As Bright as Heaven

by Susan Meissner

Book Overview

From the acclaimed author of The Last Year of the War comes a novel set during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, telling the story of a family reborn through loss and love.

In 1918, Philadelphia was a city teeming with promise. Even as its young men went off to fight in the Great War, there were opportunities for a fresh start on its cobblestone streets. Into this bustling town, came Pauline Bright and her husband, filled with...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399585974
• ISBN13: 9780399585975
• Release Date: January 2019
• Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.0" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Only read part of it....

I started to read this book and enjoyed the first 40 pages...but the book was not in the best of condition. It must have been in a damp place for an extended time as it was so smelly I finally had to just toss it in the trash. Mildew or mold whatever, it was smelling up the whole room. Will have to order another copy.

Absolutely gorgeous!

I LOVED this book! Highly recommend it!

A Bright Light

I loved that you could tell the author researched about the Spanish flu before writing this novel. This book has you crying due to sadness and happiness. It gives to true meaning that while sad horrible things happen in life, there will always be a happy following afterwards. My copy even had a note from a family or friend talking about how Spanish flu was a part of their family history.

It gets better

The cover of this books drew me in immediately. How eye-catching it is. It makes you wonder what the woman in the picture is all about. The story starts out when a woman of 3 girls gives birth to a surprisingly quiet, beautiful baby boy. They find out the reason for his subdued, sweet temperament soon. Soon after the family receives an offer to move to the city (during WWII) so the husband could work for and eventually inherit a funeral parlor. As the main character decides whether or not she wants to travel closer to the war-torn city, she contemplates Death. The writing style was a but off-putting at first, for me, but I quickly acclimated to the author's style and started to enjoy it.

All the Stars

All the stars for this book that I could not put down and read in a day. Meissner tells us a heart wrenching story of the Brights who have moved to Philadelphia with the hope of a better life. What they get is heartbreak from the war overseas and the horrible influenza plague that has hit the city. • Wonderfully written and a family who is 100% unforgettable, Meissner takes us on a feel all the feels ride. Each Bright daughter has their own story that made me unable to stop reading. Each Bright girl made me smile. Each Bright girl made me cry. Each Bright girl will be read by many because I will recommend this book to anyone who will listen.

Often heartbreaking tale that shows the strength of the human spirit and the power of hope.

As Bright as Heaven is a story of love and loss and tragedy, but most importantly - hope. 1918 - the Bright family has relocated to Philadelphia from Allentown, PA, to live with Mr. Bright’s uncle and take over the family’s funeral business. Brimming with optimism in the face of such newfound prosperity, the Brights settle in and quickly adapt to their new lives and routines. But their routines and that new feeling of comfort is short-lived as the Great War is just beginning, the drafts have started, and Mr. Bright along with several beloved friends and neighbors are called to serve. On the heels of this tragedy, the Brights and the world at large are in the crosshairs of a new and invisible enemy - the Spanish Flu. As soon as I saw “Spanish flu”, this was a book I definitely wanted to get my hands on. Hailed as the one of the worst epidemics in human history, the Spanish flu of 1918 killed an estimated 50-100 million people in countries all over the world. An unimaginable and unfathomable tragedy, and Meissner deftly weaves in historically accurate details, making this fictional tale feel a bit more realistic. As Bright as Heaven is a story heavily laden with loss and tragedy and heartbreak, but it also showcases the strength and the resilience of the human spirit. The characters in this book have all been touched by death and their ability and sheer desire to endure in the face of such suffering was definitely a bright spot in this otherwise bleak and heart-wrenching tale. Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be looking forward to discovering other books by this author.