After the Fog
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4.1 • 273 Ratings
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
The sins of the mother…
In the steel town of Donora, Pennsylvania, site of the infamous 1948 "killing smog," headstrong nurse Rose Pavlesic tends to her family and neighbors. Controlling and demanding, she's created a life that reflects everything she missed growing up as an orphan. She's even managed to keep her painful secrets hidden from her loving husband, dutiful children, and large extended family.
When a stagnant weather pattern traps poisonous mill gasses in the valley, neighbors grow sicker and Rose's nursing obligations thrust her into conflict she never could have fathomed. Consequences from her past collide with her present life, making her once clear decisions as gray as the suffocating smog. As pressure mounts, Rose finds she's not the only one harboring lies. When the deadly fog finally clears, the loss of trust and faith leaves the Pavlesic family—and the whole town—splintered and shocked. With her new perspective, can Rose finally forgive herself and let her family's healing begin? For every woman who thinks she left her past behind...
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Set in the steel town of Donora, Pa., Shoop's second novel follows hard-drinking, foul-mouthed community nurse Rose Pavlesic as she struggles to maintain control over her family and life. Raised in a "wretched orphanage," Rose compensates for her unfortunate upbringing by excelling as a nurse and encouraging her teenage twins to attend college and escape the mill town. Everything begins to disintegrate, though, when she finds out both children have different plans and her husband loses his job at the mill. Rose's own career is at risk when the new mill superintendent's wife, Mrs. Sebastian, is reluctant to fund the town health clinic. Through her attempts to persuade Mrs. Sebastian by treating her asthmatic daughter, Rose is forced to confront a secret from her own past. Rose's personal drama unfolds as a "killing smog" descends on Donora, forcing her to care for dozens of suffocating townsfolk. As one surprise follows another, each begins to lose its shock value and the novel descends into melodrama. The unexplained smog, an actual event that killed 20 Donora residents and sickened thousands, becomes an afterthought in the background of Rose's family conflicts. Despite its potential, too many twists and subplots crowd the novel, leaving it feeling unfocused.
Customer Reviews
After The Fog
Had a harder time getting in to the story and trying to figure out the family dynamics.
After the Fog
Gritty and real. Mill towns were dirty and filled with hard working, hard drinking men and women. Our country was built on the backs and deaths of immigrants from all nations. The wealthy owners cared nothing for the workers they were expendable. I’m often ashamed of our country when I read about the atrocities dumped on the helpless. Good book and thank you for sharing this dark time I’m history. G
Okay. But too long.
I’m from the coal mining, steel and zinc industries of eastern Pennsylvania. I could relate to a lot in the book, but the characters never felt real or human to me. I was determined to finish the book, so I did. I wish the story had been cut by about half because it would have been a better read. Rose is not a lovable character, even as she changed rapidly during the last chapters. She is more of a stick figure, feeling proud of herself for taking care of the town’s sick. I had the feeling she would revert to her earlier ways. I won’t be getting any of the following books.