A Parting Glass – A Novel
By Author Tess Banion & Illustrator Paul Flinders
“It was beginning again.
Elizabeth looked around the room from face to face. She saw rage, fear, tears. She saw the monster; his face covered with hair and his nostrils flaring. His feet were heavy and thick, but he looked weak. She needed to run, get to her safe place. She moved back toward the closet and quickly disappeared.”
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~ James A Cox, The Midwest Book Review
“Surrounded by monsters, in her home and at her school, imaginary and real, unwitting heroine Elizabeth O’Sullivan finds a unique way to deal with a not-so-happy childhood and a path to happiness. The reader is allowed a glimpse into Elizabeth’s world of make believe where Gary Cooper becomes her friend, a special nun floats and protects, and a paper saint dances and winks and makes her feel special. A compelling read from beginning to end.”
~ Maureen Carroll
“This is a page turner. I hated to put it down! So descriptive, insightful and charged! The language is colorful and it brings the picture directly to my mind’s eye. This is my favorite phrase from the book: “Hurt sometimes came when she least expected it, based on some unknown feeling, and popped up like a jack-in-the-box. Hurt and fear, tied together.”
~ Connie Shidler
“I read A Parting Glass all day yesterday. I did not pass GO, I did not collect $200. I only ate once, I did not pee because I was slightly dehydrated from non-stop reading. I could not put it down because I wanted to know more about the lives of this family, these kiddos. I wanted to know how their story ended.
“It was light and happy while at the same time heavy and dark. The characters were distinct, easily recognizable and consistent. I felt I knew them immediately. Their behavior and thoughts were insightful, delightful and sometimes heartbreaking. I laughed at out loud (here…alone in my house) several times or thought “that’s a good one”—I love the main character, Elizabeth, for being her perky, spacey and special little self.”
~ Joyce Cussimanio
“Each character was fully realized, which is no small accomplishment when you are writing about a family with many children. I do believe the author hit this one out of the park as we used to say at our old softball games.”
~ Kathy Sutton
“The relatable and comforting (at times painful and deeply penetrating) reliability to the Midwest catholic family life was truly charming and lovely to read. Like the feeling of being in a space you remember but have never been. I loved the description of thoughts turned into statements and the charming way things were described; the use of adjectives and descriptors, and subtle and witty humor. An enthralling journey of how a family dealt with pain and happiness together.”
~ Liz Calloni
“I am blown away by this touching, strong, beautifully-written story. I want to wrap my arms around this family (not Junior) who I feel I have known but yet not really known. I honestly did not want to put the book down once I got started reading. As I read, I experienced a sense of concern and sadness that was quickly replaced with anticipation, excitement hope and finally joy. It’s a book I will long remember! Well done!”
~ Debbie Wilson
