A Fall of Marigolds
A beautiful scarf connects two women touched by tragedy in this compelling, emotional novel from the author of As Bright as Heaven and The Last Year of the War.
September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries...and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. What she learns could devastate her—or free her.
September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers...the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. But a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf may open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life.
“[Meissner] creates two sympathetic, relatable characters that readers will applaud. Touching and inspirational.”—Kirkus Reviews
September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries...and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. What she learns could devastate her—or free her.
September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers...the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. But a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf may open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life.
“[Meissner] creates two sympathetic, relatable characters that readers will applaud. Touching and inspirational.”—Kirkus Reviews
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *A Fall of Marigolds* beautifully weaves two women's stories, a century apart, linked by a symbolic marigold-embellished scarf. Reviewers ...
I read this book because I wanted to see the significance of the marigold. It is a very resilient flower that refuses to give up. I recently found out that the marigold is the “flower of the dead”. I wasn’t entirely thrilled with this story line but it was an interesting read.
I agree with those who would like to give this book 3.5 stars. I particularly enjoyed the history of the hospitals on Ellis Island.
A little schmaltzy, but I'm here for it. Interesting interwoven histories between the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire of 1911 and 9/11 and their lasting effect.
I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. Two women a century apart, each witness a horrible tragedy and must learn to move on and ultimately love again. I liked Clara's story better-more twists that I didn't see coming. I had never heard of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire so that was interesting also. I didn't find Taryn's story as strong or interesting. Although the scarf is what brings the 2 stories together, I don't think it is a huge part of the story. Most of the time I wasn't even thinking about it.
Interesting backstories but the storyline gets a bet confusing at times. The scarf doesn't play as an important as role as I thought it would.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.