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kargoforth's review against another edition
3.0
Facing the past, in order to live in the present and hope for the future, are the themes in this novel. Over all, the writing hooks the reader, from past to present, narratives of granddaughter and grandmother. For some reason the author felt the need to add a small splice of romance, which actually muddled the story and seemed to serve no purpose, except that the main character was desperately searching for her place in the family and world. The story is not a gripping one, but it is written well enough and told with enough emotion to warrant reading.
myragrz_128's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the book even though it was hard to follow the characters at first. My only criticism is the ending - it came so fast and I guess I expected more.
courtcat's review against another edition
4.0
Moves at the pace of southern sweet tea, but was enjoyable. Had a definite sense of place and time, and my oh my is there something about screwed up families that I love reading.
chelz286's review against another edition
3.0
I love her books, however this was my least favorite so far. I didn't like the whole "cousin" relationship. I feel there should have been more info given on the accident and maybe Amory's side of it/what happened.
mctmama's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book - more so than "Orphan Train" the author's hit title. I liked the characters in this book, and enjoyed seeing how the "mystery" played out. A more current setting, but somehow has a historical feel.
cancermoononhigh's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
deannareads's review against another edition
4.0
Cassie is single, works in an art gallery in New York and gets an unexpected letter from Tennessee. In the letter she is granted a house and 60 acres from her mother’s father, a man she has never met who has just passed away.
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Raised by her father after her mother dies in a tragic accident when she was three, Cassie leaves her life in New York behind to go to Tennessee and get to know the mother she never knew through her relatives. As Cassie starts over in Tennessee she begins to uncover a family mystery that’s been buried for decades.
⠀
This is Christina Baker Kline’s debut novel and I can see the difference in her writing as it has changed over time. I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as her others but this is still a great first novel. Kline accurately and realistically describes what it’s like to be married to an alcoholic narcissist and what decades of a life like that can do to a person’s spirit. As always, her characters seem real and they’re easy to care for.
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3.75/5 ⭐️- a great debut novel but not as good as her others. I would recommend to those who particularly like family dramas.
⠀
Raised by her father after her mother dies in a tragic accident when she was three, Cassie leaves her life in New York behind to go to Tennessee and get to know the mother she never knew through her relatives. As Cassie starts over in Tennessee she begins to uncover a family mystery that’s been buried for decades.
⠀
This is Christina Baker Kline’s debut novel and I can see the difference in her writing as it has changed over time. I didn’t enjoy this book quite as much as her others but this is still a great first novel. Kline accurately and realistically describes what it’s like to be married to an alcoholic narcissist and what decades of a life like that can do to a person’s spirit. As always, her characters seem real and they’re easy to care for.
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3.75/5 ⭐️- a great debut novel but not as good as her others. I would recommend to those who particularly like family dramas.
bozzi1's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.25
Good family drama more than a mystery. A few things felt disconnected and the ending was a bit vague but settled enough for me.