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Come On In, Don't Get Lonesome

By Lauri Cruver Cherian

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Overview

It is 1910, and Tacoma, Washington is booming. Immigrants flock to the City of Destiny to find work at the Tideflats, railroad, waterfront, and sawmills, to pursue the American Dream. A lucky few have found a home at the Old Alpha, a boarding house with the slogan: "Come on in, don't get lonesome!" Amidst the hustle and bustle of activity in the boarding house lives a little girl. She is intrigued by the stories and friendships she makes with the immigrant men boarding at the Old Alpha on Tacoma Avenue South. This tender story will touch your heart as you follow the life of this little girl and the boarders who share her home in a boom town.
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Description

Come On In, Don't Get Lonesome, is an historical novel loosely based on ancestral history. The author's great grandparents ran the Old Alpha boarding house in the heart of Tacoma, Washington in 1910. Immigrants flocked to the City of Destiny for jobs in lumber mills, the railroad, fishing, boat building, and shipping. Each new boarder was greeted with, "Come on in, don't get lonesome." Considered the little princess of the Old Alpha, six-year-old Myrtle is a central figure in the book. Her life as the endearing daughter of the hospitable proprietors of the Old Alpha, intertwines with those of the borders of many cultures, and their immigration stories, amidst the hustle and bustle of this boom town. Everyday activities, as well as special events, outings, and poignant moments are sprinkled throughout this period tale, immersing one in the customs and norms of the time in Tacoma, as well as the natural beauty of the surrounding area.
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About The Author

Lauri Cruver Cherian is an award-winning author and educator, teaching English as a second language and bilingual education to children and adults for decades. She is a native of Gig Harbor, Washington, transplanted to South Texas for the last 30 years. Lauri has been a master teacher and a leader of workshops in adult ESL education across South Texas. She is the recipient of several teacher of the year awards. Lauri is a columnist in The Facts newspaper in Brazoria County. When she isn't writing articles, stories or poems, she is teaching adult ESL in her community and volunteering at the planetarium. Lauri and her husband, Jacob, have three adventurous grown children. Lauri's writing journey began in 2022, when she published her debut chapbook of poetry, Poems of the Point, a tribute to growing up on the beach in her hometown of Gig Harbor, Washington. In 2023, she published her full-length poetry book, Brave as Thistles, a collection of poems about becoming brave as one navigates mid-life messiness. Her children's chapter book, Four Anxious Armadillos, is a delightful story of four unique species of armadillos on an adventure in Argentina and was a finalist in the 2024 Storytrade Award for Children's Middle Grade Fiction for 8-12-year-olds. Come On In, Don't Get Lonesome is Lauri's newest release, a historical fiction novel set in a boom town of Tacoma, Washington in 1910. The reader meets compelling immigrants from around the world who board in a house owned and operated by Lauri's great grandparents.
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Book details

  • Genre:fiction
  • Sub-genre:Historical / General
  • Language:English
  • Pages:200
  • Paperback ISBN:9798317818289

Book Reviews

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J
Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome Lauri Cruver Cherian invites us into a world gone by — but freshly imagined and vivid with her compelling storytelling and passion for her own family’s unique history. With a foundation set in a real boarding house in 1910 Tacoma, Washington, she fashions her characters with sensitivity and the engaging spirit of a warm heart. Little Myrtle’s family welcomes immigrants to live at the Old Alpha and it is perhaps even more their calling than their livelihood. For anyone who has ever searched for a true home and longed to be seen and known, this is a tale that reminds us what all of us so deeply need and shows us how love and hospitality transform strangers into family. Read more
Diane
Come On In Don’t Get Lonesome This is such a heartwarming story. I felt like a member of Myrtle’s sweet family and looked forward to all the boarder’s loving quirky interactions. You won’t want this book to end! Read more
Esperanza
Beautifully written book Lauri is considerably gifted in writing poetry and stories. In Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome, she weaves historical facts with fiction so brilliantly that she drew me into that time and place. This story has humor mixed with the reality of pain. The Pat & Mike old-time jokes never failed to give me a smile and a chuckle or two. The loss of the Queen made my heart ache with grief. This is a book to keep on your bookshelf and read it from time to time. Read more
Ramona
A kind and gentle read I just finished it last night! I would read a few chapters right before bed. The stories were sweet and gentle, and I loved learning the historical aspects of Tacoma. Lauri Cruver Cherian did a great job incorporating a sense that immigrants each had their own stories and were integral to the community. ❤️ (And I loved knowing it was set in the Great Pacific NW!!!). Read more
Stephanie
A Delightful Story I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone. It amazes me how Ms. Cherian can take two poems and a newspaper article and create such a delightful story. She does a remarkable job developing characters, as she weaves historical facts into the narrative while using her vivid imagination, ultimately painting a beautiful picture. After reading Come On In, Don’t Get Lonesome, my heart was touched. I was reminded that almost all of our families were immigrants at one time. I hope there was someone like the Dunn’s to offer them safe shelter and a kind heart. Read more
Suzette
Loved this historical fiction Such an endearing story told through the lens of a little girl in Victorian era Tacoma WA. I loved reading about places and events I knew of personally and were brought to life through this captivating tale. Come on In, Don’t Get Lonesome was developed in a way such as to draw the reader in as a secret boarder, per se, or “fly on the wall” living out the day to day activities of the lives of this relatable family and their mish mash group of boarders from all walks of life and cultural backgrounds. I loved the colorful descriptions of historical places in the Tacoma WA area, and how the author weaves in historical events and “flavors” true to the era. Such a beautiful and endearing story I highly recommend, appropriate for all ages and walks of life! Read more