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bethreadsandnaps 's review for:
The Turtle House
by Amanda Churchill
Beautiful debut, publishes February 20, 2024!
Mineko is a Japanese grandmother who came to the United States when she married James after WWII. She moved with James to the small town of Curtain, Texas, where his family's ranch was located. Now (in 1999) the main house on the ranch burned down under mysterious circumstances, and she's living with her son Paul and his family, including his daughter Lia who moved back in under unnamed circumstances after her first job out of college.
In this novel, we learn about Mineko's life story in her words, and the second narrative is from Lia's (the granddaughter's) perspective. Like many dual narratives, the past storyline is much more interesting. However, whose life story that sweeps international waters and war wouldn't be more interesting than the past year or so of a college graduate's life? It's an unfair comparison, but I can't be the only one who wanted a more intriguing (and unique) story from 1999? The 1999 storyline is achingly slow and uninteresting, including the character of Lia.
Mineko's story kept me turning the pages, and I looked forward to seeing how her life unfolded. It did take me a while to get into her story, but once I settled in I became more and more invested. I particularly liked how the friendship between Mineko and Dimple was cultivated in Texas. I really *felt* that relationship.
This is an very good historical fiction debut centering on the first generation Japanese American experience.
Side note, this cover is exquisite!
#theturtlehouse #amandachurchill
Mineko is a Japanese grandmother who came to the United States when she married James after WWII. She moved with James to the small town of Curtain, Texas, where his family's ranch was located. Now (in 1999) the main house on the ranch burned down under mysterious circumstances, and she's living with her son Paul and his family, including his daughter Lia who moved back in under unnamed circumstances after her first job out of college.
In this novel, we learn about Mineko's life story in her words, and the second narrative is from Lia's (the granddaughter's) perspective. Like many dual narratives, the past storyline is much more interesting. However, whose life story that sweeps international waters and war wouldn't be more interesting than the past year or so of a college graduate's life? It's an unfair comparison, but I can't be the only one who wanted a more intriguing (and unique) story from 1999? The 1999 storyline is achingly slow and uninteresting, including the character of Lia.
Mineko's story kept me turning the pages, and I looked forward to seeing how her life unfolded. It did take me a while to get into her story, but once I settled in I became more and more invested. I particularly liked how the friendship between Mineko and Dimple was cultivated in Texas. I really *felt* that relationship.
This is an very good historical fiction debut centering on the first generation Japanese American experience.
Side note, this cover is exquisite!
#theturtlehouse #amandachurchill