Sisterhood hosts bi-monthly book reviews throughout the year that are open to the public. November's book review will be led by our congregant, Diane Puschett.

Please Note: This book review will be held by Zoom and the information to access will be emailed ahead of time to those who register.

A summary of our November book selection, "Florence Adler Swims Forever" by Rachel Beanland.

"Atlantic City, 1934. Every summer Esther and Joseph Adler rent their house out to vacationers and move into the small apartment above their bakery, where they raised their two daughters, Fannie and Florence. Florence has returned from college determined to spend the summer training to swim the English Channel. Her sister Fannie, pregnant again after recently losing a baby is on bed rest at Atlantic City Hospital for the duration of her pregnancy and has left her daughter Gussie in Esther's care. At the same time, Joseph has offered hospitality to Anna, a young woman whom he helped emigrate from Nazi Germany. 

Esther wants to keep her daughters close and safe, but some matters  are beyond her control: Fannie's risky pregnancy-not to mention her always-scheming husband Isaac-and the fact that the heir of a hotel notorious for its anti-Semitic policies seems to be in love with Florence. 

When tragedy strikes, Esther makes the decision to hide the truth---at least until Fannie's baby is born---and pulls the family into an elaborate web of secret-keeping and lies, bringing long-buried tensions to the surface that reveal how quickly the act of protecting those we love can turn into betrayal.

Based on a true story, this family saga is a breathtaking portrait of just how far we will go to protect our loved ones and an uplifting portrayal of how the human spirit can endure ---and even thrive ---after tragedy."

To help us plan for our book reviews and to receive communications about future book reviews, we ask that you kindly RSVP by Wednesday, November 10, by filling out the form below, contacting the Sisterhood at sishood@emanuelhouston.org or 713.529.5771, ext. 233.