Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night

By: Barbara J. Taylor

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Length: 8 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Almost everyone in town blames eight-year-old Violet Morgan for the death of her nine-year-old sister Daisy. Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night opens on September 4, 1913, two months after the Fourth of July tragedy. Owen, the girls' father, "turns to drink" and abandons his family. Their mother Grace falls victim to the seductive powers of Grief, an imagined figure who has seduced her off-and-on since childhood. Violet forms an unlikely friendship with Stanley Adamski, a motherless outcast who works in the mines as a breaker boy. During an unexpected blizzard, Grace goes into premature labor at home and is forced to rely on Violet, while Owen is "off being saved" at a Billy Sunday Revival.

Inspired by a haunting family story, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night blends real-life incidents with fiction to show how grace can be found in the midst of tragedy.

©2014 Barbara J. Taylor (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Captivating

Barbara J. Taylor tells a captivating story about the spirit and strengths of everyday people. Tavia Gilbert’s delivery captures the nuances of each character perfectly.

Characters Pull You In

These people and their lives in turn- of-20th century coal- mining town, show privations and courage required to face them.

1913 PA Mining Town, Lives Marked by Tragedy

Grace and Owen Morgan live a hard scrabble life in the mining town of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the early 1900s . . . having already lost children to miscarriage and another daughter, Rose, the death of Daisy pushes Grace to the brink of madness . . . and alienates her from her husband, Owen and remaining daughter, Violet . . . whom she secretly blames for Daisy's death . . . I had a very hard time with the fact that the "church going" ladies of the town, all bent toward gossip, also blamed Violet, an innocent girl of eight for the accidental death of her sister . . . and my heart just broke, when Owen, Violet's daddy moved out of the house, and fell into his own desperate grief over the loss of Daisy . . . Grace's strange, yet oddly understandable and familiar relationship with Grief, weighed heavy on my heart . . . she had known him since childhood, coming and going with every tragedy, and Grace lacking the faith and strength to oust him . . . overshadowing all that was good . . .telling her lies . . . and I was so angry that no adult had the faith and conviction to come alongside her and pull her up, instead of tearing her down . . . the unlikely friendship between Violet and Stanley was a lifesaver for them both . . . a sad, sweet story, with an ending well worth the wait . . .

Great Characterization!

Any additional comments?

Beautifully written and performed! Tavia's portrayal of each character is right on, adding a new dimension to a great storyline.

A Love Letter to a Town

I have since learned that this book is a love letter to a time and place dear to the author. It's the story of a family, of tragedy and hope and second chances.
It's a well-written character-driven period piece, well-performed by Tavia Gilbert.

I Loved this Book

Great book. It was so beautifully written but so sad at the same time. I look forward to more from this author. She has real talent!

Cool Story

The narrator was amazing, talented voice. In the beginning I didn't think I'd like the , but it was great. 5 stars for Barbara J. Taylor.

Mesmerizing historical story

What did you love best about Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night?

Apropos of our times today it's a story of transcending tragedy in a dark time by holding onto goodness. The writing is beautiful and literary and the narration is lovely and simple. I listened to it while driving and it was an incredible experience.