Reviews - The Turtle House

242 reviews for:

The Turtle House

Amanda Churchill

4.09 AVERAGE

tdlang's review against another edition

2.75

informative reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

cloverrose13's review against another edition

5.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

hellosarahpham's review against another edition

4.75

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

juliavt1212's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ashleysilver7's review against another edition

4.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

This was a charming novel about Mineko (pronounced "mean echo"), a woman born in 1926 in rural Japan (Osaka region) and married to an American soldier. Eventually the two move to Curtain, Texas, where they raise their children. However, not surprisingly, their marriage is difficult, and Mineko never fully recovers from the love and life she lost because of WWII. Clearly we were not on the same "side" as the Japanese, but hearing the story from Mineko's POV makes one realize that cultures may not be the same, but underneath it all, we are not so different.

Mineko's granddaughter, Lia, is an architect but going through a difficult time. Together, they are able to bond and better able to understand one another. The ending is a bit open-ended, but I finished the novel with a lot of love and hope in my heart.

Content Warnings

reading_at_the_zoo's review against another edition

2.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition

5.0

It's hard to believe that "The Turtle House" is a first novel. It's very confident, and Amanda Churchill skillfully manages the dual timelines of 1999 Texas and 1930s and 40s Japan.

When the book opens, Lia has abandoned her juicy job with a top architecture firm to return to her tiny Texas hometown and share a room at her parents' with her Japanese grandmother, who's there because she burned her house down. It's pretty clear that Minnie did this on purpose but everyone is blaming it on her age. Minnie is a tough chain-smoking gal who does not fit the classic image of a Japanese war bride.

But as Churchill begins to explore Minnie's past, we see that she has never been typical, challenging her family's expectations of a daughter. But these traits will bring her to her great love, the elegant son of a wealthy family with whom she an almost magical bond. They meet at an abandoned house they call the Turtle House, a place of great beauty and peace. So how did Mineko transform into Minnie, on her way to a Texas ranch with a nasty husband and two small children?

Lia and Minnie are a turning points in their lives and the way they challenge and support each other makes for a captivating story. As it always seems, one story line is stronger than the other. Minnie is an irresistible force, but Lia's stream will hold your interest as well. A delicious read, "The Turtle House" is the work of a fine new talent.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.