Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse - by Faith Sullivan (Paperback)

About the Book

Widowed teacher Nell Stillman raises her son in the small town of Harvester, Minnesota, finding solace and escape in books.

Book Synopsis

"More than forty years of history bookend a lifelong love affair with reading for the resilient heroine of [this] novel set in Harvester, Minnesota." --Kirkus Reviews

A Wall Street Journal Top 10 Book of the Year

When Nell Stillman's boorish husband dies soon after they move to the small town of Harvester, Minnesota, Nell is alone, penniless yet responsible for her beloved baby boy, Hillyard. Not an easy fate in small-town America at the beginning of the twentieth century.

In the face of nearly insurmountable odds, Nell finds strength in lasting friendships and in the rich inner life awakened by the novels she reads. She falls in love with John Flynn, a charming congressman who becomes a father figure for Hillyard. She teaches at the local school and volunteers at the public library, where she meets Stella Wheeler and her charismatic daughter Sally. She becomes a friend and confidant to many of the girls in town, including Arlene and Lark Erhardt. And no matter how difficult her day, Nell ends each evening with a beloved book, in this novel that celebrates the strength and resourcefulness of independent women, the importance of community, and the transformative power of reading.

"Sullivan describes small-town life through the eyes of an intelligent, generous narrator who fights off gossip, pettiness and tragedy with compassion, perseverance and forgiveness. Who wouldn't want to spend a late-summer afternoon or two in the company of such a person?" --Minneapolis Star-Tribune

"Her novels are a reliably inviting world, full of friendly faces and intimate dramas. However you first make your way to Harvester, you'll want to return." --The Wall Street Journal

"[An] inspiring novel, which should find its way onto the reading lists of book clubs." --Publishers Weekly

Review Quotes

Praise for Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse

Top Ten Book of 2015 in the Wall Street Journal, and Winner of the Midwest Book Awards and the Langum Prize for Historical Fiction

"Her novels are a reliably inviting world, full of friendly faces and intimate dramas. However you first make your way to Harvester, you'll want to return."--The Wall Street Journal

Well-told and appealing . . . Nell emerges as a likable, resilient protagonist in Sullivan's inspiring novel, which should find its way onto the reading lists of book clubs.--Publishers Weekly

Reviving characters from previous novels, Sullivan (Gardenias, 2005) presents a fresh glimpse into small-town life, and gently but piercingly acknowledges the essential values of kindness and compassion that foster courage in the face of hardship.--Booklist

Sullivan's canvas may be small, but her message is universal: books--including this one--have the power to amuse, console and transform lives.--Shelf Awareness

"Sullivan describes small-town life through the eyes of an intelligent, generous narrator who fights off gossip, pettiness and tragedy with compassion, perseverance and forgiveness. Who wouldn't want to spend a late-summer afternoon or two in the company of such a person?"--Minneapolis Star Tribune

Many of the characters in Sullivan's novels love education and reading. But Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is her most explicit homage to the place books hold in our lives."--Saint Paul Pioneer Press

More than 40 years of history bookend a lifelong love affair with reading for the resilient heroine of Sullivan's latest novel set in Harvester, Minnesota. Nell's life experiences read like her book collection--some are part of a series, some stand alone, and all are ultimately comforting and timeless.--Kirkus

Reading Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse, I was reminded of the extraordinary novels of the late, great William Maxwell. Here too are large passions, sweeping love affairs, and deep friendships. A beautiful and profound novel.--Margot Livesey, author of The Flight of Gemma Hardy

Good Night, Mr. Wodehouse is told with Faith Sullivan's trademark warmth, wit and wisdom. Readers, prepare to be captivated.--Lorna Landvik, author of Angry Houswives Eating Bon Bons

For all those fans of The Cape Ann, Gardenias, and The Empress of One: here is your priceless ticket back to Harvester, Minnesota. An extraordinary book.--Julie Schumacher, author of Dear Committee Members

About the Author

Faith Sullivan is the author of seven award-winning novels, including Gardenias, The Empress of One, and The Cape Ann. A "demon gardener, flea marketer, and feeder of birds," she is also an indefatigable champion of literary culture and her fellow writers, and has visited with hundreds of book clubs. Born and raised in southern Minnesota, Faith Sullivan lives in Minneapolis with her husband.