Book Review - Emily's Quest By Cora Alyce Seaman

A Journey In Search of Self

Cora Alyce Seaman writes with feeling as she takes the reader back in time to the early years of the twentieth century and escorts them through to the mid-century point. “Emily’s Quest” is a remarkable story. It is the fictional life of Emily Whitfield Carmichael. During her young childhood Emily’s parents are the fatal victims of a flu epidemic.

Shortly after their death Emily is separated from her twin sister Charlotte. Emily is faced with the realization that she has become the victim of her circumstances. Emily’s earliest years were spent in a coal mining town in Pennsylvania.

As a new bride, right out of high school, Emily and her husband move to a small mountain community in the hills of Eastern Kentucky. Her young husband, Eustis Carmichael, enlisted in the U. S. Navy and became a career man. He was stationed in the Great Lakes region. After several years of marriage Emily is finally able to join him.

The book is fiction, biographical and historical in approach; however, it could be Cora Seaman’s own story. Cora writes with a depth of understanding that project an empathy as she tells of the hardships and struggles Emily faced. She tells of the economic challenges of the era, technical progress, dysfunctional family relationships, friendships, faith, and loneliness with pathos and a poignancy that is both heart wrenching and heartwarming.

In part two of the story Emily is reunited with her twin sister Charlotte. World War II is underway. The United States joined the allied forces and Eustis was sent to the South Pacific. Cora highlights significant events of the wartime era. The years pass quickly for Emily as she is faced with the challenge of dealing with the death of family members, raising her son, and completing the educational qualifications for becoming a teacher. Emily continued to pursue her quest to discover who she really was right up to the surprising dramatic conclusion recounted in the epilogue.

“Emily’s Quest” covers the first half of the Twentieth century and gives the reader a nostalgic glimpse at the struggles faced by the Emily’s of the time. Seaman offers hope and inspiration for facing whatever hurdles the reader may be facing. She gives hope and inspiration to the reader to rise above their circumstances.

Cora Alyce Seaman has included the story telling elements of information, drama, and motivation in this fictional drama. She has created an amazing story with an uplifting challenge.

Book Review - Emily's Quest By Cora Alyce Seaman