When I think of books about family saga’s I always think about my mother. She loved big fat books loaded with tons of family stories. So when this new release came up for review, it sounded like the perfect way to pass a weekend – curled up with my nose in a book, just like I have been since I was a kid.
A Place for Us by Harriet Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books (June 2, 2015)
ISBN-13: 978-1476786780
From international bestselling author Harriet Evans, an engrossing new novel about a woman who, on the eve of her eightieth birthday, decides to reveal a secret that may destroy her perfect family.
The day Martha Winter decided to tear apart her family began like any other day.
When Martha, a wife and mother of three, sits down one late summer’s morning to write out the invitations to her eightieth birthday celebration, she knows that what she is planning to reveal at the party could ruin the idyllic life she and her husband David have spent over fifty years building…
But she has to let her family know what she and David have sacrificed. She can’t live a lie any more.
The invitation goes out far and wide, calling her three children and their families back home to Winterfold, their rambling house in the heart of the English countryside. They are Bill, the doctor; Florence, the eccentric academic; and Daisy, the child who never fit in. As the story unfolds, each character reveals the secrets, joys, and tragedies they are wrestling with through the confines of the family. What will happen when Martha finally tells the truth?
My Thoughts: This book really pulled on my heartstrings. I am currently dealing with a loss in my family so reading this book hit really, really close to home. How do prepare to open up your life and share a big secret that you have been harboring for years?
This book is loaded with family members and sometimes it was hard to keep them straight. The Point of views that the story was written in changed often and while the stories about the family members were interesting, it could be a bit tough to follow as well. The family was not without their own trials and tribulations and this author has a beautiful talent for writing with amazing description. The issue was getting lost in the constant flipping back and forth. Just as I was getting into someones story, you were sent off to someone else. The momentum was lost for me.
The storyline is wonderful and the secret allows you to understand the family a bit more. This book is filled with rich writing and the author has created an in depth story that could have captured my interest more had it been more in depth about the parents and their history, rather than the children and grandchildren with all of their issues. But that, of course, is my opinion.
I did enjoy the writing as the author is very talented and I would not hesitate to read more from her. For lovers of big family sagas, this is an interesting story, just be prepared to pay full attention while reading for the maximum effect. Oh, and the home?? I want to move there!!
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
This book looks amazing!! Thank you for the suggestion! I will be loading it on my Kindle shortly.
A Place for Us by Harriet Evans does sound interesting, I would read this novel. Thank you for sharing this review.
I usually don’t read big family sagas because I don’t want to have to follow all,the different side stories. However I am a sucker for British tales .
I sometimes like big, fat, family sagas. Just not too often.