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    The Woman in the Photo: A Novel
    The Woman in the Photo: A Novel
    The Woman in the Photo: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    The Woman in the Photo: A Novel

    Written by Mary Hogan

    Narrated by Tavia Gilbert and Cassandra Campbell

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    About this audiobook

    In this compulsively-readable historical novel, from the author of the critically-acclaimed Two Sisters, comes the story of two young women—one in America’s Gilded Age, one in scrappy modern-day California—whose lives are linked by a single tragic afternoon in history.

    1888: Elizabeth Haberlin, of the Pittsburgh Haberlins, spends every summer with her family on a beautiful lake in an exclusive club. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains above the working class community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the private retreat is patronized by society’s elite. Elizabeth summers with Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks, following the rigid etiquette of her class. But Elizabeth is blessed (cursed) with a mind of her own. Case in point: her friendship with Eugene Eggar, a Johnstown steel mill worker. And when Elizabeth discovers that the club’s poorly maintained dam is about to burst and send 20 million tons of water careening down the mountain, she risks all to warn Eugene and the townspeople in the lake’s deadly shadow.

    Present day: On her eighteenth birthday, genetic information from Lee Parker’s closed adoption is unlocked. She also sees an old photograph of a genetic relative—a 19th Century woman with hair and eyes likes hers—standing in a pile of rubble from an ecological disaster next to none other than Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. Determined to identify the woman in the photo and unearth the mystery of that captured moment, Lee digs into history. Her journey takes her from California to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, from her present financial woes to her past of privilege, from the daily grind to an epic disaster. Once Lee’s heroic DNA is revealed, will she decide to forge a new fate?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateJun 14, 2016
    ISBN9780062572622
    Author

    Mary Hogan

     Mary Hogan is the bestselling author of Two Sisters and the historical novel, The Woman in the Photo. Previous novels include the young adult titles, The Serious Kiss, Perfect Girl and Pretty Face (HarperCollins). Mary lives in New York City with her husband, actor Robert Hogan, and their Catahoula Leopard rescue dog, Lucy. maryhogan.com

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    Reviews for The Woman in the Photo

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    • 4/5
      It was a lovely book built around a horrible tragedy a lot of history I enjoyed it a lot.
    • 2/5
      Well narrated, but entirely predictable and at times tedious. I literally knew the entire story within the first 15 minutes. The modern-day plot line was completely unnecessary and added nothing.
    • 5/5
      Brilliant historical fiction told in a duel time line. Great narrators, too
    • 5/5
      Beautiful and heartfelt prose
      This is a true reflection of life when class lines existed
    • 3/5
      Love family history so this was right up my street. The narrator for this was superb ?? thank you
    • 5/5
      Well written story of an American tragedy that we rarely, if ever, her about. Great character development, description of surroundings are crisp and draw the reader in.
    • 5/5
      This is a book about two women; one in current times and one in the past. Both are looking for something and the question is, do they find what they seek? I was drawn to the book due to the historical aspects – of course. I am a sucker for an historical novel. The book starts out in the past in a world of privilege – the world of the rich families that make up Pittsburgh society. Elizabeth Haberlin has nothing more pressing to worry about than what dress to wear to her coming out party. A party that will be attended by the notable families of the city and where she will hope to find a husband. Her family summers high above the lowly working class people of Johnstown at their club. A club that that boasts a “lake in the sky.” A lake that will ultimately be the destruction of Johnstown.The story moves to the present to a young woman just about to turn 18 who has had her whole life turn upside down. She knows she is adopted and when her birthday arrives she can receive some information about her birth family. On that appointed day she rushes to the county office only to learn very little. It’s only a chance look at a picture of a woman in a photo that sets her off on a search for her roots.I have to admit that I found the book to be quite interesting. I grew up in Philadelphia so I knew some of the history of the Johnstown flood and how devastating it was to the area. I didn’t realize that the arrogance of the elite owners of the club was part of the cause of the dam’s collapse. I found myself researching further as I often do when a book offers me a window into history.The writing style is one that keeps the reader glued to the story. Ms. Hogan kept the two voices of her protagonists separate and each time period has its own rhythm which is very special. I enjoyed this story – the characters were diverse and developed well over time. A great read for summer!
    • 3/5
      When I was a kid, my dad was offered a position in Johnstown, but turned it down, despite a good salary, because, to him, Johnstown meant "flood". This was in the 1960's. The flood was May 1889, and though it was associated with heavy rains, the cause was completely man-made. Still, Daddy couldn't move past the cultural memory and turned the job down. I read this book simply to learn more about the flood. The story (or rather both stories, because there's a past and a present one) was incidental. I like the historical photographs that were included and refreshing myself on Clara Barton. What a fascinating image to think of the Johnstowners looking up into the mountain sky, and seeing sailboats there from the killer lake that rested behind the South Fork Dam on the Little Conemaugh River.From the publisher:In this compulsively readable historical novel, from the author of the critically-acclaimed Two Sisters, comes the story of two young women—one in America’s Gilded Age, one in scrappy modern-day California—whose lives are linked by a single tragic afternoon in history.1888: Elizabeth Haberlin, of the Pittsburgh Haberlins, spends every summer with her family on a beautiful lake in an exclusive club. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains above the working class community of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the private retreat is patronized by society’s elite. Elizabeth summers with Carnegies, Mellons, and Fricks, following the rigid etiquette of her class. But Elizabeth is blessed (cursed) with a mind of her own. Case in point: her friendship with Eugene Eggar, a Johnstown steel mill worker. And when Elizabeth discovers that the club’s poorly maintained dam is about to burst and send 20 million tons of water careening down the mountain, she risks all to warn Eugene and the townspeople in the lake’s deadly shadow.Present day: On her 18th birthday, genetic information from Lee Parker’s closed adoption is unlocked. She also sees an old photograph of a genetic relative—a 19th century woman with hair and eyes likes hers—standing in a pile of rubble from an ecological disaster next to none other than Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. Determined to identify the woman in the photo and unearth the mystery of that captured moment, Lee digs into history. Her journey takes her from California to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, from her present financial woes to her past of privilege, from the daily grind to an epic disaster. Once Lee’s heroic DNA is revealed, will she decide to forge a new fate?
    • 4/5
      A present day fictional story of an 18 year old California girl seeking the identity of her birth mother. The only clue an old photo of her "great great great grandmother along side Clara Barton" tied into the the horrific tragedy of 1889 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Definitely a page turner! Interesting tie in story with a true events tragedy. Had me goggling to find out more of the Johnstown Flood, the South Fork Fish & Game Club and its members and of course, Clara Barton and her incredible life story and contribution to the American Red Cross! Excellent
    • 5/5
      I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. This story is the story of Elizabeth Haberlin in 1889- a young teen born into a wealthy family. It is also the story of Lee Parker in the present day looking to find out the history of her life and her biological family as an adoptee. Hogan does a great job tying the past and present into a story that draws the reader in. In fact the writing at the end where Hogan describes the horrific aftermath of the devastation of the dam breaking is so vivid that the reader feels like they are in the middle of the story. This left me breathless- one of the best passages I have ever read- anywhere and one that will leave the reader haunted. This was a great read!
    • 5/5
      At first the book was confusing, but once it going I understood it better and really enjoyed the story.
    • 4/5
      Lee Parker is trying to find out more about her birth mother. It was a closed adoption, but there's a picture in her file file showing an unknown women with Clara Barton. Lee does some research and finds that the woman is Elizabeth Haberlin, her great grandmother, and that the picture was taken in Johnstown after the historic flood. Most of the novel centers on Elizabeth, and how she found her calling in life. It was also, of course, about the tragic flood, and of how it was caused by a few wealthy families, and was totally preventable. I loved this engaging historical novel!
    • 4/5
      I thoroughly enjoyed The Woman in the Photo, truly historical fiction at its best. The characters are well developed and accurately depict those of their era. The story of the life in Johnstown strongly accounts for the life of the wealthy in the midst of a steel mining town. The photos of the are taken from the Johnstown museum are as informative as the narrative. I highly recommend this for historical fiction junkies like myself.
    • 4/5
      The Woman in the Photo by Mary HoganSource: Publisher/ William Morrow PaperbacksMy Rating: 3½/5 starsMy Review: The tragedy of Johnstown, Pennsylvania is not one of the more widely known incidents in American history but it is one of the most devastating. Mary Hogan explores this very real disaster in her new historical fiction novel, The Woman in the Photo. Elizabeth Haberlin was born and raised to be the model daughter, the perfect society girl who would one day fulfill her sole purpose in life, marrying well. Unfortunately, for her parents, Elizabeth has always known she was meant for something far greater than simply marrying well. In the summer of 1888, Elizabeth is brought face-to-face with her destiny when her small, secluded, and undoubtedly spoiled life comes crashing down around her. For many years, Elizabeth and her family have summered in the Allegheny Mountains surrounded by the beauty of the natural world. Their private club, the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club is frequented by America’s most elite families and is kept completely separate from the mill town of Johnstown below. In fact, the SFF&H Club has so separated themselves from the town below that they even have their own man-made lake and dam. The dam also serves as the bridge from one side of the lake to the other and the lake serves as place for fishing, swimming, and sailing - activities reserved for members only. While the surroundings are gorgeous and the amenities are plentiful, the members of the Club are completely oblivious and/or unconcerned about the tragedy that will come from their private world. For years, the people of Johnstown have been concerned about the upkeep and maintenance of the dam and even petitioned the SFF&H Club members to see to its safety. With little to no concern for the welfare of those beneath their social standing, the members have consistently ignored the requests and petitions. In the summer of 1888, the dam gave way under the pressure of heavy rain and sub-standard care and quite literally washed away Johnstown and her inhabitants. In the aftermath of what was total devastation, Elizabeth Haberlin learned what it was to be a compassionate and caring human being rather than just a pretty society girl with nothing of substance to offer the world. Alongside Clara Barton and her newly established American Red Cross, Elizabeth worked tirelessly to help the people of Johnstown bury their dead, care for the survivors, and rebuild a town that was washed away. Defying her family and following her conscious, Elizabeth gave up everything she was born to in order to become a useful person. The Bottom Line: If you have read the synopsis for this book and my review, you know I have completely ignored half of the book in this review. In truth, the half of the book dedicated to Lee Parker and her search for her biological family adds nothing to the overall plot line and I found myself skimming through her chapters in order to get to the good stuff. The Woman in the Photo would not have suffered one bit – and, in fact it may have been made stronger – if the focus was solely on Elizabeth Haberlin, Clara Barton, and the flood of epic proportions. These people, both fictitious and real as well as the devastating natural disaster are more than enough to carry the book and keep the reader engaged. My most engaged moments all involved Elizabeth’s chapters and the life she carved out for herself in the wake of disaster. With the exception of Lee Parker, The Woman in the Photo is a tremendously compelling read that delves into an American tragedy that has all but been forgotten in the modern world. Historical fiction isn’t an easy genre but Hogan’s writing style is strong and she has managed to skillfully bring to life both people and events that are often hard to get readers interested in. Overall, a worthy read if you don’t mind skipping over some bits and pieces here and there.
    • 5/5
      I so enjoyed this novel, for me it was a real page turner. It tells the story of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania 'flood' (more like a tidal wave) that killed over 2000 people in 1889 due to the arrogance and disinterest of the elite 1% (read Carnagies, Mellons, Frick families) who summered on a man-made lake in the Alleghany mountains. The ill kept dam that held the waters back burst and took out an entire town of 30,000. Elizabeth Haberlin is eighteen years old at the time and her head is full of nothing but her upcoming debutante ball and which dress to wear, until she realizes the dam is about to fail. She puts those thoughts aside and rushes to warn the town below of the dams imminent collapse. It also tells of a present day descendant of Elizabeth's, Lee Parker who while searching for information on her birth mother comes across a photo of a woman who looks very much like herself standing in the aftermath devastation of the flood with Clara Barton, the founder of the Red Cross. Lee does her research and discovers much more than she expected. A bonus was all the photos of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, the town of Johnstown and the devastation afterwards. A really great read and highly recommended.
    • 4/5
      A very intriguing story about the elite class, the working class, the Johnstown Flood, and the start of the Red Cross. The story is told in two perspectives, one in 1889 at the time of the flood and one in the present, an ancestor of one of the society members. Clara Barton and the Red Cross also play a big part in this historical read. I love the way the story intertwines and comes together by the history of these women and this tragedy. Now I need to read The Johnstown Flood and a Clara Barton bio. A great read for book clubs as there are many issues to discuss and interesting questions in the back of the book to help the discussion along.
    • 4/5
      A really intriguing piece of history is revealed in this story. The society in the 1800's is captured quite nicely delivering a candid look. I found both Elizabeth and Lee admirable characters however there were times that Lee and her life in the present was a distraction from the main story and took a little time to engage me. The addition of Clara Barton was a definite bonus and the re-telling of the tragedy is both gripping and absorbing. Over all a really good story.I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      This is a book about two women; one in current times and one in the past. Both are looking for something and the question is, do they find what they seek? I was drawn to the book due to the historical aspects – of course. I am a sucker for an historical novel. The book starts out in the past in a world of privilege – the world of the rich families that make up Pittsburgh society. Elizabeth Haberlin has nothing more pressing to worry about than what dress to wear to her coming out party. A party that will be attended by the notable families of the city and where she will hope to find a husband. Her family summers high above the lowly working class people of Johnstown at their club. A club that that boasts a “lake in the sky.” A lake that will ultimately be the destruction of Johnstown.The story moves to the present to a young woman just about to turn 18 who has had her whole life turn upside down. She knows she is adopted and when her birthday arrives she can receive some information about her birth family. On that appointed day she rushes to the county office only to learn very little. It’s only a chance look at a picture of a woman in a photo that sets her off on a search for her roots.I have to admit that I found the book to be quite interesting. I grew up in Philadelphia so I knew some of the history of the Johnstown flood and how devastating it was to the area. I didn’t realize that the arrogance of the elite owners of the club was part of the cause of the dam’s collapse. I found myself researching further as I often do when a book offers me a window into history.The writing style is one that keeps the reader glued to the story. Ms. Hogan kept the two voices of her protagonists separate and each time period has its own rhythm which is very special. I enjoyed this story – the characters were diverse and developed well over time. A great read for summer!
    • 3/5
      This book was really hard for me to get into - I felt like the writing was sub-par and the 1889 characters didn't feel like 19th-century people, but more like moody 90s teenagers. However, the book kinda grew on me during the second half and I found the conclusion satisfying. I even did a little internet research on the Johnstown Flood after finishing this novel!
    • 3/5
      Have you ever seen old photographs with unidentified people in them, especially ones of probable family members? They make you wonder at the people in the picture and the life they led, don't they? When I was in high school, one of my English teachers handed out old time photographs she had found for pennies at an antiques store and we each had to write a story about the person in the picture we held. Obviously we never found out the real stories behind these photos, as they were unidentified, anonymous, and left to be glanced at by strangers in a bin at an antiques store. But what if one of those pictures had had a famous person in it, someone that would enable the viewer to trace the picture's story? That is the case in Mary Hogan's new novel, The Woman in the Photo, a dual narrative novel about the horrible tragedy of the Johnstown flood and a modern day adoption search.In 1888 and 1889, Elizabeth Haberlin is going from Pittsburgh to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club where her family owns a cottage on the man-made Lake Conemaugh. The Club is the playground of the Pittsburgh elite and Elizabeth is the daughter of a wealthy physician and his wife. She is a headstrong beauty who doesn't always follow the dictates of her privileged society although she can be just as superficial and selfish as any of her peers. She is most concerned with her impression on a visiting British family, and their son in particular. She reflects, as always on the marvel that is Lake Conemaugh, the lake suspended in the sky, contained by an earthen dam fifteen miles above Johnstown, as she, her mother, and younger brother cross the top of the dam returning to their summer retreat once again.In present day California, Lee Parker lives with her mother in a moldy pool house of a large and glittering home in the hills above LA. They must pretend not to live there as a condition of her mother's employment as the maid in the big house. Her father has run away and her brother disappeared after a Bernie Maddox-like character lost all of their money, including Lee's entire college fund. Lee was supposed to be at Columbia starting her freshman year, not working at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and struggling just to find gas money to get her to and from work. As if her world hadn't already crashed around her, a letter arrives telling her that health information about her birth mother has been received and she's entitled to that information after her 18th birthday. When she goes to find out this new genetic information, she sees a picture of a maternal ancestor in her file. The unnamed woman is standing beside Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross. And it is this picture and the connection that Lee feels with the woman in the photo that sends her on her quest to uncover information about her birth family.Initially the two narratives alternate back and forth but as the story goes on, there are more historical set chapters than there are present day chapters. And the historical story, that of privilege and wealth inevitably causing a horrific, preventable tragedy out of stubborn blindness and hubris, is a stronger story than that of Lee feeling pulled to uncover her biological roots. Although history has already recorded the massive loss of life, the terror, and tragedy of the Johnstown flood, Hogan has managed to keep the tension of the coming cataclysmic disaster building as the story progresses. The mystery of Lee's connection to the woman in the photo does not quite maintain that same necessary sense of tension or anticipation, perhaps because the mystery is so clearly not a mystery to the reader. Or perhaps the difference in tension levels can be traced to the fact that Lee's story is told in third person while Elizabeth's is in first person, making the latter more immediate and personal. In addition to Lee's and Elizabeth's chapters, there is one chapter from Lee's adoptive mother's perspective and occasionally her thoughts and feelings find their way into the chapters focused on Lee but her perspective is not all that developed. There are also a few short bits on Clara Barton's life and what drove her to devote her life to a life of service to others. Although this information is interesting, it interrupted the general flow of the novel. Hogan has done a good job contrasting wealth and working class in both the past and the present day and of depicting the lead up to the flood and its terrible aftermath quite well though. The question of whether genetics is destiny or not weaves its way through both story lines and a letter from Elizabeth to her unborn child makes clear the author's position on this question although there are pieces of the story that argue the answer is actually more nuanced than a simple yes or no suggests. Lee does manage to identify and trace the woman in the old photo and she uncovers quite a story, something most of us faced with unidentified people in old black and white photos don't have a chance to do. Readers of historical fiction and those interested in the Johnstown Flood will appreciate the story Lee uncovers for sure.
    • 4/5
      Two time lines, one the Gilded age, one present day. Two settings, one in Johnstown, PA. One in California. Two young women, Elizabeth Haberlin, soon to make her début, spends her summers with her family and the other wealthy elite such as the Fricks and Carnegies in Johnstown, Pa. Lee, the other young lady, eighteen and adopted, wants to find out about the family and the mother who gave her away. Both of these young ladies have strong minds of their own. A photograph of two women will be the initiating factor in bringing these two stories together.The Johnstown flood was a horrible disaster and this written account is well done and harrowing. A flood that could easily have been prevented. Clara Barron makes an appearance, another strong woman, who made and still does, a difference to so many. Loved learning a little about her life. So the two storylines eventually come together and I really enjoyed them both equally. This almost never happens. The story is of interest and well done, definitely a book worth reading. My only criticism is that at times it was too..... too sentimental, too moralistic, though maybe rightfully so, and too pat in places. Did love the photos, actual photos from the archives of the club where the wealthy stayed. Added a personal and authentic touch. A new writer to watch for and I look forward to her next book.