Lila, her brother Henry, and sister Abigail grew up in Wesleyan, George, a lovely Southern town. Lila and Henry never felt comfortable with the constricted atmosphere, particularly after their beloved father’s death when they were very young. They both headed north. Lila married and moved to an island off the coast of Maine where she remained after her husband’s death. Henry went to New York. Abigail felt differently and stayed to become her rather rigid mother Geneva’s best friend.
When their mother dies suddenly, Lila and Henry reluctantly return home. They’re shocked to find out that their mother died in the muscadine grove with a digging spoon in her hand. As the siblings seek to discover the reason for Geneva’s uncharacteristic behavior they uncover long held secrets that change their perception of their childhood.
This is a beautifully written book. From the descriptions of the small Georgia town to the chill landscape of an island off the coast of Ireland the details are so alive that you feel as if you’ve known these places and want to go back. I hated putting the book down because I missed the vivid atmosphere.
The characters are well written. Each sibling has their own characteristics and demons. They are quite different, but by the end of the book I felt like they were family. I particularly liked Lila. I liked her independence and they way she made her own decisions such as becoming a weaver and remaining in Maine.
I received this book from Penguin Random House for this review.
No comments:
Post a Comment