirit and kind nature. However, Mary's father is the railroad tycoon Charles Harting and has other plans for Mary that do not involve Thomas. Thomas and Mary try their best to continue their relationship behind her father's back while Thomas attempts to finish two more novels on a tight deadline and unravel the mystery of the man Mr. Harting has chosen for Mary.

Told in epistolary form, Thomas Galdwell's letters tell the story of a writer, a romance and a mystery in the late 19th Century. All of the letters are written from by Thomas and are sent to his agent, his family, his friends and Mary. At first, this fact threw me since I am used to seeing both sides of a correspondence. Since there was only one side of the story being presented, I filled in a lot in my head, especially about Mary. We are given glimpses into her personality when Thomas uses quotes or relays a story, but I would have liked to know a little more about her. Through his letters, Thomas' character shines and I was taken on an emotional roller coaster as he dealt with deadlines, love, villains and interesting neighbors. The ending through me for a loop but also made everything make sense.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (more)

What an interesting concept for a book! Writing a novel in the form of letters can't be easy and to be successful at that. From Across the Room is told completely in the form of letters. Mostly from the main character, Thomas Gadwell. He has met a young lady, Mary Harting and is smitten. The problem is, her father absolutely forbids them to see each other. He is currently writing his second novel and Mary's father feels that that is not a good way to make a living.

So in the form of the letters, he writes to Mary or darling Mary as he calls her, his editor Avery, Henry, his mentor, and his father. These letters are one-sided but as Thomas writes these letters we learn what the person who receives the letters writes back had to say in their own letters. His main purpose I think in writing these letters is to get advice on how he is to get in Mary's fathers good graces and what he should do to pursue his goal of having Mary for his own.

The reader learns about his visits to Mary and her family, his visits home when his father has a heart attack and his visits to his friends. The writing is very descriptive to the time, 1888-89, how Mary is restricted in how she can visit Thomas, although they do meet against her father's wishes.

I was totally impressed with this book, I am generally not a fan of this era and thought that I would have a hard time reading it. That did not happen, I got totally immersed in the story and have to say that the ending caught me off guard. I really enjoyed the book and highly recommend it. You won't be disappointed!

@hfvbt @GinaLMulligan @GinaLMulligan… (more)