The Remembering: Of Leather & Stone by Charles Paul Collins is a historical novel that traces the intertwining lives of two immigrant families, one Irish and one Italian, in 19th and early 20th-century America. 

Written as a fictional account based on personal journals, the story follows Cornelius Collins's journey from famine-stricken Ireland to Boston, and Giuseppe Ambrosini's pursuit of a fortune in America's granite industry. As they and their descendants endure challenges from economic shifts to social upheavals, the families' legacies merge, revealing the unbreakable threads of heritage.

Author Charles Paul Collins demonstrates remarkable skill in bringing historical America to vivid life through meticulous attention to detail and rich, evocative prose. I was immersed in the historical settings thanks to the multisensory detail, and the author's ability to weave together multiple generations of two families while maintaining distinct voices and personalities for each character. This shows masterful empathy and imagination.

I was deeply moved by how Collins captures the emotional depth of the immigrant experience, from the heartbreak of leaving home to the triumph of building a new life. It is beautifully told with narration that homes in on very poignant truths for specific characters at the right moment.

What I found most compelling was the author's ability to make the traditions and daily struggles of these families feel immediate and relevant, creating an intimate connection that spans centuries because we see them as real people, just like us.

Overall, The Remembering: Of Leather & Stone is an extraordinary achievement in historical fiction that will transport readers through time while touching their hearts.

 —K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite Book Reviews