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theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
The Silver Suitcase by Terrie Todd intriguing novel. Cornelia Faith Simpson is eighty-four years old when she passes away. She leaves behind her daughter, Grace Gladstone and her granddaughter, Benita Gladstone. Benita was particularly close to her grandmother and will miss her dearly. They are cleaning out her house when Grace mentioned the silver suitcase to her daughter. She believes it will be helpful to her and suggests she take it home and look through it. The silver suitcase is actually a trunk that Cornelia kept her favorite treasures in along with her diaries that she started when she was twelve years old. These diaries are just what Benita needs. Benita is going through a rough time. Her husband, Ken is out of work (and not going out and looking for a new job), Benita’s employers pass away (and she may be out of a job), and now the loss of her grandmother. Benita starts reading the diaries and embarks on a journey.
Cornelia started writing diaries at age twelve after her mother passed away. She wrote about her everyday life, her worries, and her secrets. The novel takes us back to 1939 in Roseburn, Manitoba Canada when Cornelia is seventeen. Cornelia had to quit school after the ninth grade because she was needed at home to take care of her father and brother. That summer she meets Henry Roberts and they fall in love. Unfortunately, war is declared and Henry insists on enlisting. Henry is killed in a train accident on his way to Halifax (where he was boarding a ship for England). Cornelia had quit believing in God when her mother died and this just makes things worse. But then an angel shows up. Read The Silver Suitcase to find out how this visitation forever changes Cornelia life and the lives of her descendants.
The Silver Suitcase was a slow starter (and a little confusing) but I ended up liking the novel (more than I thought). The Silver Suitcase is well-written and very interesting. In the beginning it jumps around a little going from generation to generation (or person to person). After a while I got used to it and the novel just flew by. I especially loved the epilogue. It was my favorite part of the book. We get to see how Cornelia’s diary affected other people and their lives. The Silver Suitcase is a Christian novel with many scripture references (not just a historical novel). I give The Silver Suitcase 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).
I received a complimentary copy of The Silver Suitcase from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog, The Avid Reader for more details: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-silver-suitcase.html
Cornelia started writing diaries at age twelve after her mother passed away. She wrote about her everyday life, her worries, and her secrets. The novel takes us back to 1939 in Roseburn, Manitoba Canada when Cornelia is seventeen. Cornelia had to quit school after the ninth grade because she was needed at home to take care of her father and brother. That summer she meets Henry Roberts and they fall in love. Unfortunately, war is declared and Henry insists on enlisting. Henry is killed in a train accident on his way to Halifax (where he was boarding a ship for England). Cornelia had quit believing in God when her mother died and this just makes things worse. But then an angel shows up. Read The Silver Suitcase to find out how this visitation forever changes Cornelia life and the lives of her descendants.
The Silver Suitcase was a slow starter (and a little confusing) but I ended up liking the novel (more than I thought). The Silver Suitcase is well-written and very interesting. In the beginning it jumps around a little going from generation to generation (or person to person). After a while I got used to it and the novel just flew by. I especially loved the epilogue. It was my favorite part of the book. We get to see how Cornelia’s diary affected other people and their lives. The Silver Suitcase is a Christian novel with many scripture references (not just a historical novel). I give The Silver Suitcase 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).
I received a complimentary copy of The Silver Suitcase from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Check out my blog, The Avid Reader for more details: http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-silver-suitcase.html
rstafeil's review against another edition
3.0
Going into reading this book, I didn't realize there would be so much Christian content. I really didn't enjoy this aspect of the book.
lisa11111's review against another edition
3.0
Love the way this book wrapped up! A little up and down on the story, therefore the 3 stars. Once again I’m wishing for 1/2 stars or 6 total. Worth the read though.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
This is a lovely book. I was not expecting the Christian element and am not generally drawing to religious fiction but the characters are well drawn and the story is compelling. It is a gentle book but one I very much enjoyed.
forgemichelle's review against another edition
3.0
I went into this book not knowing anything about what it was about, and I have to say it pleasantly surprised me! I got a bit nervous first, when it launched into the story of how this couple met; as I'm not really a reader of romance, but that was just a way to start off the story and set the scene. The book is much more a look at family, and different relationships in the many generations - including grandmother and granddaughter; siblings, and husband and wife. I liked that it followed all these different stores, woven together by a stack of diaries that are found in an attic. I flew through this, and actually got a little teary at one moment! It is an inspiring story of love, and redemption and I recommend!
betherin02's review against another edition
5.0
http://www.faithfullybookish.com/review/the-silver-suitcase-by-terri-todd/
The Silver Suitcase is a beautiful story about the lives of a grandmother and granddaughter. Cornelia's girlhood, first love, tragedy, early teaching career, and marriage experiences take place in the 1930s and 40s. Her contemporary granddaughter, Benita, copes with her own marriage and financial struggles and begins reading the volumes of Cornelia's journals after her grandmother's death.
Terri Todd has expertly woven five generations of this family into one book from a 2nd and 4th generation point of view. The Silver Suitcase is hard to put down and full of heartache, faith, and triumph. The story appeals to both contemporary and historical fiction fans.
I had the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
The Silver Suitcase is a beautiful story about the lives of a grandmother and granddaughter. Cornelia's girlhood, first love, tragedy, early teaching career, and marriage experiences take place in the 1930s and 40s. Her contemporary granddaughter, Benita, copes with her own marriage and financial struggles and begins reading the volumes of Cornelia's journals after her grandmother's death.
Terri Todd has expertly woven five generations of this family into one book from a 2nd and 4th generation point of view. The Silver Suitcase is hard to put down and full of heartache, faith, and triumph. The story appeals to both contemporary and historical fiction fans.
I had the opportunity to read and review this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
leessa's review
4.0
Good book! I’ve been in a slump. This one has pulled me out! Kept my attention. Throughly enjoyed it. It’s all about a diary about a girls Grandma that was found in a suitcase but I won’t spoil it for you!
saarahn's review against another edition
4.0
I received a copy through NetGalley.
This was wonderful, a tale that withstands the motions of time. A novel about the importance of friendship, forgiveness, love, redemption, acceptance, trust, in the course of one's life.
I adored the grandmother's relationship with her granddaughter: They were so close, and Grams shared such beautiful wisdom through the pages of her diary. The diary itself was a valuable gift, it reunited the family in the most genuine of ways and made such a difference in the lives of so many.
The novel inspired such intrigue, that there were points when I couldn't get enough of Cornelia's lifetime. Whilst I am not a Christian, I do believe in God and Jesus, so it still related to me and I felt this urge to connect with God through this. This novel really did offer such precious lessons.
I only gave it four stars because I felt the novel was incomplete in some ways as though a huge chunk was missing: Stuart never found out about Cornelia's other daughter, nor did Jimmy or her father. It was as though she never faced up the courage to do it, whilst the pages of her diary inspire another young girl to do what she wasn't able to, it came across as slightly hypocritical.
I appreciated the tales of loss, I was nearly teary eyed when Jimmy began calling his niece Corny, mistaking her for his dead sister. It became too much. I sympathised with him, but then rejoiced on the concept o r rather the misguided delusion that ignorance is bliss.
This was wonderful, a tale that withstands the motions of time. A novel about the importance of friendship, forgiveness, love, redemption, acceptance, trust, in the course of one's life.
I adored the grandmother's relationship with her granddaughter: They were so close, and Grams shared such beautiful wisdom through the pages of her diary. The diary itself was a valuable gift, it reunited the family in the most genuine of ways and made such a difference in the lives of so many.
The novel inspired such intrigue, that there were points when I couldn't get enough of Cornelia's lifetime. Whilst I am not a Christian, I do believe in God and Jesus, so it still related to me and I felt this urge to connect with God through this. This novel really did offer such precious lessons.
I only gave it four stars because I felt the novel was incomplete in some ways as though a huge chunk was missing: Stuart never found out about Cornelia's other daughter, nor did Jimmy or her father. It was as though she never faced up the courage to do it, whilst the pages of her diary inspire another young girl to do what she wasn't able to, it came across as slightly hypocritical.
I appreciated the tales of loss, I was nearly teary eyed when Jimmy began calling his niece Corny, mistaking her for his dead sister. It became too much. I sympathised with him, but then rejoiced on the concept o r rather the misguided delusion that ignorance is bliss.
enmcclelland's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. I loved the story and the way it was told, weaving the diary entry throughout the book. I also liked the faith part as I am starting to learn about that myself. However, I didn't appreciate the anti-abortion reference near the end. It was very subtle and the author had every right to put it in. But it jarred me out of the fuzzy feeling that I was having will reading.