All the Forgivenesses

Elizabeth Hardinger’s magnificent debut novel “All the Forgiveness,” is set at the turn of the 20th century in the Midwest and Appalachia. It depicts a close-knit portrayal of the struggles and victories of a strong farming family driven by the iconic figure of Albertina “Bertie” Winslow. As Bertie grows up on a hardscrabble rural Kentucky farm, her mother Polly teaches her useful skills. Bertie manages love, remorse, and sadness while taking on the role of caregiver for her younger siblings after a tragic event. This engrossing book, which draws inspiration from real-life tales, examines family loyalty, atonement, and fortitude.