Saturday, September 4, 2010

Review for "Winter Garden" by Kristin Hannah


I am at the auto body shop and I have to stop to contain myself. I wipe the beginnings of tears from the corners of my eyes and take a deep breath. I am on page 326 and I'm about to cry amidst the smells of gasoline and oil. "Control yourself", I think. Yet...I continue on... I can't stop reading. The universal theme of loss of loved ones hits me like a ton of bricks. I cannot help but be affected by this story, one of motherhood, loss, guilt and grief. I am getting closer to the end of the "fairy tale" within the tale, and I find myself at odds....I want to know the ending, but I dread the knowledge of a terrible event that must be revealed.

Meredith and Nina are sisters, yet not very close ones any more. They lead very different lives, yet they share one thing...a need, a need to be comforted and loved by their seemingly cold-hearted mother. These sisters tried not to care that their own mother never looked at them and barely spoke to them. Nina makes a promise to her dying father to listen to her mother's "fairy tale" one last time, yet this time, she must hear it to the end. Little do these three women know that the telling of this tale will force them to reexamine their lives and thus change them forever.

This is one of those books that will stay with me long after I have turned the last page and cried my last tear. The author, Kristin Hannah, has done a marvelous job of moving between the past and present, from an apple orchard in Washington State to war torn Russia and finally to modern day Alaska. The way she interweaves the daughters' personal struggles with the mother's telling of her past in Leningrad is well done. She tackles many themes in this wonderfully written book....the ravages of war, the strength of women, the pain endured by mothers, forgiveness and healing. After reading this book, the reader learns how one's past affects one's future. As Kristen Hannah says, it all began with a sentence: "Sometimes, when you open the door to your mother's past, you find your own future." I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy books that are "part epic love story, part family drama, part historical novel". However, be warned...have a box of Kleenex nearby!

16 comments:

  1. Oh, this sounds amazing! Brilliant review...I love books that make you feel something :)

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  2. Thanks Melissa,
    I so loved this book and it was a total surprise to me. I think all women would definitely connect with this great story!

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  3. Hi Mandy:
    Great review!! Found your blog via The Things We Find Inside and am a new follower. I look forward to your future postings. I can be found here.
    CMash

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  4. I came to your blog from Things we Find Inside as well. I love the reviews.

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  5. I have now added this book to my list. It looks great. I didn't know labor day also happened in Canada. That's interesting.

    Blessings to you on the school year!

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  6. Hey, Following Back!!! :)

    Not So Perfect Mom

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  7. Hello I am a new follower from AM. I would love a follow back at http://megankayden.blogspot.com/

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  8. Hi Mandy
    What a great review, I was almost in tears just reading it. One should not need the kleenix just to read a review. You have brought the book alive. Great job. I am a new follower from the hop and am glad I stopped by. If you get a chance please stop by and check me out at http://www.wrighton-time.blogspot.com

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  9. Great review - I loved the other Kristin Hannah book that I read, so I will definitely have to check this one out... btw, just ran across a cool book lover's blog hop at http://www.storytimeunderthestars.com/search/label/Book%20Lovers'%20Blog%20Hop that I thought might be a great place for you to find some new followers!

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  10. Thanks for joining Admirer Monday! I’m your newest follower! Hope to blog with you again soon!

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  11. New Follower! Found you from The Things we find inside. I love reading too and will be checking out your books! :) I read bikini season and am moving on to just breathe. All over the long weekend :)

    www.missysalsa.blogspot.com

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  12. Hi Mandy,

    Just came by to tell you that I gave you an award. Thanks for always being awesome. TTWFI think you rock!

    You can find the award here...http://thethingswefindinside.blogspot.com/2010/09/im-speechlesssomeone-actually-gave-me.html

    Marie

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  13. Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors. I read this book a few months ago, and enjoyed it.

    I just today finished reading another one of her books titled "Firefly Lane." I enjoyed it as well, laughed through parts of it, and cried through some of it.

    I came over from CMash Loves To Read blog, so of course I have become one of your new followers.

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  14. Great review! I'll have to add this book to my list.

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  15. What a fabulous review, this really sounds like a book that I need to get my hands on.


    http://mandysescape.blogspot.com/2010/09/review-winter-garden-by-kristin-hannah.html

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  16. Oh, what a great review! I've had this book on my To-Read list for awhile now. Maybe I should move it up to the top!

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