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Not a popular opinion, but I just thought this was so-so. I couldn't stand Bernice and hated reading her POV. This is a two person POV, Pia and Bernice. Set during the Spanish Flu Epidemic in Philadelphia.

#offtheshelf 2023 @Tove_Reads @Andrew65
#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

A little slow at times. Also, a little gory. Might be hard to read post pandemic. Makes you appreciate the ease of COVID pandemic- thank you Amazon and Instacart lol

Book 106

The Orphan Collector is a fictional novel set in Philadelphia in the early 1900s during the flu pandemic. Pia, a young child whose dad is fighting in the war, becomes the sole caretaker of her infant twin brothers after her mom dies from the virus. Berniece, a distraught neighbor of Pia's, struggles with the death of her husband from the war and her baby from the virus.

As you will soon see, I love a good orphan story.

This was a doozy. I almost stopped a couple times because it got me so down. During the flu epidemic in Philadelphia, we follow two main characters: Pia, a German immigrant girl, and Bernice, a woman who takes children (often orphans) and sells them off. It‘s heartbreaking, and harder I think now with our own pandemic. Fortunately it ended well (well enough, anyway), and I would recommend.

This book didn‘t work for me. I felt the characters were flat; I was not at all hooked into the story - I found it tedious. I would let days go by or would pick it up, read a sentence and ...put it back down. Do I not like plot plot plot? Sigh. Marking this so-so, but truthfully, I wanted to bail. What I ended up doing was reading the last 20-30 pages, commented to myself that the book is TOOOO long, got annoyed by how many times the phrase 👇🏼

Thank you:

#WINDSOFMARCH
@eggs

Today‘s Prompt: BLITHE

You will not feel sorry for Bernice because of her deceitful, unethical, uncaring (BLITHE) ways.

FANTASTIC BOOK - Have you read it?

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yxtfqnor

Set in Philadelphia during the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918, it was intriguing to read this book during Covid-19. There was a bit of magical realism that the story didn‘t really need but all in all I enjoyed this one a lot.

A little rhyme used during the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.

#YABuddyRead folks who read A Death Struck Year may want to check this one out.

I‘ve been doing this with my kids since my 24-year-old was a toddler. I just did it to my 17-year-old the other day and she asked me if I had made that up. I told her yes. But apparently I am not the only one who does this with their kiddos.

When the Spanish flu sweeps through Philadelphia 13 year old Pia is left to care for her twin baby brothers alone. She‘s forced to leave them to search for food but becomes sick before she can get back to them. When she does return, they‘re gone. She spends the next 5 years searching for them, never willing to give up.

Also, I don‘t think I‘ve ever disliked a character as much as I did Bernice 😡

I started The Orphan Collector when I woke up this morning, and although I‘m only in chapter 2, I think it‘s going to be a winner. Side note, am I the only one that loves reading a solid pandemic novel even more during covid?! 😂

Now @Cinfhen has started Betty, so I‘m switching over to FINALLY give Betty a read! 🙌🏻

#LMBPC Round 11 Group J Historical Fiction!! I am very excited to read this genre!

Here are my suggestions.
@DarcysMom @ncsufoxes @EliNeedsMoreShelves

End of 2020 goals

This book was amazing! I could NOT put it down and lost so many hours of sleep and it was absolutely worth it! It's definitely one of my favorites!

This book is the best one yet by this author and she writes some very good books. It‘s such an emotional and touching story. It will leave you breathless. It‘s filled with things that really did happen and the young girl Pia was so likable. She never, ever, gives up. I loved her.
Full review here: https://tinyurl.com/ybc4gwxd
Ellen Marie Wiseman

Thank you to Silver's Reviews (Elizabeth P.) for this prompt.
What was your favorite?

It‘s 1918, and the Spanish flu is running rampant.

THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR is an outstanding novel that touches on human empathy as well as people taking advantage of others.

Have you joined in sharing your favorite book from each month of 2020?

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yxtfqnor

@ellenmariewiseman

I loved this book so much. I think it may be her best yet. The Spanish flu sweeps through Philadelphia. Pia runs out of food and leaves her brothers in a safe place while she goes to find more. She wakes up in a church several days later having recovered from the flu. Where are her brothers? So good.

#BookSpinBingo square 7
@TheAromaofBooks

Absolutely loved this historical fiction book set during the 1918 Spanish Flu. Hits pretty close to home but is also written so well! Kept me up late reading because I couldn‘t put the book down! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #arc

Full review on Goodreads!

This book is hitting a little too close to home right now! I didn‘t even realize it was about the Spanish Flu when I started reading it. 🤦🏽‍♀️ Guess it wont be an escape from our current problems.

As much as I hated one of the characters and how bittersweet the end was, it was a really well written story about Pia, a young German girl, who survived the #SpanishFlu but who lost years of being with her family because of it. Warning for an unrepentant xenophobic character, descriptive mass deaths, separation of families, and child deaths

5hrs for #24b4Monday @jb72 @Andrew65 @SumisBooks

Oh god I hate this woman SO MUCH, I want to stop reading, her POV is so disgusting but I also feel like I need to know what's going to happen 🤕🤕🤕 #historicalfiction #epidemic #spanishflu

On the one hand, I'm glad she went to go check, on the other...I just don't like her. Bernice is really prejudice and I feel she's way too fixated on the twins, I'm afraid of what she'll do and where that will leave Pia 🙁🙁🙁

#historicalfiction #spanishinfluenza #epidemic #gore #death

This is a heartbreaking and immersive piece of fiction. I struggle to get into most historical fiction that doesn‘t include mystery or horror, but I did not find this one difficult to stay engaged with at all.

My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3246892322

5 stars

Love love love this book.
I highly recommend it. It‘s in my top 5 favorite reads of 2020. This is my first time reading a book by Ellen Marie Wiseman but it won‘t be my last. Fantastic

Only 25 pages in and loving it!
The Orphan Collector
By Ellen Marie Wiseman

Loving this cooler weather right now!! What a perfect night to relax and read while enjoying the fresh air!! #whatagreatnight #lovingeverymoment #theorphancollector #ellenmariewiseman

What a surprise today!!

I was expecting a book and received this wonderful promotional box for Ellen Marie Wiseman‘s FABULOUS book about the 1918 pandemic.

So thrilled.

♥️ Thank you @kensingtonbooks ♥️

If you haven‘t read this book yet, you need to.

MY REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yxtfqnor

@ellenmariewiseman

Overall a solid pick. It was interesting to read about the atmosphere in 1918 Philadelphia-dealing with the Spanish flu, especially considering our current state of affairs. Possibly a bit overdone at times, and Bernice was just too evil. It is saddening to imagine that children were actually treated this way during this time.

It‘s such an emotional and touching story. It will leave you breathless. It‘s filled with things that really did happen and the young girl Pia was so likable. She never, ever, gives up.
The author shares NOTES at the end that are so worth reading. It‘s very obvious she put a lot of work and research into this book. I think it was so well done and the emotions are so real. It‘s just an all around great book.

Y‘all! This book is amazing. Check out my review https://reecaspieces.com/2020/08/05/the-orphan-collector-by-ellen-marie-wiseman-...

HAPPY LAUNCH DAY

#TheOrphanCollector by Ellen Marie Wiseman offers a vivid portrait of life in America during the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic.

You‘ll be amazed to read about how things have – and have not – changed since the last time a global pandemic brought the world to its knees!

MORE INFORMATION:

#TheOrphanCollector
#EllenMarieWiseman
#KensingtonBooks
#spanishflu1918

https://tinyurl.com/y45224r4

@ellenmariewiseman
@kensingtonbooks

Goodreads ARC bookmail win from March just arrived! The Orphan Collector by Ellen Marie Wiseman released on 7/28/2020

Of the 75 books I have read so far this year, this is one of the best! The writing quickly pulled me in, and I became totally lost in the story. The pacing of the story is superb! It is a complex book, introducing us to a wide array of wonderful characters. I am in total awe of the writing in this incredibly special book.

A MUST READ!!

It‘s 1918, and the Spanish flu is running rampant.

A highly recommended book for historical fiction and suspense fans. 5/5

ON SALE: AUGUST 4

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/yxtfqnor

@ellenmariewiseman
@kensingtonbooks

Today‘s #AugustARC will be released on 8/4.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl
"The deadly virus stole unnoticed through the crowded cobblestone streets on a sunny September day, unseen and unheard amidst the jubilant chaos of the Liberty Loan parade."

Thanks for tag @JaneyWaneyB
#thoughtfulthursday @MoonWitch94
🌤 partly sunny, high 78 F , slight chance of showers
🌤 played in my garden , lol😉
🌤 3 books right now The Preacher, The Orphan Collector, The Mercies...couldn't make up my mind!!
Who wants to play?? @magyklyXdelish @BarbaraBB @wanderinglynn @AmyK1 @UwannaPublishme @Librarybelle @fandom_hellspawn99 @Princess-Kingofkings

I just finished this marvelous book!!

You will NOT want to miss reading THE ORPHAN COLLECTOR.

I would recommend adding it to your TBR right now.

Historical fiction fans and suspense fans won‘t be able to put it down.

@ellenmariewiseman
@kensingtonbooks
#kensingtonbooks

Most anticipated July releases ~ Check out my new post: https://www.facebook.com/262384764521804/posts/501557680604510/?d=n

BookishFirst has some amazing book giveaways this week! I‘m fortunate to have an ebook review copy of The Half Sister already but I won‘t complain if I win a physical copy!

I recommend checking this site out! It‘s an easy way to win books that you get to read and review BEFORE they are published!

If you go to www.bookishfirst.com and join because of this post, please let them know that I sent you by using my referral code: d9c86cb41f080f1fc