Tuesday was publication day for Ellen Marie Wiseman’s fifth novel, THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN (Kensington). We were fortunate to meet Ellen in May at BookExpo in New York City and get an autographed copy, that we’re giving away to one lucky Thoughts on This ‘n That follower.
THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN begins in the Dickstonian-esque lurid world of a Dickensian-era traveling circus. It’s 1931 and Lilly Blackwood’s mother believes her daughter is a “monster” and keeps her locked in a narrow attic bedroom. Lilly is only able to see the world through one grimy window. Her mother says it’s for Lilly’s protection, that people would be fearful of her. But one night, after being in the attic for ten years, Lilly’s mother takes her from the safety of her room and outside Blackwood Manor. That night her mother sells her and Lilly becomes a sideshow for a traveling circus.
Lilly’s older sister, unaware of Lilly, Julia flees Blackwood Manor because her parents were severly strict and abusive. More than ten years later, Julia inherits her parents home and returns to the place with the terrible memories. But while trying to put those disturbing years with her parents behind her, she discovers a hidden attic room. In that tiny room, she discovers pictures of circus scenes and a curious young girl. In her heart, she knows there is much more to the pictures and she begins her search to solve that mystery.
THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN is about family secrets and a horrific betrayal. The narrative alternates between Lilly and Julia’s stories. At times heartbreaking (keep tissues close by), THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN has brief moments of hope. Ellen’s prose are simply beautiful and lyrical, but I found myself completely drained after reading this novel. It was as if I’d listened to Gustav Mahler for an hour, as opposed to something light and playful by Mozart. Both are uniquely brilliant, but each leave you with a different feeling.
On a personal note, Ellen has two Shih-Tzus, and being I have my rescue, Sassy, I feel a kindred spirit to her. We Shih-Tzu owners are a rather grateful bunch for our “little lions.”.
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Ellen Marie Wiseman discovered her love of reading and writing while attending first grade in one of the last one-room schoolhouses in upper New York State.
Her debut novel THE PLUM TREE—a WWII story about a young German woman trying to save the love of her life, a Jewish man—was inspired by her mother’s childhood in Germany during the Second World War. The book was published in 2013. Wiseman’s second novel, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND, published in 2014, centers on the now-shuttered Willard Asylum for the Insane in Ovid, near Seneca Lake, New York, and involves a woman wrongly committed. COAL RIVER , Wiseman’s 2016 novel, revolves around the efforts of a young woman to help at-risk workers in the Pennsylvania col mines.
Originally from Three Mile Bay, New York, Wiseman lives on Lake Ontario with her husband, two spoiled Shih-Tzus and a rescued Labrador. She loves to read, cook, garden, go to drive-ins, travel and spend time with her grandchildren.
We have one signed copy of THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN to giveaway. Just tell us which of Ellen’s novels is your favorite. We’ll announce a winner next week.
I haven’t read any of her novels yet, but they all sound amazing!
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Thank you! I hope you’ll read them soon! 🙂
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It is so difficult to pick which is my favorite. If I have to pick one, I would say “The Life She Was Given”. (Shih-tzus are adorable. I have on “Devil Dog” a Bichon Frise, Alex)
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Thank you, Linda!! 🙂
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I have not read any of her work, however, from the descriptions, I can say I feel I would like some of the books quite a bit….this one for sure! Thanks for the opportunity! Your doggie is adorable. We recently lost our little mini daschund and I still almost hear her little footsteps.
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Thank you, Bonnie. I would love it if you’d check out my books!! And I’m so very sorry about your little dog. It’s so heart-breaking to lose a fur baby. 😥
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I have not read Ellen’s books yet but would love to do so. Thank you for introducing me to a new author.
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I hope you will! Thank you!
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Haven’t yet but would love to!
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Thank you! I hope you do! 🙂
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The Plum Tree is my favorite novel since I am Jewish, enjoy WW11 novels and this book is meaningful and profound. I have read all of Ellen’s books which are memorable and would love this new release.
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Thank you so much for your kind words about THE PLUM TREE. I’m so glad you found it meaningful. I hope you’ll check out THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN too! 🙂
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This is a book I’m really looking forward to reading.
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Thank you!!
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Can you believe that I haven’t read any of Ellen’s books, yet they are all on my TBR list?
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Oh my!! Well, I hope you will put them at the top of the pile! LOL 😉
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I have yet to read one of her books , but this one sounds amazing! Thanx for the chance!
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I loved What She Left Behind. Now I need to read more of her books!
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Thank you!! I hope you will! 🙂
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I am looking forward to reading this book by Ellen. I have read some reviews and it has already spoken to my heart. Thanks for chance!
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Thank you! I hope you’ll check it out. 🙂
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I am an Ellen newby… heard a lot of buzz about this one!
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Yay! I hope you’ll check it out and become an Ellen old. LOL
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This new one sounds good! I enjoyed Coal River. Thank tou!
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Thank you!! I’m glad you enjoyed COAL RIVER!
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I am new to Ellen’s novels but I have heard such great things about this book and am dying to read it!
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Yay!! I hope you get to read it! 🙂
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The life she was given
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Thank you!
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Ellen is a new author to me. I really enjoyed the description of the book and I really would like to read “The Life She Was Given”.
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Thank you! I hope you’ll check it out! 🙂
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I actually have all of her books (except this one) but have not read them yet! Have heard wonderful things about all of them!! Thanks for the chance.
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Thanks! I hope you get a chance to read my books! 🙂
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This is a new to me author. I’d love to read her books!
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I’d love it too! LOL
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The Plum Tree
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Ellen is a new author for me. I’ve recently heard good things about her book. Thanks for the chance to win!!
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Yay for hearing good things! I hope you’ll check out THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN! 🙂
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She is a new author to me I have not read any of her books yet. They all look really good. Would love to win this book I heard such good things about it. Thank you for the chance Cindy Roesel.
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Thank you! I hope you’ll check out my books! 🙂
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I haven’t read any of her novels as of yet, but after reading this, I now want to read them all. I love finding new to me authors. And apparently we are pretty much neighbors because I too live by Lake Ontario in New York. Thank you for the chance at winning one.
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Hi neighbor!! I hope you will read my books!! 🙂
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I haven’t read any but really want to read this one!! I’m a Shih Tzu momma myself. My Scout will be 8 in September! He’s the sweetest boy around!!
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I hope you get to read this one too! Hi Scout!!
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I haven’t had the pleasure to read any but this book looks really interesting!
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Thanks! I hope you get to read it!
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This is a new author for me. I think I’d enjoy reading this book.
Dianna
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I think you would too! LOL Thanks!
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I have not read any of Ellen Marie Wiseman work. I enjoy learning of ‘new to me’ authors and look forward to readying this book. Thank you~
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I hope you get to read my books! Thanks!
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I love all of Ellen’s Books. My favorite is The Plum Tree.
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Thank you so much!
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Afraid Ellen is new to me, but her list looks excellent and I’d love to read this one!!
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Thank you!! I hope you get to read this one too!
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Really looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance.
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Thanks!
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Mine would definitely be: COAL RIVER. My Dad’s Grandfather came to live in Pennsylvania from Lithuania in the early 1900’s. He and his wife lived in Carbondale, and he worked in the mines. It was the only kind of work he knew; having worked as a coal miner in the Old World. Life was very difficult. My grandfather, along with his brothers, had to bring home a bag full of coal everyday. They’d pick it up off of the mountainsides. My Grandpa followed his Dad into the mines after he finished school. His Mother ran a boarding house for miners, so that the boys could finish scool. A privilege, indeed, in that place at the time. My Dad remembers when my Grandpa broke his back in a mine cave in. He never wrked in the mines again.
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Wow! What a story!! Thanks for sharing.
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I haven’t read any of Ellen’s work yet but The Plum Tree sounds like something I would love. I am looking forward to reading The Life She Was Given as well. Thank you for the chance to win!
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Thank you! I hope you’ll check out THE PLUM TREE and my other books as well!
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There’s a vast estate and Dickensian squalor and skullduggery–sounds like a winner!
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And I’ll say this book, “The Life She Was Given,” is my favorite by the author, since I know I will enjoy it!
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Thank you so much for the wonderful review and for spreading the word about my new book, THE LIFE SHE WAS GIVEN!!! And yes, I’m beyond grateful for my little lions, Izzy & Bella!! Love them so much! Sassy is a cutie!
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no fav; haven’t read any
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ELLEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH for responding to our readers comments! We can’t wait for your next novel. xxx
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