Winter Garden

by Kristin Hannah

Again I find my talents lacking.  I am unable to transform my feelings about this book into satisfactory words.  Why is it that when I really like a book all I can come up with is, "I really like this book."?  (I know the punctuation is wrong in that last sentence, but I punctuated it the way I thought it should be for what I was saying.)

Maybe if I ask myself some probing questions I'll be able to better define my thoughts and feelings.  Who was the book about?  Who did I identify with?  Who did I like and who did I not like? 

The story starts out being about Meredith, one of 2 sisters of a cold, insensitive mother but then it expands to include her mother's & sister's stories, as well.   The setting is an apple orchard located on the Columbia River.  The father's death brings the sisters and their mother together to confront their differences and buried pains.  Before the father died he pleaded with the youngest daughter, Nina, to make their mother tell them her story.

I didn't really identify with any of the characters but I grew to like them and sympathize with their journeys.  Early on in the book I contemplated quitting because I didn't want to drudge through sibling rivalries and Meredith's tough exterior but I wanted to know the mother's story.  Why was she so cold and hurtful to her daughters both in the present and when they were younger. 

What was the mother's story? What could possibly have happened to her that could make her daughters forgive and love her?  It was this question that kept me reading and I'm so glad I did. 

That's all the questions I'm going to answer because I want you to read this book as I did - without knowing too much about it.  Learning about the mother without knowing ahead of time was a good thing, I think.  That's not to say if you know where the story's heading that you shouldn't read it.  You should.

I like books that entertain as well as educate.  This one did both.  And it made me count my blessings on many different fronts.  I read Winter Garden for my church's f2f reading group even though I knew I wouldn't be able to attend the discussion. 

Can't Wait to Get to Heaven

by Fannie Flagg

What a fun, endearing, quirky book!  This is not my general fare of mystery or suspense but I totally ate it up.  Flagg has a wonderful way of lifting your spirits with her delightful main characters.  I sound like an expert on Fannie Flagg, don't I?  I should insert a disclaimer right here saying that I've only read two of her books so far, but they were both great fun to read and put a spring in my step.

The heroine is Elner Shimfissle who is well into her eighties and still lives alone.  Heck, she even climbs the ladder to gather in some fruit from her fig tree without giving it a second thought.  Turns out she should have because while up there she gets attacked by a swarm of bees and falls backwards off the ladder.  She's rushed to the hospital where she is pronounced dead.  While family and friend are making funeral arrangements, Elner is enjoy her after-life experiences and meeting with a few interesting people from her past.

Her niece is beyond worry that the townsfolk saw her aunt Elner in that old, ugly housecoat that she had on when she fell.  The nieces husband has more serious matters to worry about after finding a gun in the bottom of Elner's hamper.  Did I say there wasn't any mystery?  I forgot about the gun until just now.  What is that doing in sweet Aunt Elner's hamper?

The Hunter

by John Lescroart

I just found out today that The Hunter is book three in a new series by Lescroart that features PI Wyatt Hunt.   It reads wonderfully as a stand alone and I don't think it is necessary to have read the first 2 books to enjoy this one.  Most of the time I like reading a series in order, but sometimes it is fun to just jump into book 3 or 4 and then go back and read the first books.  You already know things that are going to happen to the main character and you can view him through a different lens than you would otherwise.

Most of you recognize the name John Lescroart and have appreciated his books featuring Dismal Hardy - Les from NE comes to mind.  In fact it was reading Lesley's reviews that first introduced me to Lescroart.  Needless to say, I became a fan.

The Hunter is about Wyatt Hunt, who receives an anonymous text message asking him how his mother died.  Wyatt is adopted and knows nothing about his birth mother and discovers it is tricky finding clues about her and what happened to her.  The anonymous text-er, out of fear, will not reveal too much to Wyatt but does occasionally leave hints and warnings.  Wyatt finds himself in greater danger with each new discovery he makes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner - a good mystery, a likable & sympathetic main character, a tie-in to a famous incident, good writing, plenty of suspense.

** I received a free copy of The Hunter in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.

A Discovery of Jeanne Baret

by Glynis Ridley

The first thing that attracted me to this book was the cover; and then the title; and then the subtitle.  When I was offered this book by Crown Publishing I caught a glimpse of the cover and thought, "Oh, it's an Andrea Barrett book!"  I love her - she writes beautiful novels dealing with scientific aspects.  Then I noticed it was about a woman named Baret - close.  And then the subtitle: A Story of Science, the High Seas, and the First Woman to Circumnavigate the Globe.  It was a bout science!  I knew this was a book for me even if it wasn't written by Ms. Barrett.

I don't know if this is a biography or fiction.  The research was in depth and well presented, but there was much speculation as to the thoughts and feelings of the people involved.  For instance, we may suppose that Barret felt animosity toward her traveling companion and teacher, botanist Philibert Commerson at certain times and at others love and gratitude, but to be truthful that part of the book is conjecture.  It's probable to most readers that she should have despised the man long before they ever set sail, but she still dressed as a man to accompany him around the world.  A few good reason are supplied by the author as to Jeanne's reasons.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and loved learning so many new things about life and science in the late 1760s.  I tried to imagine how Jeanne could pull off her disguise for more than a month in such a tightly cloistered environment as a ship full of men.  I mean, how does a woman conceal evidence of her period in a day and age when they had to use and reuse rags?  Of course, her secret was eventually found out and acknowledged.

One caution:  I was confused by the Introduction.  It just jumps right in and talks about Jeanne Barret like she was a person I should know of and that I should be familiar with her circumstances, which I was not.  I decided its purpose was to justify the need to write a book about Barret.  Keep reading.  You'll be rewarded with an interesting story and a very rewarding time of reading.   If I rated books, I'd give this one a 4.25 or 4.5.  I really liked it, but be forewarned that it is not a fluffy, light read.  There was substance to this book.


** I received a free copy of The Discovery of Jeanne Baret in exchange for my honest review. No other compensation was received.