Book Review: Fall of Marigolds

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner - read for a book club discussion


There are two main characters, separated by 100 years. One is a nurse who works at the hospital on Ellis Island in 1911. The other is a young mother who works in a fabric shop in NY (2011). They each in turn have possession of the same scarf with marigolds on it. The scarf is a symbolic piece that moves through the whole story.

Both characters have loved and lost. They are searching for ways to carry on with life after their loss and in fact, for permission to carry on with life and what to do with their memories and broken hearts. Indirectly, the scarf plays a role in their search for answers.

I enjoyed reading this book; it was entertaining and interesting. I liked the setting of Ellis Island. The story poses some life questions that one can ponder, as well as ethical questions causing one to wonder "what would I do in that situation?". Not a book of great depth, I would rate this as a good, fun read for its time, and containing some good discussion points.

This is Todd Bol, the founder of the Little Free Library movement. He died of cancer in mid October, 2018. His love of literacy and community has spread all around the world with his little libraries and the sharing of books.