"Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah

Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is such a good book!  It is complex, mysterious, fully of secrets, informative, touching, multifaceted, and full of meaning.  I enjoy books about family relationships and this one is one of the best I ever read.  The older sister, Meredith, always tried to please everyone else, and Nina, an adventuresome photojournalist, are sisters with very different personalities but both feel unloved by their mother, Anya, until they learn her background after their father dies.

The father loved his family very much and his dying wish was that his wife and daughters would become close and love each other too.  The author skillfully conveys much about Russian culture and what it is like to live in a war-torn country through Anya’s account of her life in the form of a fairy tale which is a puzzle her daughters eventually piece together. 

I enjoyed reading how the mother and daughters were reconciled and liked the bitter sweet ending.  All the main characters were well developed and the author also gives insight into love and marriage issues through the various characters.  This book shows how strong women can be when it comes to protecting their family.  I found the way the peasants in Russia lived through the war very interesting.  It also shows how the past affects our present life and how relationships improve when we make an effort to really get to know others.  This is a family saga definitely worth reading.   I look forward to reading more of Kristin Hannah’s books, this was my first and I highly recommend it.

Here's what the author says about it:


Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

Whatcha Reading Wednesday--July 28

Busy Mom's Who Love To Read is sponsoring this so visit there and link up.

This is how "Whatcha Reading Wednesdays" works this week...

Pick up the book you are currently reading. Go to page 100 and type that very last complete sentence on the page.  

If it is a spoiler at all be sure to put **Spoiler Alert** at the top of your comment (like if the selection announces the death of an integral character or something).

Here is mine for this week: 

"You said that after the first two killings he chose victims he could

pull beneath the surface without notice."

 Echo Park by Michael Connelly

"Blacklands" by Belinda Bauer

Blacklands by Belinda Bauer was a bit slow moving I thought for a suspense novel but it did keep my interest.  A 12-yr-old boy named Steven writes to the serial killer in jail to try to find out where the killer buried his uncle Billy who was killed when he was just a boy.  I liked the way the letters were written and how suspense built up to when Steven and the killer confronted each other.  It didn’t end like I expected.  It's good and I recommend it
(Karen's Review 4/18/10)  


Blacklands by Belinda Bauer is awesome!  I finished it in just two days because it was almost impossible to put down.  This book is about Steven, a 12-yr-old boy who wants to find where a killer buried his uncle.  He decides to write to the killer in prison and the letters back and forth between the killer and Steven is very interesting!  This is Belinda Bauer’s first book, but I’ll be looking for the next one--super job!

(Gerard's Review 4/9/10)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"There's Treasure Everywhere" by Bill Watterson

I can never get enough of Calvin & Hobbes.  There's Treasure Everywhere by Bill Watterson is funny.  I was lucky enough to get another Calvin & Hobbes book and this one might have been even better than the last one!  Anyway, Calvin & Hobbes is always so good!  Laugh, smile, enjoy!

(Gerard's review 2/13/10)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?

"Winter's Bone" by Daniel Woodrell

I think this book makes a better movie.  Winter's Bone is about a teen girl named Rae who has to find her dad or else they could lose their home.  Also, she has two brothers to look after and has to look after her mom, who has gone off the deep end.  It takes place in hill country.  The characters are good and I liked the story.  This is a rare case where I believe that seeing the story is better than reading it.  
(Gerard's review)

Please tell us: What categories of literature do you like? What are you reading now? Who are your top five favorite authors? Have you read this one? What did you think of it?