The Eves is a multi-generational novel portraying lives lived well and lives in transition. Filled with poignancy and humor, The Eves captures the conversations we wish we had had with our parents, if we had taken the opportunity, and the lessons we would want to impart to our children, if they were ready to listen. Told through the voice of the psychologically complex Jessica Barnet, this is her … Barnet, this is her story. As the primary witness in a messy trial she has been torn from the foundation of her existence–her connection to her children. With a partially finished doctoral degree, and incomplete renovations on her Washington, DC row house, she has let go of her ambitions and her appearance, but not her vodka or her sense of loss and guilt. When Jessica meets five diverse, determined, and sometimes ditzy old women living in a sustainable community everything and everybody changes. Through plot twists and turns that cover three continents, we learn the truth of Jessica’s life and lies just as we fall in love with the vividly drawn characters and the vibrantly described settings.
more
The Eves introduces us to a cast of richly drawn characters, against a backdrop of love, loss and grief. But underneath it all is hope. A wonderful story told with grace (no pun intended) and beauty.
Grace Sammon has a very unique novel in The Eves. This story is centered around a woman who has lost her aspiration and ambition for life and a group of “The Eves” who are living out their lives together on top of a hill. These characters are very real, relatable and highly complexed individuals that will take you on a fascinating journey and teach valuable lessons deep in history and what they want to leave for the future. Their stories are full of emotion and humor that will make you laugh and cry! Just when you think you have the story figured out, Sammon’s peels off another few layers of life! This book is filled with lots of comfort, love and joy. I enjoyed this fascinating novel even after I thought it had a slow beginning , but this book exploded and I could not put it down! I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.
Thank you Grace Sammon and Book and Wine Lovers Marketing for the opportunity to read this intriguing novel in exchange for an honest review.
#theeves #gracesammon #independantpublishing
A brilliant novel. Jessica, the protagonist, and the crew of fabulous older women are alive on the page. I loved how Sammon brought multi-generations together to create their sustainable community and the wisdom each imparted. Her male characters will also grab you and you’ll want to hug each one. You’ll laugh and cry, your heart will hurt as it also fills with love and joy. I highly recommend this beautifully written, riveting story. Its message is one you’ll savor long after you read The End.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Eves”. The more I read, the more I wanted to read about the lives of the men and women that were part of Jessica’s journey. I loved the setting of The Grange, and the wonderful idea of a communal living facility. The idea of reaching out to encourage all generations to be involved helps bridge that ever present generation gap. I know that we all can learn a lot from each other, sharing stories is so important. I would have loved to learn stories from my grandparents. The book holds more surprises than you might expect – I found the ending satisfying and a bit of a surprise. Grace Sammon did an excellent job bringing these characters together and telling their stories. I highly recommend this book.
The Eves by Grace Sammon is a wonderful debut novel and is truly thought provoking.
The main character Jessica a middle age woman has been portrayed very well along with the other side characters who fit in perfectly with the plot. Jessica discovers herself when she enters The Grange near Washington DC area, comes in contact with other older women. How these women live together in a self sustaining community and work together. Their life stories will warm the hearts of many.
The story spans over three continents and readers will learn a lot about the history and landscapes which have been described very well.
The author has done an amazing job of pulling in the readers right from the very first page. I laughed and cried with the characters and couldn’t put this book down.
The quote by Jimmy Neil Smith sums up the book “We are all storytellers. We all live in a network of stories. There isn’t a stronger connection between people than storytelling.”
This novel will be fabulous for a book club discussion in my opinion. I am looking forward to reading more books by Grace Sammon.
Loved the characters and the storyline..very detailed and informative..would definitely recommend this book!
Though complex and conflicted, Jessica may refuse to confront her own truths, but she recognizes the value in the stories of a diverse group of older women who live together on a farm overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. And what wonderful stories they tell! With plot twists that will make you pause in surprise and with well-drawn, dynamic characters that you wish you could chat with yourself, The Eves will encourage you to grab your favorite drink—vodka, wine, coffee, or tea—and nestle in for a good, long read.
Absolutely amazing story! It was so emotional and passionate. Both the writing and the characters were great. The Eves is a novel about women and men and the stories they have to tell. In particular, this is the story of Jessica Barnet and her journey as she discovers herself and the people who come into her life. Stepping into the pages, I am taken on this journey with Jessica. It’s also one that I deeply felt personally.
This book took my heart and twisted it all sorts of ways. It’s powerful and has characters that placed an imprint on my heart. Everyone has a story and history. A past. This book reminds us to open our hearts to hear the stories of those who have theirs to share. It’s how being willing to listen can change a person and enrich their lives through someone else. I felt this story deep in my soul. As I “lived” this story through Jessica’s point of view, I was continually taken back to my own parents and in being so grateful for having their stories with me through the histories they had written of their lives. This passage is especially important in making sure the storytelling continues for generations:
“I know that the younger generation is not interested in taking the time to listen, let alone be ready to care about the stories that go before them. I reassure myself that someday they, like me, will care. I can no longer trust that there is time for the conversations. Now is the time to talk, to listen, and to write so our stories will be waiting for them when they are ready.” Such a profound and important message to pass on to our children.
Ms. Sammon meticulously wrote emotions and life into her characters. Through them I experienced a novel that I will remember and think about as I travel this great journey through my life. It is filled with rawness and honesty. This was an extremely emotional read. I cried heart wrenching sobs. I felt the anxieties, joys, and accomplishments. I definitly “experienced” this book.
I am very grateful to Ms. Sammon for the opportunity to read her wondeful book. I truly was touched by the message, the journey, the poignant stories of the characters, and it hit me with all the “feels”. I want to thank Ms. Sammon for sharing her amazing talent in writing this novel. I can’t wait to read more by her. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my heartfelt own.
The Eves sings with heart and soul. The story is centered around a unique environmentally conscious community of retired women. It’s the sort of place that’s entirely possible but doesn’t actually exist. Perhaps some reader will be inspired to model a community after The Eves. We can hope. This novel is a moving tribute to the supportive community of women, the beauty of intergenerational friendships, and the power of story to enlighten and heal. I’d describe it as a PG-13, feminine version of Tuesdays with Morrie.
The Eves by Grace Sammon was an amazing story of understanding one’s self in our incredibly challenging and changing world. It was also full of exceptional stories of other’s lives and life itself, a double entendre, if you will. Jessica, the protagonist, a spritely middle-aged woman, opens her heart allowing indelible growth and inspiration into her soul. There’s also countless other fine characters, all of whom you will love, especially Erica. Erica’s talents, determination, and love of life made me think of my own daughter. Grace writes in her author notes, “I hope I have captured fairly, and with great respect, the stories of those who will think they recognize themselves here.” Well done Grace, as to me you accomplished your goal! I was able to wholeheartedly connect to everything your book offered. Not only did Jessica’s journey bring countless memories forward, it also filled me with endless emotions, basically creating a book hangover that’ll stay with me for a long time. The Eves by Grace Sammon is an outstanding book I highly recommend.
Thank you Grace Sammon for awarding your book to me in one of your many giveaways. All thoughts are my own.
Jessica Barnet’s life has holes in it. Major holes. A divorce. An unfinished doctoral degree. A serious drinking problem. But one hole is so big and so painful that she has fabricated a tragic lie just to be able to continue living. It’s one of many stories she spins. With the support of her best friend, her sympathetic handyman, and a wonderful group of older women with their own stories, she starts to put her life back together. Vividly drawn and perfectly flawed characters—some of them downright quirky—populate The Eves and grapple with answering the question: is the story ever really done? Let yourself luxuriate in the slower pace of this book, the lyrical prose, and the wonderfully described settings, especially Jessica’s house, undergoing years of renovation much like the transformation she’s experiencing herself.
I enjoyed The Eves tremendously. Grace Sammon is a brilliant author. I love the characters she has brought to life. She shows how women from different generations love and support one another.
This is truly a book for the ages. Did you ever wish you could sit down with an older woman to discuss life? Her life? These are the women we call older/ elderly/ aged/ seniors/crones. Sammon lets us do that in this beautifully crafted novel. Her protagonist, Jessica, is taking an unexpected journey that opens her eyes and mind to new conversations with life.
The Eves, by Grace Sammon, will not stay quiet in my head or my heart. It is a story of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, addressing our failures—as parents, as humans—and offers a glimpse of how to make it right. If the issues we face today with race, and age, and sexual identity are issues that concern you, this might just be the book for you.
Jessica Barnet, the main character, woman, mother, and student finalizing her doctoral degree at the age of sixty, tripped me up. She is beautifully flawed and embraces concealment of her emotions as easily as she takes in air to breathe; I see her in my mirror.
Sammon writes with a clear view of her character’s strengths and weaknesses, and she lays them out carefully so that we know to be gentle when we need to be. But while she leads you peacefully through the Maryland countryside as you explore The Grange and everything it stands for, community, acceptance, sustainability, be warned, she will break your heart. It will be up to you to put it back together again.
A beautiful story. I look forward to this author’s next book.
The Eves by author, Grace Sammon
The Eves captured my heart from the very beginning as the author sprinkled the pages with her words of wisdom, knowledge and imagination that enlightened and inspired with the creation of this most satisfying and meaningful story that has left an imprint on my heart.
With a cast of characters you’ll fall in love with, their stories come to life within the scenic backdrop of the Maryland countryside along with the power of ‘tough but important ‘ conversations, the revealing of secrets and the challenges of aging, The Eves will take you through each page as if you’re witnessing the story beyond the faded photos in a tattered family album.
Ms. Sammon gives freedom to each character by fully expressing their unique personalities through their weaknesses, faults and failures, to their strengths and successes without missing a beat~ weaving together a tapestry of life lessons through humor, emotion and true spirit.
A must read for those looking for a captivating, timeless tale that comes alive in a most significant way…
I thank Ms. Sammon for allowing me the pleasure of experiencing this tender, beautiful yet tragic story, one that has stirred the soul, made me laugh, cry, and filled my heart as the women and men of The Eves have given of themselves whole-heartedly and most deeply in what it means to be blessed with the love, laughter and language of friendship.
5 Stars
#TheEves
#GraceSammon
Wild Sage Book Blog