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    We Are All Welcome Here
    We Are All Welcome Here
    We Are All Welcome Here
    Audiobook6 hours

    We Are All Welcome Here

    Written by Elizabeth Berg

    Narrated by Elizabeth Berg

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    It is the summer of 1964. In Tupelo, Mississippi, the town of Elvis’s birth, tensions are mounting over civil-rights demonstrations occurring ever more frequently--and violently--across the state. But in Paige Dunn’s small, ramshackle house, there are more immediate concerns. Challenged by the effects of the polio she contracted during her last month of pregnancy, Paige is nonetheless determined to live as normal a life as possible and to raise her daughter, Diana, in the way she sees fit--with the support of her tough-talking black caregiver, Peacie.

    Diana is trying in her own fashion to live a normal life. As a fourteen-year-old, she wants to make money for clothes and magazines, to slough off the authority of her mother and Peacie, to figure out the puzzle that is boys, and to escape the oppressiveness she sees everywhere in her small town. What she can never escape, however, is the way her life is markedly different from others’. Nor can she escape her ongoing responsibility to assist in caring for her mother. Paige Dunn is attractive, charming, intelligent, and lively, but her needs are great--and relentless.

    As the summer unfolds, hate and adversity will visit this modest home. Despite the difficulties thrust upon them, each of the women will find her own path to independence, understanding, and peace. And Diana’s mother, so mightily compromised, will end up giving her daughter an extraordinary gift few parents could match.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateApr 4, 2006
    ISBN9781597108300
    We Are All Welcome Here
    Author

    Elizabeth Berg

    Elizabeth Berg is the award-winning author of more than twenty-five books, including the New York Times bestsellers True to Form, Never Change, Open House, The Story of Arthur Truluv, Night of Miracles, and The Confession Club. She lives outside of Chicago. Find out more at Elizabeth-Berg.net.

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    Reviews for We Are All Welcome Here

    4/5

    329 ratings24 reviews

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    • 4/5
      my least fave of berg's books but still worth reading.
    • 5/5
      Beautiful story of strength, resilience and love between mother and daughter.
    • 4/5
      Would have been five stars, except for some deus ex machina nonsense toward the end. Why the tidy ending, and the pretty red bow? Sigh.
    • 3/5
      This was just an okay read for me. I liked the setting and the characters but thought the subject matter was very glossed over. The main caregiver of Diana's mother was a wonderfully drawn character and I loved her storyline. I thought the ending very rushed and rather distracting from the story itself.
    • 4/5
      The characters, Paige the polio stricken quadriplegic mother, Diana her early teenage daughter and somewhat willing hands, and Peacie the absolute miracle of a caretaker are the heart and strength of this book. The overwhelming horror of the polio is used as a bit of hand wave over the less likely good luck portions of the story, but it remains a real look at fairness and freedom seen from the backside.
    • 4/5
      I loved this book. It's a fascinating story about a woman who was struck with the polio virus while pregnant with her daughter, and gave birth in an iron lung. The daughter ends up having to help take care of her mother, since she is a quadriplegic. They live in the 50's, about the time that blacks were fighting for their rights, and they had a black caretaker who'd been with the family since the daughter's birth.. they go through a lot of trouble that happens in their lives. I wish the story had not ended, as it was a fresh, clean, touching story, with plenty of heart, and real, true feelings. This woman is my favorite author, as well !!
    • 2/5
      The first book I ever read by Elizabeth Berg was something I read in one sitting, and was blown away by. That was Range of Motion, and it was a long time ago, and I don't think I've loved any of her books quite so much since. But she's still on my List, because even when I don't love a book of hers I still enjoy her ability, her writing; one of my GR friends used a phrase I want very much to steal, but instead I'll just say something about the beauty and depth of her use of words. And so there was no question about whether I'd buy this when I had the chance.But… I have to say I sighed a bit when I realized that the voice of the book is that of Diana Dunn, a precocious, rather amoral, self-centered 13-year-old girl. The basic groundwork for the story is that Diana's mother, stricken by polio just before giving birth, is a quadriplegic. And since they can't afford to have someone in to help them full time, they have someone during the day … and, since Diana was very young (VERY young), no one at all at night. And that messed with my mind in many different directions. I of all people understand not having the money to manage 24-hour care – and finding that the amount the state considers enough is very much not. I also understand misappropriating some of the funds to use for groceries and whatnot. I do. (I haven't, but I understand.) But … I'm sorry, Diana's mother is paralyzed. From the neck down. Requiring full-time electronic assistance to breathe. This isn't merely "disabled". This isn't something that can be surpassed or overcome with willpower or a burst of adrenaline. All of the million what-ifs went through my head – What if, obviously, there was a fire? Would Diana get out, or die with her mother? What if Diana got sick? Or fell? Cut herself badly? What if someone broke in at night? I think this was the aspect of the whole thing that bothered me the most. She was a child. Even the most accountable and selfless child can't fend for herself under every circumstance – this wasn't an Arthur Ransome novel. And Diana did not strike me as the most accountable, for the most part. I'll come back to the issue of selflessness. If there was any possibility of a chance that she could have a life approximating that of an average child, she should have had that chance. If there's any possible alternative, a child should never be forced to shoulder the kind of responsibility described in this book. I'm quite sure my takeaway from this book was not meant to be that nearly everyone in it was extraordinarily selfish – and that the one person who was consistently selfless was ridden over and taken advantage of and given the fuzzy end of the lollipop every bit as consistently. I'm sure I'm supposed to look at this as a heroic struggle against blahbitty blah. Wait, there's a quote to prove it: "…valuable lessons about love, honor and the real meaning of family…" I didn't get any of that. Honor? Really? That's rather rich. And "the real meaning of family" … I suppose by the end Diana gets it, but it's kind of too late by then in many ways. The book just … made me angry. Diana was pretty much introduced in the midst of plotting harm against her mother's carer, Peacie – which plot she then proceeded to act upon. It wasn't her fault that she waited too long and wasn't able to actually do damage – she meant to. From there she proceeded to whine her way through the book, complaining about – oh, everything, from having to put herself out to go get groceries to not being able to buy Lay's potato chips, and escalating to outright theft and the most heinous piece of spying I've come across in a while. I disliked Diana through nearly every line of the book, and in that moment of eavesdropping and peeping-Tomishness I hated her as much as any character I've seen in a book in months. Maybe years. (I hated her friend Suralee, too, but in the end not as much, I think, despite everything.) Diana's selfishness and nastiness was a constant irritant, and pretty much all of the other characters did things that annoyed me deeply as well, leaving me in a fairly continual slow burn against all of them. I mean, you win a nice amount of money, and the first things you decide to buy are a typewriter and a bleeding canopy bed? What about an icebox to replace the ancient and malfunctioning one that took up just about the entirety of one chapter? (Dell turned out to be a horrific piece of work, but I still disliked Diana more.) (I did really like LaRue, at least.) And then the book climaxed with a piece of deus-ex-machina that made me roll my eyes so hard I think I hurt myself. It was terrible. And, of course, a portion of the anger this book engendered in me was for The System. That's what makes it impossible for a mother and daughter to afford the coverage of care they need and still manage to buy groceries. But their social worker was portrayed as earnest, honestly trying to help – and the three of them in that house made almost a game out of pulling the wool very thoroughly over her eyes. Now, the book is based on a true story; a woman wrote to Elizabeth Berg asking her to write her mother's story. Berg warned her that she would fictionalize it, using only elements of the real story – basically, I think the whole background. Which leaves me with two big questions. Is the woman who sent that letter to Berg happy with how incredibly awful Diana (basically the letter-writer) is in the book? And was that shockingly stupid climax remotely, unbelievably true? I wish Berg had made that clear; if anything like what happened in the book actually happened to the woman who wrote her, my dislike would be at least slightly abated. I listened to this in CD format, read by the author. I was uncertain about how well it would be read, but hoped that, having written the book, Berg would be 100% accurate with emphasis and intonation – who would know better than Elizabeth Berg how her book should be read? As it turned out, she wasn't 100% accurate; there were definitely instances of the wrong word being stressed in a sentence, and so on – but it was overall very good. I think, though, that I might have learned that one amazing book does not necessarily mean I'll love everything a writer writes.
    • 4/5
      Poignant, insightful, and heartwarming is the way in which I describe the author's books. When a friend recommended I read Elizabeth Berg's books, I decided to do so, especially since our reading likes are so similar. I am left wondering why I didn't read any of these wonderful stories before.Written from the perspective of 14 year old Diana Dunn, she experiences normal teen-age angst and growing pains. Still, this particular teen is not an ordinary girl who is living a "normal" life. Diana was the first baby born in the 1950's to a woman who delivered her while in an iron lung suffering from polio.When her father told her mother that he would find an adoptive home for Diana, in quite frank terms, her mother told him that was not an option. Paralzyed, unable to walk, her mother has a sharp brain, quick wit, and a loving spirit. Continuing to live on a respirator, most everyday functions are handled by Diana and a few others.Living in poverty in the south, the host of characters is marvelously likable. While resenting the burden of assisting in the care of her mother, and feeling hedged in by the incredibly delightful black care giver, Peachy, Diana looks back in thankfulness for the guidance and love these two incredible women showed her.Part of Diana's education occurs during the Civil Rights era. Opening her eyes to no longer accepting the everyday differences and slights that occurred in the south in the treatment of blacks, Diana witnesses how different her mother is than other whites in the south at this historical time. Diana very much admires Peachy's boyfriend LaRue who, with the aid of relative, Little Bit, learned to write and read. Inspired to help gain voter rights, LaRue assists Little Bit in the summer of the freedom buses and the beatings sustained by LaRue, Little Bit and many other blacks fighting for what is rightfully theirs.Highly recommended. Four Stars
    • 4/5
      A quick, fun read.
    • 4/5
      Diana Dunn is 14 years old and her mother gave birth to her from an iron lung after acquiring polio in the 50s. She still tries to raise her daughter with the help of Peacie, an amazing caregiver . Their story is one of poverty in the south and a strong mother and daughter connection. Diana has to care for her mother while other kids get to play. Helping out is a black woman named Peacie a black woman who has cared for Diana since she was an infant. Peacie has a boyfriend LaRue and together they help this small family daily. But LaRrue is envolved in the civil rights movement and this causes them to move from Pupelo Mississipi. Just when it seems that Diana and her mother Paige will have to go into care, in steps Elvis.Great book, heartwarming and filled with love and wisdoms especially from Peacie. Based on a real life woman who did so much while living with polio on a respirator.
    • 4/5
      Berg gives us another fine novel. As is often the case with her work, the heroine is a perfectly ordinary person whose life has an unusual twist. In this story, our heroine is a girl living in a small Southern town in the early sixties, her father a distant memory. Racial tension? Yes. Growing pains? Yes. But the twist to the story is the mother - paralyzed from the neck down by polio that struck during pregnancy. How they cope with, around and despite of the household's focal disability makes for an intriguing and powerful story of growth and hope.
    • 3/5
      Another interesting coming-of-age type of book by Elizabeth Berg. Unfortunately, her young protagonist is given more sagacity and powers of observation than most 14 yr olds would have in order to sufficiently and descriptively narrate other characters. I can only wish I had as much maturity at 40 as Diana has at 14. Otherwise a nice light read that is not silly.
    • 3/5
      A very interesting premise...a woman contracts polio in the 8th month of her pregnancy. She gives birth while in an iron lung. Then she chooses to raise the baby while a paraplegic.That’s the background to this story and it’s based on a letter recieved by Elizabeth Berg written by the daughter of just such a woman. So, Elizabeth based her character on an actual woman.That's the reality the story diverges from there.Diana Dunn is dealig with life as the dughter of a quad. Her Mom got polio when she was 8 months pregnant with Diana. Diana was born while her Mom was in an iron lung. After her birth her dad ran off. Diana and her mom are cared for by Peacy, an angry black woman in 1964 Mississippi. As Diana grows she and Peacy trade more and more words. Then Peacy's boy friend La Rue learns to read and begins to hlep with the Freedom Marches. Peacy eventually realizes, with the sheriff's help, that they need to move.So Diana was going to be given to foster care. But the unbelievable happens - Diana's Mom had cared for Elvis's Mom in the hospital before she had polio. Diana wrote more than 1 letter to Elvis and one actually made it through. Elvis showed up - and gave them money and solved their problems.Interesting and impossible. But it's even more amazing because it's based on a real woman - one with 3 children!!1/07
    • 3/5
      I was a little underwhelmed by this one. I think it was partially because I listened to it on audio, read by Berg herself. While I really enjoy her voice impersonations of some of her characters, her typical speaking voice as the narrator tends to be less than engaging. However, this was an interesting story about a young girl who's forced to be somewhat of a mother to her own mother, who is paralyzed from polio. 13-year-old Diana is torn between feelings of love for her mother and feelings of entrapment, and she struggles to come to terms with this as she is blossoming into adolescence. This was somewhat of a slow-moving story, but the ending was rather sudden & unexpected. Possibly a little farfetched as well, but satisfying nonetheless.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed this very much as an audio book. Elizabeth Berg is not only a fine writer, but a wonderful reader as well. She has created a fictionalized story, inspired by a real life woman who was stricken with polio and paralyzed while pregnant. She gave birth in an iron lung and even though her husband divorced her, chose to raise her daughter on her own. In this story, her daughter is an adult remembering the summer when she was thirteen. The setting is in the South during the Civil Rights movement.I don't usually choose to read this sort of fiction; drama involving several women and lots of hard real life choices, but when I do, it is wonderful to come across such a fine story.
    • 5/5
      Wonderful book. Great story that takes the reader through lots of feelings and emotions for the characters and general and specific situations. Berg is an excellent writer! Easy to read, intelligent, and not dull. The story isn't action packed, but it is dynamic. Descriptive and flowing, but not obnoxiously wordy. Just loved it, the ending was perfect.
    • 4/5
      my least fave of berg's books but still worth reading.
    • 4/5
      Mother with polio and her daughter growing up. Very good.
    • 4/5
      Ms. Berg is outstanding in her ability to fictionalize characters that were inspired by the true story of a polio survivor, Pat Raming. Her storytelling from the daughters view point shows the mother's character, Paige, in a real and human light. Even though the mother is a quadriplegic, the daughter, Diana, is still a young teen, expressing all of the emotions that go with her age. She loves her mother, hates her mother, feels sorry for her, and sometimes wishes she could run away.
    • 4/5
      Stricken by polio, Paige Dunn, a woman of remarkable free spirit, beauty, and intelligence, continues to raise her daughter, Diana, with the help of her caretaker Peacie, in a novel set against the backdrop of Tupelo, Mississippi, in 1964. Berg is an incredibe word-smith. From the moment I start one of her books, her words draw me in. Paige Dunn is a fascinating character and her daughter, Diana, struggles to be a "normal" teenager while trying to provide her mother with the care she needs as a quadraplegic. This is a beautiful story about love and caring and overcoming great odds.
    • 4/5
      Elizabeth Berg has a wonderful ability to draw characters who you can't help but care about what happens to them. This book is about a woman with polio who, despite living in an iron lung, managed to raise a wonderful, well-adjusted daughter. The black woman who cared for them is also a wonderfully drawn character. The book takes place the summer when all of the civil rights workers came down from the north to help end segregation.
    • 4/5
      Good book, but not my favorite Berg. It didn't help that I got into another book half way through this one and pushed it to the side for a few days.It was a touching story though - and I might have almost cried a few times through it!
    • 4/5
      Author Elizabeth Berg received a letter in 2003 requesting she write the story of polio survivor, Pat Raming. The letter, written by Pat’s youngest daughter, Marianne Raming Burke, began, “I have no idea if you get this type of request often, however what is life without risks?”Fiction writer Berg was ready to pass on the request, believing a non-fiction author would better suit Mrs. Burke’s needs. In the Author’s Note, Berg states, “I don’t like to take ideas from anyone—it goes best when I work alone.”Yet, she could not stop looking at the photograph enclosed in the letter. The picture depicts a wheelchair-bound, young mother and sweet, curly-blonde daughter in front of their ranch home in California. “I was so taken with the lack of pity and the strength and joy I believed I saw on her face," Berg wrote in an e-mail.Four days before Marianne’s birth in 1952, her mother contracted polio that placed her in an iron lung. Marianne, the youngest of three, believes she is the only baby to survive an iron lung birth. Marianne added, "They had her funeral ready and mine."To make matters worse, Mr. Raming suggested they put their children up for adoption. The cause of their immediate divorce, Pat vehemently denied this insensitive request. It was now Pat’s responsibility to raise three children, all under the age of six, within her wheelchair-toting, portable lung.Although the book, We are All Welcome Here, is based on this true story, it is purely fictional. Berg, who likes to explore mother-daughter relationships in her novels, has chosen polio-stricken mother, Paige Dunn, and only child, Diana Dunn, as her main characters.In the summer of 1964, 14-year-old Diana is the primary night caregiver to Paige. It’s another grueling summer in Tupelo, Mississippi, not only for the heat but also the simmering discourse between the races. There are three individuals in the Dunn household struggling with freedom issues: Paige, Diana, and the house cleaner, Peacie.This is unlike any book Elizabeth Berg has written. She seems to rush through this story, as if she has a train to catch. The plot is predictable, yet, I can’t taint a woman who adds Elvis to her mix of characters. If anything, pick it up for the local flavor, it only takes a day to read.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I read it first just working my way through all of Berg's books, and then bought a copy for my mother who had polio when she was young. Lucky for her it was only her arm that was affected, but I know that she came in contact with many others with much worse consequences.