A SOJOURN IN HELL by Roberta Goodman was just fantastic! If you love family saga type stories this is for you. The story and character were very rich and entertaining. I enjoyed the time line that was Serafina’s life. It all starts with her and her childhood. It shows the family in all their stages. It takes you on the emotional journey that begins the pattern of dysfunction for Serafina and later on her husband and children. When Serafina is growing up in a very wealthy community and the economy tanks her father who is a tailor has to choice but to close his doors. Eventually they loose everything and are forced to live with relatives. Once the cycle starts it flows through the generations to come. I think it all started with Serafina and the “old school” ways she was taught. In a way she was told to marry because of support, like he/she will be a good spouse and you will have a stable home. It was the time period that a woman stays home to raise her children.
Each child and grand child has their own pattern of dysfunction they follow. It is hard to put all of the characters here and write about them. Serafina has children that all struggle with familial relationships. There are brothers and sisters who dont speak and hold a grudge for years. What is similar is that in their later years they all turn to the church that was like a chore, and realize their errors and try to change and be their for the grandchildren.
My favorite character beside Serafina was Dante. His story was just fabulous. I have so much to say, but I can’t give any plot away. He is very close with his sister Felicia and shares his many problems. What transpires for him and his family is very well written and painful.
When I say it is a must read I mean it simply because a synopsis doesn’t do it justice. The love story of Serafina and Joe is one that is remarkable. Throughout the entire book, he is at the root of her troubles. Overall her heart is forever broken.
Here are a few quotes I loved:
Her time here had been a brief sojourn in hell. location 3613
“there was a power surge between them that Serafina would later describe as the realization and understanding of how and why human beings were created” location 531
“Listen, do you think I was madly in love with your father when I married him? No, he wasn’t my first choice, but I knew by marrying him I would have a stable life. ” location 955
“But it’s the truth. It’s as if God punished both of us by making you get sick, because I was too happy. Almost my whole life has been filled with unhappiness. The brief time we were together is the only exception.” location 1138
“Please help to give me strength to go on living. I know I have to, because I have another human being that I brought into this world to take care of.” location 1211
The fear of death and having to face God to answer for his sins humbled him. He had developed an intense desire to repent. In his old age he’d taken to going to Mass several times a week to try and atone for his past misconduct. Getting up at the crack of dawn on Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday mornings to sit in church was comforting for him. location 1355
Maybe the abuse he inflicts on me and everyone else isn’t entirely his own fault. My mother isn’t the warmest person on the planet, and maybe her coldness just keeps feeding his meanness. location 1660
” I still dream about him—it happens at least once a week.” for 20 years? You have to let it go.” location 2238
“I’ll never escape them. He haunts me and it’s been over fifty years.” location 2262
Meet the Author
Reading Renee 
Thank you so much for the glowing review, Renee 🙂 I’m so pleased you loved Sojourn. Creating the story was a labor of love for me. I was inspired to write it by family members and stories I heard growing up. Dysfunction was very prevalent in their lives. There were never attempts to correct the destructive behaviors, because that’s all they knew. To them, everything was normal. I hope everyone who chooses to read my story comes away with a better understanding of how damaging their actions can be to those who love them. In her younger years, Serafina allowed her husband to mistreat her children, because he was the ruler of the household. It was a different time, but women like Serafina still exist. They’re not strong enough to say “enough” and walk away. She also ended up a bitter old woman who could never get over losing the love of her life. Yes, life is full of disappointment and heartache, but those things shouldn’t be allowed to control anyone’s life. There’s a time to mourn, but there’s also a time to move on to better experiences.
I loved the way she was written. There was one event and had that never occurred what would her life have been like? Dante was the real deal for me and I loved Elena even after. I thought they both met their match and his dilemma was just hard to read.
Can we ask for more? I would love the saga to continue. I cant wait to read your other book