“Come to the window.” She pulled him by the hand.
The window of the room looked out to the houses and trees of the neighborhood, all of which must have been so familiar to him. She opened the pane and saw him breathe deeply of the crisp fall air.
“Look out there. Do you remember? The trees are almost bare now. No, keep them open. Let yourself see through me.”
He did.
“The sky today is dark, but it is not one of those dull, gray fall days. There are a few clouds that are almost black—rain clouds, maybe even snow, though it still feels too early for snow. Then there are lighter clouds, soft and white. Sometimes these pass in front of the dark clouds. I even see a few glimpses of blue.”
She saw Glenn point his open eyes upward. Just then, the sun broke unexpectedly from behind one of the darkest of the afternoon clouds.
“How lovely! The sun just burst through. It will only last a moment, but try to remember how the red brick houses look in the sunshine, with all the bare tree branches throwing spidery shadows on the street.”
“Yes. I knew the sun had broken through a moment before you said it. I felt it even though I didn’t see it.”
Elsa looked at him eagerly. “Was it the light? Did you see light?”
“I think so. At least I felt it.”
The sun moved back behind the cloud.
“Be patient, my love. Let the light be the first step. I believe one day when I look at you, you will look back.”
Elsa leaned her head against Glenn’s shoulder. The moment had given her such joy, and made her feel ready for the patience his recovery would take. Good things always took a lot of work—she’d learned that from a young age. Also, the good things in life were always tinged with a little sorrow. She felt closer to Glenn now since he knew that, too. She did not mind that their lives still had a little pain—this war could not be dispelled quickly. Its mark would remain, both on their house and on the world. Joy was not in having a perfect life. True joy was to have your own bit of happiness and someone to share it with.
She gazed at Glenn’s face, his eyes open in the cool air of the open window. There was not sight in his eyes, but she did see something different in his face from when she’d first come here an hour ago. It was hope. With hope, Glenn’s belief in the world and his place in it would come. Elsa knew this. Perhaps his sight would return, perhaps not. Either way, he would find his purpose again. She knew this man she loved would find a way.
The End Is only but the Beginning...
Suggested Questions for
Book Clubs and Discussion Groups
1. How has the immigrant experience changed from the 1910s compared with today? In what ways is it similar?
2. In what ways does Elsa resist the expectations that are placed on her: by her parents, by society, by herself?
3. How does Elsa's experience as an uneducated immigrant in America differ from Sonya's? Why?
4. Was the women's general strike a success? What can we learn today from the women in the garment industry in the 1910s?
5. Elsa experienced two drastic changes, first moving from Germany to the United States, and later moving from the Lower East Side to the high society of Long Island. How did these changes prepare her for what was to come? Have you ever experienced a change so extreme and if so, how did that change you as a person?
6. What changes and why with the dynamic between Dafne, Elsa and Glenn when they move to Manhattan?
7. What do you think motivated Dafne to cheat on Glenn? Did she simply get carried away, or was something deeper going on?
8. What allows Elsa to come to terms with her feelings for Glenn? If she hadn't been through the earlier experiences, do you think she would have had the courage to act on those feelings?
9. Do you think the United States was right to join World War One? Why or why not?
10. What do you think it would have been like to be an ethnic German living in America during either of the World Wars?
11. What inspired Glenn to save Hal's life, even after he had been betrayed by him? Would you have acted the same way in that situation?
12. How have the expectations of their families and society changed for Elsa and Glenn after the war? How has his injury changed both of their idea of what's most important?
13. Do you think this is a timely read? Does it reflect some of the issues that immigrants are currently experiencing?
About the Author
Love of Finished Years, a debut novel by Gregory Erich Phillips won the Chaucer Award in historical fiction, as well as the Grand Prize for best book of the year across all genres from Chanticleer Reviews while still in manuscript form. It was then picked up by the Sillan Pace Brown Group to be published January 2018.
Some people have called the author a renaissance man, because of his diverse life experiences. He works by day as a mortgage banker, and in his spare time plays the violin, sings in cathedral choirs, and moonlights as a tango performer (I have danced on stages in San Francisco, New York City and Seattle).
Writing novels has been his passion since he was in high school as he was inspired by his literary family. He enjoys researching historical context for his unforgettable characters to explore.
He lives in Seattle, Washington with his wife, Rachel: his wife, his tango partner, and his muse.
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