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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
I feel bad for giving this book 3/5 stars. I found it really hard to get myself to read this book. I bought it a couple of years ago only because I wanted a book and didn’t have any books on my wish list. I didn’t get very far in the book when I initially started reading it; I just wasn’t sucked in, and so I stopped reading it. I picked it up again recently, but I had to push myself to finish it. It’s beautifully written and a very realistic and sweet story with wonderful life lessons. I think I finally gained appreciation for this book while reading the last chapter, when the author connects everything together. It was just so slow and there wasn’t anything in the book that made me want to keep reading “to find out what happens.” I just don’t think it’s my cup of tea. I think I’ll have to give it another chance one day now that I know what to expect. I don’t think it’s you “Tending Roses;” it’s me.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While in the end, I liked the book as it reminded me of my grandmother. But it was a very slow start, and I didn't know if I would keep going. It was well over halfway through that I finally got interested.
This book felt like it was written long ago and was just too predictable.
Read this for the second time and it still remains a favorite. I loved it just as much this time around, and I think it touched me even more with the place I am in life right now. This is such a sweet, tender book filled with life lessons that might seem a little obvious, but nevertheless, they are still good to hear sometimes.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Slow and tender slice of life. Strong generational family themes.
I had previously read Before We Were Yours and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I started reading this book with some expectations. As I read the beginning pages I anticipated there would be a considerable amount of family strife as well as a few unexpected twists and turns, but all of the discord with the characters seemed to fray away without much effort and there were few surprises. Needless to say, I found this novel fairly boring.
As far as characters are concerned, I wasn’t drawn to any of them in particular. And, while I appreciate the wisdom of the elderly, I don’t enjoy know-it-alls no matter what their age, so I did not find Grandma Rose endearing.
While the recollections from the past that Grandma Rose writes in her wildflower journal are very meaningful and are synced beautifully with the storyline, I found it a bit of a stretch that she was writing these in the present. I kept asking myself “When did she find the time to write?” I don’t think she slept at all. I think it would have been more realistic for Kate to find the journal already filled with stories and pick it up and read a story from time to time that relates to the current conflict.
Kate Bowman, her husband, Ben, and their infant son, Joshua travel to Kate’s grandmother’s home in the weeks preceding Christmas to “babysit” her until the entire family gathers to celebrate the holiday and relocate Grandma Rose to a care facility. Many of the family members are estranged from one another and haven’t spoken in a long period of time. Kate finds herself drawn to her grandmother and becomes sympathetic to the idea of extending her leave of absence to stay with her Grandmother and allow her to continue living on her farm. Eventually other family members trickle in and a decision is reached
As far as characters are concerned, I wasn’t drawn to any of them in particular. And, while I appreciate the wisdom of the elderly, I don’t enjoy know-it-alls no matter what their age, so I did not find Grandma Rose endearing.
While the recollections from the past that Grandma Rose writes in her wildflower journal are very meaningful and are synced beautifully with the storyline, I found it a bit of a stretch that she was writing these in the present. I kept asking myself “When did she find the time to write?” I don’t think she slept at all. I think it would have been more realistic for Kate to find the journal already filled with stories and pick it up and read a story from time to time that relates to the current conflict.
Kate Bowman, her husband, Ben, and their infant son, Joshua travel to Kate’s grandmother’s home in the weeks preceding Christmas to “babysit” her until the entire family gathers to celebrate the holiday and relocate Grandma Rose to a care facility. Many of the family members are estranged from one another and haven’t spoken in a long period of time. Kate finds herself drawn to her grandmother and becomes sympathetic to the idea of extending her leave of absence to stay with her Grandmother and allow her to continue living on her farm. Eventually other family members trickle in and a decision is reached
Read this book. Pure cheese. This family isn't perfect, but the problems they have are so minimal it's shocking how much they affect the relationships. Very much a lecture about the working American family priorities.... but somehow not a lecture about an insured middle class couple nearly going into debt with the birth of their child. This couple is unrealistic their ridiculous luxuries nearly taking precedence over bills. Overall cute concept with the grandma's letters, but definitely fell short and was just not my style.
It is always fascinating what books resonate with people. I do think Wingate had many good things to say about marriage and families and life. Her writing style is not my favorite, but she touches on subjects that many women in my bookgroup responded to, and that is great! We were able to talk about our own experiences and relationships, and that was interesteing.