Reader Blogger, Kristi!
by sue on Feb.27, 2010, under Book Chat
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah was an engaging read. It is not lightweight, frivolous, or funny and definitely not a beach read. Which is good because it’s currently pouring rain at my house. With the stormy weather the ambiance was perfectly cozy to read it until late at night when I should have been in bed sleeping. Two children getting up before the sun rises means a tired mother. Yet Winter Garden kept my attention, my feelings were engaged, I was hooked on the story, and it made me cry. Twice. Any book that makes me cry gets five stars as there have only been a couple of books that I have ever read that have had that kind of power.The story starts off with two sisters, Meredith and Nina Whitson, and showed how they were completely different and not familiar with each other. Meredith has a husband who was a childhood love and two beautiful grown children. Meredith works for the family business and leads a busy life. Yet she is depressed and closed off from her husband as both of her children have left the family nest to attend college. Nina is a free bird, living the nomadic photography lifestyle while hardly checking in with her family as she wanders around torn countries. Nina has a man that she sees frequently in the course of her travels yet keeps him at arms length emotionally.
The two girls had grown apart years ago as they have had their disapproving mother, Anya, never love or care for them throughout the years and that affected their relationship. Even with their attentive and loving father around to keep the family together, it was never enough. Of course, tragedy strikes as their father becomes ill and forces Anya and her two daughters to be together to learn more about each other and explore Anya’s past so her daughters can finally know about their mother.
The fascinating part about this story is that it features a fairy tale that Anya tells throughout the book. It is shrouded in mystery and takes place in Leningrad, which is now modern day Saint Petersburg. It is a love story and has been a source of tension in the family as Anya has never told the ending. She has finally been compelled to tell the ending and explain her own personal mysteries to her daughters. The fairy tale starts off in a very mystical way and had me a little skeptical at how it was going to continue. This didn’t feel like the type of mystical book I was getting in to. As the fairy tale went on, the details in the story slightly changed and with that change, you will discover some interesting facts about the life that Anya led before she came to America and married Evan Whitson.
The main character of Meredith was a hard read. If you have any personal sadness in your life, Meredith will hit you hard as she has closed herself off and is most obviously severely depressed. Honestly, there were a few times where I wanted to close the book because I couldn’t feel like I could read anymore on how Meredith could show how depressed she was! I’m glad I didn’t seriously think about closing the book, it was a great story. The fairy tale was amazing but very graphic on war related items. It was sad to read and hard to imagine. While a few of the plots in the book were obvious on where they would end, the main plot with Anya and her daughters took many unexpected twists that were thrilling to read and also very tragic.
I can only imagine that Kristin Hannah has a sister, or a large family, and intimately knows rough waters of family life because her past books like True Colors, Between Sisters, or Summer Island are striking family ties in such a heartfelt way. When you feel like your parents don’t love you, or are not proud of you, Hannah describes those feelings perfectly. Hannah is able to guide you through forced family meetings that you feel you have attended in your own life, yet somehow get you through to the end and show you that it is possible to have a happy ending.
If you have family members whom you love yet have had problems in the past with, you need to pick up a Kristin Hannah novel. Winter Garden was remarkable in family issues and the astounding storytelling of Leningrad in the 1940’s. I highly recommend it.
Have you ever had issues with your mother or siblings that you couldn’t work out? Remember that life can be unexpected. Be sure to let your family members know you care about them.
Kristi can be found rambling about life at http://www.KristiBug.com
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Borders True Romance Guest Post
February 27th, 2010 on 10:17 am[...] morning because I just checked my favorite romance blog, Borders True Romance, and my review of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah has been posted! Please go check out my review and the Borders True Romance blog and leave me a [...]
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About Sue & Borders True Romance Blog
Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
Borders True Romance Blog is a community, developed for you, the romance reader, to find out more about the books you love; the authors who write them & where to buy them :) Borders.com
Previously published as Wishes No Matter How Fast You Run. . .The newborn baby boy is beautiful, perfect, and hers for the asking. All Kate Summers has to do is agree to one condition--she must disappear from Boston and never breathe a word about the adoption to anyone. Or How Far You Go. . .Fifteen years later, Kate has built a good life for herself and her son, Jon, in Hopewell, Oregon. Still, she is haunted by the fear that he will somehow be taken away. Then Daegan O'Rourke arrives in town and strikes up a friendship with her and Jon. But Daegan has his own past to hide--one with shocking ties to hers. A Killer Will Always Find You. . .Someone is watching Kate, watching her son, and is willing to go to any lengths to claim him. And the one man Kate is tempted to trust has dangerous secrets that could change her world forever. Soon the past Kate thought she could outrun will explode, unearthing a legacy of lies and treachery, and a fury powerful enough to kill. . .
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March 15th, 2010 on 5:12 pm
Nice review, Kristi! Very thorough and interesting — you’ve convinced me I need to read this book. I love books that address all the complications of familial relationships — the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens!
March 3rd, 2010 on 1:30 pm
Great Review Kristi! I have read Between Sisters and enjoyed it so I will have to check out Winter Garden. I enjoy reading about family relationship because it always reminds me how much I value my own.
Keep up the great reviews!
February 28th, 2010 on 5:00 pm
Great review! I haven’t read any of Kristin Hannah”s books yet but will definitely put Winter Garden on my “to read” list. I especially like books about family relationships and ones that get you emotinally involved like you describe in your review. I’ll be looking forward to your next review.
February 28th, 2010 on 4:56 pm
Great review! I haven’t read any of Kristin Hannah’s books but wilI definitely put Winter Garden on my “to read” list. I like books about relationships especially if they bring out the reader’s emotions like you describe in this review. I will look forward to more of your reviews.
February 28th, 2010 on 1:54 pm
Never thought my sister and I would have a close relationship. With just a single turn, our relationship changed for the best! Sounds like a great read Kristi! Thanks. I’m going to pick it up this week.
February 28th, 2010 on 1:11 pm
I have yet to read any Kristin Hannah novels but after reading this wonderful review I will definitely be picking up Winter Garden soon! Thank you for the wonderfully written review!
February 28th, 2010 on 12:00 pm
Thank you for the insightful review. It has a lot of depth and makes me want to read the book. Sometimes I just like reading a book for a good cry, and this sounds like the perfect one.
February 27th, 2010 on 9:01 pm
Thanks for such great insight on this book! This definately sounds like a book that I could relate to! Family relationships issues??? Hmmmm, people have those? I have a bunch!!! I can hardly wait to read it.
February 27th, 2010 on 6:24 pm
Wow, I mostly read business books but this one sounds great! I’ll have to pick up a copy. Thank you for sharing the highlights of the story - it sounds very deep with a lot of twists and turns.
February 27th, 2010 on 6:10 pm
Thanks for a great review! Your description of the characters and story line made me want to read the book and be thankful for my own amazing family. Inevitably there are elements of most books and stories that we can relate to our own lives - especially when it involves family, love and relationships. I hope Winter Garden is available for the Kindle because I’m going to download it now for an upcoming trip, along with True Colors.
February 27th, 2010 on 5:03 pm
I have a big, close (too close at times!) family. No major family problems here.
Great review!
February 27th, 2010 on 3:43 pm
Have never had any family problems that couldn’t be worked out by sitting down and talking.
February 27th, 2010 on 12:49 pm
Thanks for a great post and message, Kristi. Luckily, my family is pretty close-knit and no major issues. My relationship with my mom (no sisters) is also very strong. I only hope when I have kids one day I can have an equally loving relationship.
Have a great weekend!
February 27th, 2010 on 1:02 pm
Thanks Scorpio! I have an amazing family too, it’s wonderful to have a support system.
February 27th, 2010 on 12:12 pm
I just finished True Colors. I couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read Winter Garden.
She captures you from Page 1.
February 27th, 2010 on 11:31 am
Great review. I love Kristin Hannahs books and have this one on my TBR pile. I have 2 sisters and a brother. My sisters and I are not close. There is a geographical distance but that is only the tip of our iceberg so to speak. Our parents died at a relatively young age mom at 45 and dad at 52 and instead of bounding together we scattered. It is truly sad but I really don’t see it getting better anytime soon. My brother keeps in contact with all of us.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
February 27th, 2010 on 11:14 am
Great review! Now I have another book on my list to read!
February 27th, 2010 on 7:44 am
Yes, I have and it is so sad; there is one particular family member that is distanced from the entire family, their choosing - not much contact - and doesnt look good for any change. Unfortunately I don’t think a book is going to change anything. Don’t mean to be a downer.
I have read one of Kristin’s books and it is on my list of books I will never forget - Home Again. Awesome!
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
February 27th, 2010 on 10:29 am
Pat, I don’t think sending an estranged family member the book would change anything either. When you have those sort of relationships, I think reading the book just gives you more compassion for the story and resonates for you more, you know?
Home Again was amazing. I really can’t decide which book from Hannah is my favorite.
February 27th, 2010 on 1:27 am
My sisters and I had a lot of issues when we were younger! We didn’t get along at all. Now that we are older we get along great! I guess we just grew up and realized what family is all about.