The Floor of the Sky

Toby Jenkins is an aging widow on the verge of losing her family's ranch in Pamela Carter Joern's superbly crafted novel, "The Floor Of The Sky". When in the midst of her crises Toby's 16-year-old granddaughter Lila shows up for the summer pregnant, painful decisions about the future must be dealt with as Lila uncovers festering secrets about her grandmother's past. Discoveries that compel Toby to reconsider the ambiguous ties she holds to her embittered sister Gettie, her loyal ranch hand George, her not-so-sympathetic daughter Nola Jean, and to herself. "The Floor Of The Sky" is a true gem of the storyteller's art, written with great compassion, wit and wisdom about the human condition, family secrets, and the sweeping changes in a contemporary rural America. "The Floor Of The Sky" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal reading lists and community library collections.

While I was reading THE FLOOR OF THE SKY I kept thinking about how I would cast this as a movie. Toby Jenkins could be played easily by Shirley MacLaine or Ellyn Burstyn. Robert Redford would be a perfect George in my estimation, and I'm sure Robert Duvall would fit in too. I'm not sure about Lila, Toby's pregnant, sixteen year old granddaughter. Maybe a newcomer, an unknown actress would be the best choice for this role. I could go on, but I think you get the idea. This wonderfully told story, pure and poetic in style, would make a wonderful movie. This story takes place in the Sandhills of Nebraska. I've probably driven through there without stopping, but I can imagine the ranch and the house described as though it's an old home of mine. The nearby town is a place where I'd like to visit (although I'm not sure I could live there). I love the way George talks about the stars overhead, stars I haven't seen in years, if ever. This book is one of those that you don't want to end. I've been reading it slowly and with great joy. It's not a happy story, but it's not a sad one either. Full of family secrets, wonderful descriptions, and people who will stay close to my heart.

I loved it! The undercurrents of family secrets along with the stark setting of the Sand Hills, Nebraska, makes this a great read. Pamela Joern did a great job of setting the story, developing the characters, and like a magician, drew me into the story in a compelling way. I'd recommend it to anyone.

THE FLOOR OF THE SKY by Pamela Carter Joern October 29, 2006 Rating: 4.5 Stars Another great novel I've read this year has to be THE FLOOR OF THE SKY, the story of a family living in the rural farmlands of Nebraska. Beautifully written, the story focuses on granddaughter Lila, who has left her family back in Minnesota and has come to live with her grandmother Toby. Lila is pregnant, doesn't want to talk about it, but apparently has left home because she's not getting any support from her mother, Nola Jean. She has always loved her grandmother Toby, who tries her best to support Lila, who refuses to discuss the pregnancy and continues to harbor a sour attitude despite Toby's willingness to be there for her. What made this story riveting are the layers that make up the book. The various characters all have secrets, and it's through Lila that the reader learns what the older generation has been hiding for decades. Gertie is the older sister of Toby, and the two are like night and day. Gertie is a bitter old woman whose husband is in a home suffering from Alzheimer's. Toby lives alone, but is full of life, but at the same time is preparing for her own death, feeling that it is soon her time to go. The two sisters do not get along, although Toby is living with Gertie because it is not safe for her to live alone anymore. Other characters come into play, most of whom were present when a tragedy decades ago took the lives of Toby and Gertie's mother, as well as David, the younger brother of George, a man that had lived on the property for as long as they remember, helping the family out with the land. Lila's relationship with her cousin Clay is another facet to the story. The two had been very close growing up, but hadn't seen each other in years. Now, Clay is involved with a married woman, and Lila is not happy with this. As time passes, Lila begins to come to terms with her pregnancy, and as she gets acquainted with the people that surround her grandmother, Lila begins to open up. THE FLOOR OF THE SKY is probably one of the best novels I've read in 2006. Intriguing characters drive the story to its conclusion, with a tragic ending that in some ways helps bring resolution. The writing is superb and eloquent, and while it may come across as a more literary effort, readers will be drawn to the story because of its themes of family and forgiveness. THE FLOOR OF THE SKY is highly recommended.

A poetic and loving portrait of the Western Plains. A restrained and understated tale of love and loss; of tragedy and family secrets that reflect its harsh, remote, but beautiful setting.