How do you face the future if you don’t know your own past? When an unexpected pregnancy changes her dreams, seventeen-year-old Annie tries to keep it from her mother and her grandmother. But secrets have a way of coming out.In a household of strong women, the arrival of a new life sets off a spiral of truth that reveals a past full of whispers and lies—a past that existed in another world under … that existed in another world under the heavy hand of Soviet oppression. This history has dictated the circumstances of the present, but hope, redemption, and forgiveness will grow in the rocky places of these generational differences.
A Silver Willow by the Shore is the story of the unshakeable love between mothers and daughters and of the impact that past decisions can have on present day circumstances. This novel weaves together the stories of generations of women, from the gulags of 1930’s Siberia, to the quiet oppression of 1980’s Soviet Moscow, to present day Tennessee. It is an unforgettable narrative of the treachery of secrets, and of the light that unites the heart of a family.
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Kelli is such a brilliant and creative writer who (while she has a loyal fanbase) hasn’t yet been discovered by many readers who would enjoy her work. Hoping that changes soon. She’s definitely a writer to watch.
A Silver Willow by the Shore is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever read. This story would make a wonderful movie.
I was spell-bound as I savored this multi-faceted story! Although three generations of women are living in the same house, each is captive in her own world of secrets which threaten to loosen family ties. As Elizaveta’s tragic past comes into focus, her painful memories slowly bring the hope and healing the women need to bind them back together.
With sometimes gut-wrenching scenes and realistic, endearing characters, these three women became my family as I immersed myself in their lives. As I arrived at the last pages, I shed tears — happy tears — for woven into the plot is a message of forgiveness and redemption. Don’t miss this stunning novel based on true life events!
A Silver Willow by the Shore captivated me. Several weeks ago, I read a book called Cilka’s Journey, and I think that was the first time I’d ever read about Siberian gulags. So, when I was reading Elizaveta’s childhood memories in the gulags, I had a point of reference. Awful things happened to her, and she has so many secrets that she has lived with almost her entire life. Those secrets guided her; they made her fearful and overly protective of her daughter Nina.
Of course, Nina didn’t understand her mother because she didn’t know the secrets her mother guarded. When Nina left Moscow, her mother was worried and scared. To Nina, that fear looked like a controlling, unloving mother. What she didn’t know about her mother is heartbreaking. But, Nina was happy…until her mother moved in with them. And, Nina had no idea the way that her mother’s presence affected the way she then treated Annie.
It made Annie feel alone. Half of her life was spent watching the tension between her grandmother and her mother. So, Annie learned to keep secrets too. Her biggest secret changes everything in this household of women. When her pregnancy is finally discussed, they start to talk to each other more. They find commonalities, and the ice begins to melt.
A Silver Willow by the Shore was so well-written, and it is obvious that the author researched Russian history in depth. Elizaveta, Nina, and Annie have so much depth to their characters that I could swear if I drove down to Tennessee, I could visit them.
A Silver Willow by the Shore is a book that will stick with you long after you’ve read the end. I loved it and think you will too.
Mothers and daughters and the secrets they keep from one another is the theme of this story, A Silver Willow by the Shore. And let me tell you they are doozy of secrets. We are given this story from three points of view- an elderly Russian grandmother Elizaveta, her daughter Nina, and Nina’s high school daughter Annie. These three women live in the same house and eat dinner together, but the secrets make them strangers.
Annie is dealing with a big secret- she is pregnant and she is trying to hide it from her mother. We also get to see some of Nina’s past when she lived in Russia and her transition time to America. And Elizaveta’s story to me is the saddest as she is dealing with health issues and remembering the horrors of her past as her family is imprisoned in Soviet Russia.
Author Stuart can weave a story that will pull you in and keep you there even in the uncomfortable parts. I was rooting for all three to share their deepest, darkest secrets and become closer for it. I also found it so relevant to see the difference between the American and Russian culture. What a world we live in and I am thankful I live in the good old USA.
You will be immersed in this story as you walk along with these women on their journey to freedom from shame and guilt. This is a heart tugging bittersweet novel.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
My Thoughts on A Silver Willow by the Shore
Who doesn’t love a good book that includes history? I love learning history whether it is the history of a family or the history of our country. History in all forms is fascinating to me! I loved learning the history surrounding the family within A Silver Willow By the Shore.
If you like a good historical fiction type read then this is the book for you!
This is more than just learning about your history as a family, this is revealing long-held secrets and finding healing. A great read that I highly recommend.
I love the names and references to cultures and what used to be. Again, this is a great book!
Appropriate for teens? You may know I like to do disclaimers if a book is appropriate for your teen girls to read as my teen girls devour anything I give them. For this book, I would say yes teen girls can read it but I personally would wait until upper teens and make sure you keep communication lines open while reading. But as always you know your child best!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Prism Book Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Wow! A Silver Willow by the Shore blew me away. It is one of those stories that you are not sure about at first and was hooked within the first couple of chapters. I thought this book was great! It is my first introduction to Kelli Stuart’s writing and she has earned herself a brand-new fan.
I would give A Silver Willow by the Shore one hundred stars if I could. It is being placed among my favorite reads of the year.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Don’t you love it when you read something original? In A Silver Willow by the Shore, Kelli Stuart gives readers a story of family, of mother-daughter relationships, and of the damage keeping secrets does to ourselves and those we love. All of that while also giving readers a little history about Russia.
As Elizaveta, Nina, and Annie’s stories are told, these three women seem worlds apart at first Yet, as their lives entwine and truths are revealed, those separate threads begin to weave a tapestry of history, ancestry, and family.
Stuart’s prose pulled me right in, and I quickly became invested in the three women in this family who are hurting and longing for acceptance in their own ways. The Russian history and way of life were captivating, and the secondary characters (James and Viktor) enrich this story further.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
What a wonderful cast of characters with a unique set of storylines.
There are three main characters in The Silver Willow by the Shore. This multi-generational story is told from the perspectives of Annie, her mother Nina, and her grandmother Elizaveta. They are dynamic and resilient women, despite the enormous burdens of secrets they keep from each other.
It was easy to sympathize with the three women and I gained a deep understanding of their pain and desires. I love how their stories are told from their own perspectives, giving me a clearer and more intimate peek into their hearts and minds. I must say, I find James, a secondary character, very special too. He gives a fullness to the story that makes him shine.
Kelli Stuart is a brilliant storyteller. It is evident that she has researched Russian history and customs, breathing life and authenticity into her characters with confidence and elegance.
I love, love, love this story.
Source: I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of Prism Book Tours. Opinions expressed are completely my own.