Winter Garden by
Kristin Hannah is a story about two sisters who try to reconnect with a mother
who shut them out many years ago. When a fairy tale from their childhood is
retold, they discover that their mother was hiding a deep and painful secret.
Meredith and Nina Witson are daughter of Evan and Anya. The
story begins in December 1972 as Meredith writes a play based on a fairy tale
her mother tells her. After her mother abruptly stops the play and vows to never
tell the fairy tale again, a wedge is placed between Anya and her daughters. Fast
forward to 2000, Meredith is now married to her childhood sweetheart with two
grown daughters and Nina is a world traveling photographer. When Evan suddenly
dies, Nina is determined to hear the fairy tale again. At first Anya is resistant
but soon she begins to tell the story again, Meredith and Nina realize that
more and more elements of the story are different. They begin to realize that
this story is no fairy tale but a story of their mother’s deepest secret. A
secret she wanted to die with her. Will Meredith and Nina get the real story?
Or will their mother keep her wall of secrecy?
I’ve been a fan of Kristin Hannah for many years and have
read nearly all of her books. None of her books have affected me more than Winter Garden. The reader discovers the
facts of the story along with Meredith and Nina and there are a great many
heart gasping moments. I can’t give too many details about the fairy tale as it
will ruin the course of discovery. I can say that this book is among the few in
which I cried. My heart broke for Anya as she finally reveals the painful
secret of many years ago. Events are described in vivid detail. My favorite
line in the book is from Anya who tells her daughters, “You would be amazed at
what the human heart can endure.” I highly recommend Winter Garden as it is a story of a mother and her daughters and
the painful events in which human often must endure.
Winter Garden and other titles by Kristin Hannah
are available on
Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and a bookstore near
you.
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