After he’s forced to sell the family farm he’s labored on his whole life, 63-year-old Gerrit Laninga doesn’t know what to do with himself. He sacrificed everything for the land–his time, his health, his family–with nothing to show for it but bitterness, regret, and two grown children who want nothing to do with him.Fifteen-year-old Rae Walters has growing doubts and fears about The Plan–the … detailed blueprint for high school that will help her follow in her lawyer father’s footsteps. She’s always been committed to The Plan, but now that the pressure to succeed is building, what was supposed to unite her family in purpose, may end up tearing it apart.When their paths cross just as they each need a friend the most, Gerrit’s and Rae’s lives begin to change in unexpected ways. Can they discover together what really matters in life and learn it’s never too late for a second chance?
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I didn’t know what to expect the first time I opened the pages to The Sowing Season. Inside was a surprise that filled me each time I turned a page to see what was happening to Gerrit and Rae. I felt torn between laughter and compassion for Gerrit. After selling a farm that totally consumed his life, he was confronted with time; time to see what he missed all the days and nights while he worked a farm that, in the end, provided nothing meaningful in his life. Except memories.
Rae was the perfect daughter. She had a bright disposition, was number one in her class and volunteered in all the right places in order to check off the boxes on her long list of “must-do’s” to secure her a spot at Columbia University. She was so perfect she wasn’t really enjoying life.
It is amazing that Rae and Gerrit found each other. It was even more amazing that they became friends. He could have been her grandfather. She could have been the daughter who gave up on him when he was too busy working on the family farm. Yet, he saw the real Rae. She saw a man who was waiting to change.
I enjoyed this book and recommend it for those who enjoy a good story. I recommend it all the more for young and old alike as it bridges what people of a certain age used to call the “generation gap”. It appeals because the characters are so human. Reading The Sowing Season was my introduction to Katie Powner’s work and I look forward to more in the future.
What a delightful debut from Katie Powner. I typically don’t read this genre but am glad I took a chance with this book. The characters come across as authentic, so much so that at times I wanted to kick the MC in his shins so he’d keep his mouth shut. And I have to admit that I actually laughed out loud in chapter sixteen. The conclusion is satisfying, even though it isn’t a happy-ever-after for all characters. To me, that made the message in this story ring true.
I didn’t know what to expect when I read The Sowing Season, by Katie Powner, but I was drawn in from the very beginning.
Gerrit Laninga was forced to retire from the only line of work he’s ever known: being a dairy farmer. He comes home to realize his family has moved on without him. His job as a dairy farmer consumed all of who he was, and now that he doesn’t have that, he’s trying to figure out what life looks like.
When he happens upon Rae Walters, a young teenaged girl, using his barn as a refuge, a surprising friendship develops. They do some unexpected things together, including buying a rambunctious rooster, and they talk about life. Gerrit and Rae stretch each other’s ideas of family and relationships through their conversations.
Powner’s characters are diverse and well-rounded, from the loner boy Gerrit and Rae meet when helping at a homework center, to the neighbor Gerrit has held a grudge against for decades. I liked how each character had flaws. They said things the wrong way, and at times, did things that disappointed those they loved.
I enjoyed the small town in which they live. And the dialogue as the characters go through life together made me smile, and at times, tear up.
Themes of forgiveness and being honest in relationships added depth to this story. As I read, I was eager to learn what picture the threads of this story would weave as I turned each page. This is a great story for readers who enjoy relational stories with depth and heart set in small towns. The humor and genuineness of the writing made this story beautiful.
**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley with no obligation to review. All opinions are my own.
I was given this book to read and review through Netgalley. The review is my own opinion and a good review is not required. The book was an advanced reader edition and I will take that into account in my review.
First, as an advanced copy, I didn’t expect the editing to be perfect but this book needs a lot of work.
Second, the story was original and I liked the concept. I did not find it very realistic, though.
Third, I thought this was a Christian book but there wasn’t too much along that line. I guess that would be a plus for many people, but I was disappointed.
Last, the characters were fairly well developed but I didn’t feel that all the issues were well resolved. Maybe there will be a second book to help.
Over-all I did enjoy the book. I give it a 3 out of 5 rating.
Impressive debut novel and an author to look forward to. The characters were well developed throughout the story and it was genius to put together such an unlikely pair. Such a hard time in both of their lives, one a retired dairy farmer and the other a teenager learning how to spread her wings. So many great things are wrapped up in this book such as a marriage falling apart and trying to find restoration, a family putting pressure on a teenager to succeed at everything, grown children holding grudges, an after school program that had me shedding tears, etc. The plot is so well laid out and descriptive that you feel a part of their lives. I could easily read a sequel as I didn’t want it to end. The cover is gorgeous and draws you right in before you ever turn a page and the lessons the main characters teach each other are forever forged into your spirit. Truly remarkable.
I was blessed to win a copy of this book. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
This is a book about family relationships and unlikely friendships. Gerrit Laninga sells his family farm and is at loose ends as to what to do with his new life. He has cut ties to his wife Hannie as well as their two children Evi and Noah. Rae is a fifteen year old precocious girl who hides in a shed on his property, just to get away and think about “The Plan” that her parents have for her life. Terrified of driving, she is convinced that she won’t go anywhere in life without learning that one basic skill. Through a series of happenstances, Gerrit and Rae become friends; she helps him decide how to live his life and he helps her learn to face hers. Gerrit has a lot of forgiveness to seek before he can continue with his new life as chief cook at home, and the story is about his willingness to humble himself and to become the man he should have been all along. Rae is willing to submit to the will of her parents but she knows that she will be happiest if she follows her own path. It is that path that she is trying to find in this novel. With tough themes about broken relationships and forgiveness, this novel is one not to be missed. Fans of Susie Finkbeiner and Erin Bartels will enjoy this sweeping story about an old man and a young girl and how they find their way in life by talking to each other.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
The life of a dairy farmer who has to sell his family farm was vividly–and realistically–portrayed in this moving novel. The focus on a marriage that needed restoration was a refreshing change of pace in the Christian fiction genre. The characters stick with you, which is always something I look for and find in the best reads. In fact, this happens to be one of my fave reads of 2020. A worthwhile, moving book that touches all the right notes, shining rays of hope onto relationships that have become embittered over time. I’ll definitely be recommending this polished and gripping debut novel.
I had no idea what to expect when I began reading The Sowing Season but I was pleasantly surprised by its content. Married 50 years to my own retired farmer, I could relate to this story in so many ways. Like Gerrit’s wife I often felt that the farm was the proverbial other woman and there were times when it seemed that my children had only one parent. Much like Gerrit, my husband sometimes still finds himself at a loss without the constant demands of the farm work.
But – there is much more to the story than that. I was captivated by the relationship that developed between Gerrit and young Rae. So uncomfortable and tentative at first, the grumpy old man and the lonely, fearful young girl grew a friendship that eventually healed the broken places in both of them and helped make a difference in the lives of others. From poignant scenes that nearly brought me to tears to the laugh-out-loud moments scattered throughout the story, I enjoyed every minute I spent with these amazing characters.
I am so thankful I had a chance to read The Sowing Season and look forward to what this new author has in store next for her readers.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Bethany House Publishers. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
While the Sowing Season is a poignant, heart-touching story of regrets, misguided expectations, and missed opportunities, it’s also a story of forgiveness, growth, hope, and healing. It’s a story of unlikely friendships and new beginnings. With colorful, realistically-flawed, and endearing characters, including a psychotic rooster named Bernard and a sweet dog named Daisy, this tale caught my interest and kept me turning pages. I enjoyed the friendship between Gerrit and Rae and the way they strengthened each other to deal with the problems in their separate lives. Although there are a lot of heart-wrenching moments in this story, there are also humorous and touching scenes, which added to my enjoyment of the tale. Underlying messages of trusting God to help us in our lives and reaping what we sow give the story spiritual depth and dimension.
This is Katie Powner’s debut novel, and it’s beautifully written. She has a unique author’s voice, and I’m excited to see what else she has in store in the future. 4.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own.
The farm was supposed to stay in Gerrit’s family forever, it broke his heart, but times were bad. He had to sell. What would he do? He had always been a farmer. Nothing is easy or familiar as Gerrit and his wife Hannie try to do life together. Gerrit had not been a part of his family’s life for years, the farm needed him 24/7. He realized he had become an angry, grouchy old man who had to face the harsh reality that his children don’t want to speak to him, and his wife has been on the verge of leaving him for years. What to do?
“Gerrit sat in his truck outside The Daisy Chain, feeling like a teenager too chicken to ring his crush’s doorbell. He was a grown man, for crying out loud. He’d been married to Hannie for thirty-five years. But the thought of going in that shop made manure-scented sweat seep from his pores. This was a mistake….He would leave, but he’d seen her catch a glimpse of him through the window. She must have. She wouldn’t have had that disturbed look on her face for anyone else.”
Readers then meet sixteen-year-old Rae has (without permission) used Gerrit’s barn as a refuge. “Rae had been following “The Plan” her whole life, and she was on track. She had the highest GPA in her class. She was a member of the National Honor Society. By senior year she would be its president. The tiles were all falling into place, tink, tink, tink – forming the shape of her future. All she had to do was hold on. Rae’s arms jerked, but she couldn’t get them to move where she wanted. To grip the wheel. To turn the car. It kept going, speeding out of control….” She cried out and woke up, heart pounding.” Thank heavens it wasn’t real. Rae was trying desperately to stick to the “Plan” but as the end of high school draws near things are becoming more difficult to justify the “plan”.
Gerrit and Rae become unlikely friends. Rae gives Gerrit a peek at what he had missed with his children. Rae looks to Gerrit as she did her grandfather. Both are at a crossroads in life. Would they stay on the same path that had gotten them to their current location or would they be open to doing something new, pull up bitterroots, learning to forgive, and plant seeds of love that would change everything? It would not be easy but either was the position they found themselves in.
I enjoyed watching Gerritt and Hannie learn to love again. I liked watching Gerrit grow as he interacted with Rae giving encouragement to her and the other kids in the after-school program Rae dragged him to. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters main and minor and the lessons they learned.
I loved how this author blends a natural spiritual thread into the characters’ struggle, as they discovered new realities and how she masterfully pours in witty humor. There are parts in this story that made me belly laugh. Gerrit gets himself into some crazy situations I am still smiling about. This author gives readers a peek into the family life of a farmer and that of a young overachiever. In the author’s notes, she says, “Thank you to all the men and women, who have dedicated their lives and their land to feeding the world. Long live the family farm.”
This is a heart-felt impressive debut novel. I look forward to reading more by this author. This book would work well for your next book club pick.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog http://www.bookfun.org
Ms. Powner has blown me away with her debut novel. This is definitely one of my favorite reads of 2020. This book gave me all the feels. It will make you smile and make you sad. But there is hope and forgiveness. The author did a wonderful job at weaving together each character’s story and reminding us how our actions affect others. I highly recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.
** Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own. **
What an amazing story!! This book is rich in characters and story line. I was pulled in to the lives of the characters early on and I had trouble putting the book down because I needed to know what was going to happen next. Honestly, I need another book about these characters because Katie created characters you can’t help but care about and I need more of their stories. This debut is so so well done. Don’t miss it!!
I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion.
I must say, I really enjoyed this story and the authors writing style. I usually don’t go for Christian literature, as I don’t like religion forced on me, but the story sounded good and I was pleasantly surprised with the subtle and effective influence of religion, which was something I could take as common sense.
This is a story about a lot of different people and things that they need to change in their lives and how they come about it, with the help of others.
Wonderful characters of different ages, social standing and wants in life and how each of them help each other realize their values, creating friendships, and overcoming old grudges, rocky marriages, alienated children and life’s choices.
I look forward to seeing what the authors next book is like.
The Sowing Season by Katie Powner is a fresh and unique generational saga that will move the hearts of the young and slightly less young!
While The Sowing Season is outside of my normal genre preferences, this beautiful story is exactly the reason I take chances as a reader! The result: now I have a new author and a story I will recommend to EVERYONE! Genuine humor — which often seems less prevalent in this genre — bounced off the pages, especially in the scenes involving Bernard the Terrible! Additionally, the touch of romance with the teenage heroine was a delight to my romance-loving heart.
I loved the author’s twist on the traditional family drama! The unlikely friendship between Gerrit and Rae flows with life. This life flows into the character’s respective lives, bringing healing, restoration, and freedom! Gerrit’s quest to win back his wife and finally be a father to his grown children had me crying in agony and cheering his victory from start to finish. Furthermore, his story so aptly illustrated how we may physically lose something, but we’re only free when we choose to let go of it. Furthermore, my perfectionist personality could more than relate to Rae’s struggles to maintain perfection. The message of freedom found in breaking the yoke of perfection and seeking God’s heart for you and your life is a message I always welcome!
Five Stars ~ The Sowing Season by Katie Powner is a stunning story! The Sowing Season is a standalone and the author’s debut. I’m looking forward to reading whatever the author writes next!
Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t think anyone . . . . . . . cared about this place.”
Gerritt Laninga has just made the hardest decision of his sixty-three year existence seem easy to everyone else. Having devoted all of his adult life to his dairy cattle, he is now at odds with everything and everyone who isn’t a cow or a tractor. . . . selling the family farm lifted one set of burdens only to replace them with another kind. When he meets a young neighbor hanging out in the deserted barn on his personal property, his plans, or lack thereof, begin to incrementally shift.
Rae Walters is the perfect student, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter . . . she is following the perfect plan . . . . graduate at the top of her class, slide effortlessly through college into law school and become a lawyer, just like her father. There’s only one problem. She’s terrified of driving. What if she can’t pass the test? When she meets a crotchety old neighbor in his deserted barn, her plans begin to incrementally shift.
What an absolutely refreshing “coming of age” meets “too young to retire” story! Rae longs to know what she is really meant to do and Gerritt is grieved over what he has already done. Their conversations and inter-actions with family and friends was incredibly humorous at times (picture a six foot four dairy farmer trying on skinny jeans) and heart breaking in the interim. For surely, “let us not become weary in well doing, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”. It’s all a matter of what we sow.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
The Sowing Season by Katie Powner commenced with searing emotion and gave me all the feels as I read through the book. Because the poignant story dealt with heavy issues, I had to take frequent breaks. Despite such interrupted reading, my interest in the characters and their relationships never waned.
In The Sowing Season, Gerrit, a cranky, older man with a lifetime of regrets and bitterness, must face the aftermath of his own choices. Rae, a perfectionistic, overachieving teenage girl with a deep attachment to The Plan for her future, must decide who and what she’ll invest her time and energy in. These two characters are good medicine for each other. Their unlikely friendship brings forth character growth in them both. Themes about sowing and reaping, the importance of relationships, and letting go of expectations weave into these characters and their stories.
I recommend The Sowing Season to fiction readers who enjoy novels that delve deeply into life experiences, including painful ones. The ending is what I consider an open resolution – there’s resolution, but not every loose end is tied up and there is potential for a sequel.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
Wow!! I really liked this book! I didn’t know what to expect but whatever I did expect, this was different. I was curious to read it as the plot is unique for a Christian fiction book. I was surprised but in a good way!
It begins the story from the point of view of a 63 year old farmer who has just sold the farm he had worked on his entire life. The farm is all he’s ever known and now it’s gone. He feels lost without it.
The next point of view is a fifteen year old girl who is living under the pressure to be perfect. She’s always followed “The Plan” to be a lawyer like her father… she’s never questioned it until now. Burt what if changing the plan divides her family?
I loved the characters in this book, especially Rae. She’s mature and level-headed for her age but doesn’t always fit in because she’s smart and is focused on strictly following the plan her parent’s have for her. She struggles with what she’s always planned on and the uncertainty she feels about her future now. I could definitely relate with her fear of driving. I’ve been there. Her friendliness and vivaciousness made her a really lovable character.
Gerrit was a complex character. You can’t help but laugh at him and cringe for him with second-hand embarrassment. But you also can’t help but sympathize and feel deeply for him. I’ve never read a book from an older man’s point of view. It was interesting to say the least.
Watching these characters grow was amazing. I loved watching Rae deal with her fears and relationships while watching Gerrit deal with his bitterness and memories then seeing them come together as friends, helping each other without even realizing it. An unusual duo for sure, but a fun one.
I really liked the side-characters in this book as well. I found myself actually interested in their stories, especially Morgan. He was one of my favorite characters in the whole book. I wanted to know more about him, get more of his story from the moment he entered the story.
Hannie was also a great character. Her patience with Gerrit was touching.
The plot was unique and fun. It is a more character driven story which I liked because I loved the characters. But
there’s some action too.
There was some really great messages in this story. Forgiveness, moving on from the past, our plans for ourselves vs God’s plan for us. It was well and subtly done. I even found myself tearing up at one point which I wasn’t expecting. There were some moments with Gerrit I couldn’t help myself. He was chained by his guilt and his unwillingness to forgive I love a good story about redemption and character development and this was a pretty great one!
One of the many reasons I love reading is because it allows me to see from the perspective of someone else, someone who maybe see’s things differently than me. It allows me to understand people in a way I never would have otherwise. I found this especially true with this story. I loved getting the point of views of two totally different ages.
In the end, I really, really enjoyed this story in a way I didn’t expect. It was funny and fun to read for sure. The rooster, Daisy, the cooking shows, the neighbor war. But it was also meaningful, and touching. And since it’s spans so many ages, I think anyone could enjoy it. Whether you’re fifteen or sixty-three, I think you’ll get something from this. 🙂
I found myself not wanting it to end because I was so invested in the characters stories. I’m still very curious about what happens to Rae next as well Morgan.
It was a fantastic debut novel and I’m really excited to see what this author writes in the future!
*I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
I had heard a lot of good things from author friends about this debut novel, so I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did! This poignant, heart-warming story drew me in and kept me attentive from beginning to end. The characters are well-crafted, memorable, and so realistic! The author’s clear, concise style; excellent storytelling skill; and vivid imagery allowed me to feel the emotions that the characters experienced—fear, frustration, guilt, failure, uncertainty. The steadily moving plot with its twists, turns, and surprises unfolds a beautiful narrative of friendship, forgiveness, and reconciliation with both light-hearted humor and heart-wrenching seriousness. The strong faith element delivers inspiring cross-generational life lessons. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. I will definitely be watching for more books by Ms. Powner.
I received a copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher via netgalley but am under no obligation
I received an ARC from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley and this is my honest review. Rae was 15 and in high school and Gerrit was 63 and was forced to sell the family farm. Rae had been using his barn for refuge because she lived behind his farm but seems he was never home before he didn’t know it.
After Gerrit retired, he didn’t know what to do with himself. His wife had a suitcase by the front door and his 2 kids didn’t want anything to do with him. Rae was feeling the pressure of the Plan, and all her parents expected of her.
As the friendship grows between the two, they begin to change. Most of us have gone down the wrong path once or twice, so I could relate to Garrit when he figured out he had been down the wrong path for a long time and wanted to correct it. The author does an amazing job writing about that, sometimes I could feel his pain so strong, others I laughed, but he and Rae helped each other along the way.
He told Rae to stay on the right path. The adventures of figuring things out were amazing. This was Katie Powner’s debut novel and I hope she continues to write books because this had so much heart, feelings, and teenagers and retired people can teach each other so much.
Awesome characters? Check!
Moving, thoughtful, heartfelt and emotional story? Check!
A riled-up rooster and a precious little corgi? Check!
I laughed out loud so many times during the book’s lighthearted moments. But, seriously, have some tissues nearby for the heartbreaking ones, because – wow.
What a stellar debut novel! Katie Powner’s style is so unique! I totally adored every page! There’s so much more I want to say, but, you know – spoilers. Just read this book. It’s so, so worth it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Katie Powner and Bethany House Publishers. A positive review was not required. Opinions expressed are completely my own.