About the Book
"Lowry's novel offers humor, sharp social commentary, startling twists, and a satisfying conclusion" -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Ann Lowry weaves a miracle of storytelling . . . seamlessly blending past and present and the complications of gender, infidelity, and family battles . . ." -Randy Susan Meyers, international bestselling author of The Murderer's Daughters
"This novel will enrage you, it will make you laugh and cry, and it will broaden your empathy a thousand miles. Tremendous." -Peter Geye, author of The Ski Jumpers
Rachel Jackson's idyllic life takes a dramatic turn when she discovers a woman's scarf in her politician husband's computer bag. But in an election year, seeking answers to questions of infidelity is not an option. When her mother gives her a family heirloom, a travel trunk owned by an ancestor, she finds a distraction. As she immerses herself in its contents, she discovers a woman whose life is vastly different from her own. Or is it? Determined to dispel the notion that her ancestor Marit was insane, Rachel sets out to unveil her unknown story. In the interwoven narratives of these two women, who are bound by blood and a shared struggle, The Blue Trunk is a poignant exploration of identity, love, and unwavering strength.
About the Author :
Ann Lowry, PhD, has spent her career dedicated to helping others navigate communication and resolve conflicts. She is fascinated with relationships, discord, and the intricacies of the human condition. Alongside her passion for fiction, she has contributed to academic journals, ghostwritten two nonfiction books, penned thought-provoking opinion pieces, crafted engaging content for online platforms, and analyzed and written on the federal management of disasters. She lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Review :
"Ann Lowry weaves a miracle of storytelling in The Blue Trunk, seamlessly blending past and present and the complications of gender, infidelity, and family battles across Norway and America. As a young woman searches for answers to her troubled, seemingly unfixable marriage, she finds solace and strength in the story of her forebears. This decades-long tale, influenced by figures from gangsters to politicians, finds its heart in the connection between an aunt and niece who've never met but whose lives are tightly intertwined." -Randy Susan Meyers, international bestselling author of The Murderer's Daughters and The Many Mothers of Ivy Puddingstone
"Ann Lowry is a writer to envy, who's written a book for the times we live in while harkening back to the past that brought us here. This story of immigration, identity, family, and marriage, manages to bring these huge and divergent subjects together in a way that feels intimate and inevitable. This novel will enrage you, it will make you laugh and cry, and it will broaden your empathy a thousand miles. Tremendous." -Peter Geye, author of The Ski Jumpers
"The Blue Trunk is a transformative story that weaves two women's stories together, pulling you into a journey filled with heartfelt emotion, strength, and transformation. Lowry is an adventurous storyteller who masterfully creates depth within her characters, making us feel like we've known them forever. The Blue Trunk is a beautiful and seamless read you cannot put down." -Dianne C. Braley, author of The Silence and the Sound, winner of the NYC 2022 Big Book Award
"A gripping story of two women separated by a century, each facing battles that appear vastly different on the surface yet share strikingly similar underpinnings. Lowry delivers a gripping, emotional, and beautifully written read, with characters whose journeys will resonate long after you turn the last page." -Rachel Stone, author of The Blue Iris
"The Blue Trunk carries readers through time in this story of two women whose connection is discovered through a family heirloom in the form of a blue trunk. While Marit's emigration from Norway to America and into a life laden with hardship unfolds over the course of decades, Rachel's struggle over modern-day challenges assumes remarkable reflections to those of her late ancestor. Lowry's protagonists are propelled into their respective relationships and lives, buoyed by the enduring strength of the Sletmo women in this engaging, well-paced novel." -Brenda K. Massman, author of Yet, Here We Are
