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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Disappointed. I was so looking forward to reading this book. It has such high reviews, it's touted as a magical realism story about family that takes place in a little café in the south.
What I read: boring conversation in one location, transition to another location for more boring conversation over the same thing, followed by another transition to another location for even more boring conversation over, you guessed it, THE SAME THING! The whole town only talks about ONE TOPIC.
The family "drama" at the center of the story is so bland. There's more drama in the most vapid episode of The Brady Bunch! The characters centered in the conflict were just as flavorless as I imagined the cafe's menu. Anna Kate and Natalie come back to the town that's supposedly divided by the death of Eden and AJ 25 years ago - Anna Kate's parents and Natalie's brother. It seems like this is ALL THAT THE TOWN TALKS ABOUT even after 25 years! Yet these two aforementioned women come (back) to town and I guess there's a change of heart? It's hard to tell because the characters are so cardboard and spiritless. If there was a change in characters from the beginning of the story to the end, it's quite difficult to see.
Reading the summary of the book, you know straightaway that Anna Kate is going to stay in Wicklow and head the café - which she does effortlessly (including coming up with new recipes, tending and harvesting a garden, arranging the birders in town to camp on the property, etc etc etc) without any real conflict or difficulty. I guess this could be chalked up to the magical realism, but it comes across as limp storytelling. It could have been so much better. Yet Anna Kate deciding to stay and the whole town being supportive of her just like they have been the whole time is the big climax. Surprise?
And the magical realism is *there* I guess? It's not really woven into the story as an element so I don't really want to say it's magical realism but rather faux magical realism? I don't know. The pies that are made by the Callows that have the magical mulberries can cause deceased loved ones to deliver messages in your dreams - but only sometimes. No one really knows how it works, it's just plot-convenient really. That and it's very heavily implied that two characters can shapeshift into a bird and a cat. There's something there but it doesn't really have a worthwhile payoff. Just more blandness.
What I read: boring conversation in one location, transition to another location for more boring conversation over the same thing, followed by another transition to another location for even more boring conversation over, you guessed it, THE SAME THING! The whole town only talks about ONE TOPIC.
The family "drama" at the center of the story is so bland. There's more drama in the most vapid episode of The Brady Bunch! The characters centered in the conflict were just as flavorless as I imagined the cafe's menu. Anna Kate and Natalie come back to the town that's supposedly divided by the death of Eden and AJ 25 years ago - Anna Kate's parents and Natalie's brother. It seems like this is ALL THAT THE TOWN TALKS ABOUT even after 25 years! Yet these two aforementioned women come (back) to town and I guess there's a change of heart? It's hard to tell because the characters are so cardboard and spiritless. If there was a change in characters from the beginning of the story to the end, it's quite difficult to see.
Reading the summary of the book, you know straightaway that Anna Kate is going to stay in Wicklow and head the café - which she does effortlessly (including coming up with new recipes, tending and harvesting a garden, arranging the birders in town to camp on the property, etc etc etc) without any real conflict or difficulty. I guess this could be chalked up to the magical realism, but it comes across as limp storytelling. It could have been so much better. Yet Anna Kate deciding to stay and the whole town being supportive of her just like they have been the whole time is the big climax. Surprise?
And the magical realism is *there* I guess? It's not really woven into the story as an element so I don't really want to say it's magical realism but rather faux magical realism? I don't know. The pies that are made by the Callows that have the magical mulberries can cause deceased loved ones to deliver messages in your dreams - but only sometimes. No one really knows how it works, it's just plot-convenient really. That and it's very heavily implied that two characters can shapeshift into a bird and a cat. There's something there but it doesn't really have a worthwhile payoff. Just more blandness.
Sweet story about family, love and forgiveness. A little Hallmark vibes with a bit of a magical twist. Quick read that I would definitely recommend.
fast-paced
This was the first book I’ve read from Heather Webber, but it won’t be the last! I really enjoyed her writing style. I plan to read more from her and I highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s a whimsical & intriguing plot with great characters and fun twists. A great easy read!
Read for our November book club, we chose this book because it had to do with pie, so we'd be able to meet, have a "friendsgiving", and enjoy lots of yummy pie!
Although my friends said it was nice and light (compared to the heavy books we keep choosing lately), and relate it to a Hallmark-type of book, I have to disagree. There is a lot more character development and depth than that type of obvious book. Although there are obvious elements at times, there were enough twists and secrets that I just didn't see coming! Magical realism is a book genre I'll definitely come back to.
Anna Kate (who is ready for med school in the fall) is prompted to come back to Wicklow, Alabama after her grandmother passes away. Per the will, she is told to take over her cafe for 2 months and then is able to do whatever she wishes after that time period. But now that she's back in town, she is discovering the truth about why her mother left in the first place and the secrets surrounding the death of the father she never knew. All of that, plus the magic of the pie and the singing blackbirds is enough to keep any reader coming back for more.
Although my friends said it was nice and light (compared to the heavy books we keep choosing lately), and relate it to a Hallmark-type of book, I have to disagree. There is a lot more character development and depth than that type of obvious book. Although there are obvious elements at times, there were enough twists and secrets that I just didn't see coming! Magical realism is a book genre I'll definitely come back to.
Anna Kate (who is ready for med school in the fall) is prompted to come back to Wicklow, Alabama after her grandmother passes away. Per the will, she is told to take over her cafe for 2 months and then is able to do whatever she wishes after that time period. But now that she's back in town, she is discovering the truth about why her mother left in the first place and the secrets surrounding the death of the father she never knew. All of that, plus the magic of the pie and the singing blackbirds is enough to keep any reader coming back for more.
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Quick, cute read about coming home. Very Hallmark-esque kind of story. Some things wrap up a little too neatly and it's not particularly memorable, but it was a nice airplane read at a stressful time.
Why I picked it up: Anne Bogel recommended it forever ago and it somehow got in my mind again recently so I picked it up.
How I read it: The hardcover, from the library, in two days.
What it’s about: Anna Kate comes back to her family’s hometown after her grandmother’s passing. She finds her father’s family, friends, and healing while running the cafe.
What I liked: Everything! This is my favorite book of the year so far! It’s got hope, healing, love, family, friends, belonging!
What I disliked: I wanted ten more chapters about what happens next!
Genre: Magical Realism, family, finding yourself after loss.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and run, don’t walk, to get this one!! I might need a copy for my shelf so I can reread at my leisure!
How I read it: The hardcover, from the library, in two days.
What it’s about: Anna Kate comes back to her family’s hometown after her grandmother’s passing. She finds her father’s family, friends, and healing while running the cafe.
What I liked: Everything! This is my favorite book of the year so far! It’s got hope, healing, love, family, friends, belonging!
What I disliked: I wanted ten more chapters about what happens next!
Genre: Magical Realism, family, finding yourself after loss.
Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and run, don’t walk, to get this one!! I might need a copy for my shelf so I can reread at my leisure!
I love a little bit of magic in my books, so I was excited to read this one. Unfortunately, I found it more and more difficult to turn the pages as the story progressed. When I finally got to the end, I was disappointed that so many elements were underdeveloped or forgotten about. What really happened to Natalie's husband? What ever became of her headband business? Why did Anna Kate really want to go to medical school in the first place? Why is a cat setting fires with sparklers and causing fatal accidents? Is this cat a ghost cat? Why does the magical cat make more of a difference in the plot than the birds or the pie? I also continue to feel bad for the zuchinni plants that were needlessly murdered by the magical ghost cat of questionable morals. My favorite character was probably Seelie because she gave Ollie swimming lessons. I so wish I liked this book as much as I liked the setting (which was actually charming.)