From the scandalously short costumes the sisters wear to the fight over womens suffrage, the tumbling turner sisters captures an america on the verge of great social change. Juliette fay is the author of usa today bestseller the tumbling turner sisters, chosen as the costco pennies book club pick, january 2017. The tumbling turner sisters king county library system. I as provided a copy of this book by the publisher and edelweiss in exchange. Juliette fays novel of sisters forced by their ultimate stage mother into this show business world of fanciful facade hiding cutthroat innards reveals americafrom jim crow laws to skirting prohibition. The prose is riveting as the sisters carry their family out of poverty in a time of racially. Heartwarming and surprising, the tumbling turner sisters is ultimately a story of awakeningto unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new american era. Enhance your book club experience vaudeville blossomed from coast to coast from the 1880s to the 1920s, and as juliette fay states in the introduction and the turners learn as they go on the road. To save their family from poverty, the four turner sisters join a company of performers and struggle to find themselves as their acts popularity rises. This wonderful historical novel pays homage to vaudeville while weaving a story around the turner sisters and their many trials, life lessons, failures and successes. The family is in despair when the mother decides that the girls will learn to become acrobats and work the vaudeville circuit.
Its a heartwarming look at a family facing poverty in 1919. Juliette fay tumbles into vaudeville with the tumbling. Now in trade paperback, the tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay is a careening, heartwarming historical novel filled with energetic prose and colorful characters christina baker kline set amidst the tumultuous and thrilling backdrop of 1920s american vaudeville, featuring the four turner sisters and the last chance act that will save their family or seal their fates forever. The situation is impossible after father crushes a hand and cannot work. There is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated. The girls are to become the tumbling turner sisters and make their living on the vaudeville circuit. Its 1919 in a small town in western new york state. The tumbling turner sisters piney woods digital consortium. Entertainment journey back in time with the tumbling turner sisters. The father of four girls in the early 20s finds himself unable to work when he is seriously injured on the job. The prose is riveting as the sisters carry their family out of poverty in a time of racially charged political turmoil. Oct 24, 2016 drawing inspiration from her grandfather, juliette fay truly brought 1920s vaudeville to life in her book the tumbling turner sisters.
In juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters, gert and winnie turner narrate the tragedies and triumphs of their lives, and everything in between. Going on tour certainly gives her a broader view of the world, but by the end of the novel, would you say her life is better. Jun 14, 2016 in juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters, gert and winnie turner narrate the tragedies and triumphs of their lives, and everything in between. Heartwarming and surprising, the tumbling turner sisters is ultimately a story of awakening to unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new american era. To save their family from poverty, the four turner sisters join a company of performers and struggle to find themselves as. Juliette fay s the tumbling turner sisters is just the summer read if, as a kid, you loved tales of resilient, aspirational young americans facing down tough circumstances think louisa may alcott s little women, betty smith s a tree grows in brooklyn, and sydney taylor s allofakind family. Told in trading chapters by the two middle daughters, shy, brainy winnie and headstrong, passionate gert. Jun 14, 2016 the tumbling turner sisters takes you on a wild ride through the glory days of vaudeville, following winnie and gert as they hit the gritty floorboards of backwater theaters, pick themselves up, and strive again toward laughterfilled heights. The year is 1919 and four sisters embark on an unexpected adventureand a lastditch effort to save their family. When the turner patriarch suffers an injury that prevents him from holding a job, his wife and four daughters work on a tumbling act an the tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay is a 2016 gallery books publication. The tumbling turner sisters book central rappahannock. Fays gorgeous prose lends itself to this touching story of the four turner girls, their mother ethel and father frank, and the extended family they acquire as they take the stage during. In 1919, the turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. Her book the tumbling turner sisters is one of my favorite takes on vaudeville.
Its 1919, and in the world of entertainment, vaudeville is king. Set against the turbulent backdrop of american vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventureand a lastditch effort to save their f. Juliette fays charming fourth novel is inspired in part by her own familys history in vaudeville, and she dives into the eras rich history with unbridled enthusiasm. In fays latest novel, four sisters take to the road in pursuit of vaudeville fame and fortune, but soon find the journey bringing them closer to each other and their own personal desires than.
The tumbling turner sisters pierce county library system. The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay for fans of orphan train and water for elephants, a compelling historical novel from one of the best authors of. Netkoff shutterstock our digital editions click here for a video of juliette fay talking about the tumbling turner sisters. Filled with energetic prose and colorful characters you wont soon forget the turner girls. Traveling by train from town to town, teenagers gert, winnie, and kit, and recent widow nell. Now in trade paperback, the tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay is a careening, heartwarming historical novel filled with energetic. The normally mildmannered frank turner, who has got his temper all twisted up about prohibition, marks the occasion by smashing his hand up in a drunken brawl, rendering him unable to work. The turner family the frustrated, dissatisfied mother, almost silent father and four diverse daughters are poor, as in one rent check away from being thrown out on the street. Each chapter goes back and forth between narration by gert and winnie, clearly the strongest characters in the novel and women in the family, offering differing perspectives on their. The tumbling turner sisters, by juliette fay this novel is a delight from beginning to end. She received a bachelors degree from boston college and a masters. The tumbling turner sisters juliette fay 97815014470. The tumbling turner sisters by carolynr see profile 071716 in 1919 the turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by.
The tumbling turner sisters questions for discussion early in the novel, gert muses about what shes willing to do to have a bigger, better life. Compelling characters and meticulous research create an engaging narrative that manages to be both charming and thoughtprovoking. The tumbling turner sisters hawaii state public library. The tumbling turner sisters 1 winnie everything i know i learned in vaudeville. Heartwarming and surprising, the tumbling turner sisters is a story of awakeningto unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new american era. Jun 14, 2016 i suppose by contrast, the tumbling turner sisters is more exciting than little women though i will always love that book, and the narration helps with that. Learn more about the tumbling turner sisters in the district of columbia public library digital collection. The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay librarything.
Some are good, some bad, but all are important to moving forward the lives of our featured sisters. Juliette fay audio books, best sellers, author bio. A graduate of boston college and harvard university, she lives in massachusetts. Fays gorgeous prose lends itself to this touching story of the four turner girls, their mother ethel and father frank, and the extended family they acquire as they take the stage during the vaudeville era. Meanwhile, mother carries on a flirtation with an orangutan handler. The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay, paperback. The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay is a 2016 gallery books publication. Turner fans will enjoy seeing a certain characters return in this book. The tumbling turner sisters explores vaudeville with stunning humanity and sharp humor.
The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay overdrive. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or. The tumbling turner sisters questions for discussion. In 1919 the turner sisters and their parents are barely scraping by. The tumbling turner sisters grand rapids public library. Jun 14, 2016 there is a seamier side to the business, however, and the young women face dangers and turns of fate they never could have anticipated. Kris ten dace y lwai this month, we recommend that you make juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters your next book club pick. Winnie, whose ambition is to go to college and become a doctor, also falls hard for joe. Forced into a life in vaudeville, the four young girls and their mother push the boundaries of propriety to achieve their dreams in a world that doesnt often allow women to have dreams. Which of the vaudeville acts described in the tumbling turner sisters would you most like to see live.
The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay goodreads. The tumbling turner sisters arlington public library. Juliette fays fourth book, the tumbling turner sisters, is the story of four girls who try their hand as an acrobatic act in 1919 vaudeville, in an effort to save their poverty stricken family gallery books 2016. The tumbling turner sisters audiobook listen instantly. The tumbling turner sisters is a romp into the world of vaudeville set in 1919, new york state. The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay book club.
The tumbling turner sisters district of columbia public. Jan 03, 2017 now in trade paperback, the tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay is a careening, heartwarming historical novel filled with energetic prose and colorful characters christina baker kline set amidst the tumultuous and thrilling backdrop of 1920s american vaudeville, featuring the four turner sisters and the last chance act that will save their family or seal their fates forever. Fans of water for elephants will find this historical listen right up their alley. In fays latest novel, four sisters take to the road in pursuit of vaudeville fame and fortune, but soon find the journey bringing them closer to each. For fans of orphan train and water for elephants, a compelling historical novel from one of the best authors of womens fiction library journal. The four turner sisters agree on very few things, but on one point theyre in accord. The tumbling turner sisters historical novel society. The tumbling turner sisters juliette fay im so pleased that i took time to request and read this novel. I loved it so much that i bought another copy for my kindle so i could share it with my mom. Broome countys vaudeville history inspires new novel. In the tumbling turner sisters, 4 girls from johnson city enter world of showbiz in 1919.
The tumbling turner sisters book by juliette fay official. Read a sample click to the right or left of the sample to turn the page. The tumbling turner sisters is predominantly lighthearted and breezy historical fiction, transporting readers back to vaudeville era entertainment and the diversity of acts, gender and race realities, noteworthy current events of the era. The tumbling turner sisters book johnson county library. The tumbling turner sisters san diego county library. Deep down true, shortlisted for the womens fiction award by the american library association. Editions of the tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay. The family is in despair when the mother decides that the girls will.
If you were to blend little women and water for elephants, this is the book youd get. Their father is a lowpaid bootstitcher in johnson city, new york, and the family is always. Her previous novels include the shortest way home, one of library journals top 5 best books of 2012. An interview with juliette fay, author of the tumbling. The turner sisters come tumbling out of this terrific story, full of life, passion, and trouble. Ultimately it is a story of awakeningto unexpected possibilities, to love and heartbreak, and to the dawn of a new american era. Drawing inspiration from her grandfather, juliette fay truly brought 1920s vaudeville to life in her book the tumbling turner sisters. James cagney, singer, dancer, and actor nothing good comes from a knock in the middle of the night. Jul 19, 2016 juliette fays the tumbling turner sisters is just the summer read if, as a kid, you loved tales of resilient, aspirational young americans facing down tough circumstances think louisa may alcotts little women, betty smiths a tree grows in brooklyn, and sydney taylors allofakind family. Juliette fay manages to create a menagerie of people for the girls to learn from. Though each sister at first resists performing, they soon start to see life on the stage as a means of escape, both from their domineering mother and from the limited expectations the world has of them. The tumbling turner sisters is an engaging family story about a littleexplored time in entertainment history.
The tumbling turner sisters by juliette fay mboten. Juliette fay is the bestselling author of five novels, including the usa today bestseller the tumbling turner sisters. A story about four sisters growing up, working together, encouraging each other and trying to find their way in life, the tumbling turner sisters is like a vaudevillian version of little women a correlation made just a little too obvious with the authors mention of the american classic within her own novel, as winnie attempts to read little women, but is bored with it. Eileen stevens set against the turbulent backdrop of american vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventureand a lastditch effort to save their family. Nell, gert, winnie, and kit turner love going to vaudeville shows but have no interest in becoming performers themselves until their household is rocked by tragedy and they are faced with eviction. The tumbling turner sisters takes you on a wild ride through the glory days of vaudeville, following winnie and gert as they hit the gritty floorboards of backwater theaters, pick themselves up, and strive again toward laughterfilled heights. Set against the turbulent backdrop of american vaudeville, four sisters embark on an unexpected adventure and a lastditch effort to save their family.
The tumbling turner sisters audiobook by juliette fay. One of the things i most enjoyed about the tumbling turner sisters were the fascinating people that this family met on their journeys. Jul 01, 2016 broome countys vaudeville history inspires new novel. When the four turner sisters father is suddenly unemployed, mother convinces her four daughters to dreamup an act to take to vaudeville.
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