Sofia tried to make the best of it for the next couple of days, but no matter where she went there were always hordes of foul-smelling people reeking of perspiration packed tightly beside her like herring in a barrel. In good weather, everyone crowded up on deck and the men smoked pungent cigarettes, making it impossible to breathe the clean ocean air. Sofia had taken the aroma of sweet, fresh air for granted all her life, but now she hungered for just a tiny whiff of hay or pine trees or even the barnyard.Austin explores the themes of family and finding a home. Three women characters fighting and winning against adversity send a message of women’s empowerment. She underlines, through Sofia, the facts of God’s love and forgiveness. The story also gives insights into Swedish culture and how difficult being a non-English speaking immigrant must be. The way Austin depicts the American Swedish community in Chicago felt altogether believable with its old-world village mentality.
If you’re looking for a captivating read that will whisk you away to a time and place 100 years ago, Until We Reach Home fits the bill. At 428 pages you might even be able to stretch it out over several days – if you can bear to set it down.
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