An extraordinary new voice in contemporary woman’s fiction, Courtney Miller Santo makes her magnificent debut with The Roots of the Olive Tree, a novel that will delight fans of Sarah Blake’s The Postmistress, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, and the works of Kristin Hannah.
Set in a house on an olive grove in northern California, The Roots of the Olive Tree is a beautiful, touching … the Olive Tree is a beautiful, touching story that brings to life five generations of women—including an unforgettable 112-year-old matriarch determined to break all Guinness longevity records—the secrets and lies that divide them and the love that ultimately ties them together.
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Cute story but fairly anticlimactic.
didn’t like the curse words
An interesting story about several generations of women in one family who all live together on their family olive farm. The characters are all different and conflicted and as the story progresses we learn the history of their family and of each character. One of the main themes is why these women live so long, which is interesting. I found it …
Read it a while ago. It was an okay read with sad characters. Leaned about Olive groves.
Loved it. Now I want an olive grove!
I am still reading this book, but it is focused on “super-agers,” those who live well past the century mark and maintain a significant portion of mobility and cognitive functions. The downside is that too many characters are introduced early in the novel which makes it very hard to keep them apart. The focus on olive trees as an industry is also …
Dragged in areas
Examines the issue of longevity and it’s impact on multiple generations. The characters were very interesting and multifaceted. The setting is also interesting and relevant to the development of the characters.
I’m still reading it, but the five generations of women living together in this novel reminds me of living with my mother, and the emotions that get triggered.
Interesting premise! The characters were very well defined. I found the family dynamic fascinating.
Good read
This book just seemed to go on & on. Started out well but eventually lost interest in most of the characters except the main one.
this story dragged on. it was hard to pick up.
Loved the story and the resilience of the characters.
Ending left too much out.
abrupt ending
Well written. Real people and how a family is always there as support
Coming from a long line of strong supportive women, I was extremely disappointed with this book. I did not care for any of the characters and they did not like each other either. What a downer of a book. The characters had genetics that promoted long lives, but just kill me now…who would want to live like that?
I really enjoyed the characters and it was a look into a way of life that I knew nothing about; well written.
Many secrets. I liked it!