Can a woman ever really know herself if she doesn’t know her mother? From the author of the smash-hit bestseller Firefly Lane and True Colors comes a powerful, heartbreaking novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between the present and the past Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children …
Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.
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I love this author and have read many of her books. She is great with discriptions and developing characters.
I have always loved books by Kristin Hannah. The last two I have read (Winter Garden and The Nightingale) are books that have stayed with me long after the last page. Both are absolutely amazing books. Winter Garden was different from The Nightingale in that I struggled to get through the first part about the daughters and their difficulties with …
One of the best books I’ve read. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read a touching and interesting story.
I loved this book. Kristin Hannah weaves a heartwrenching storing within a story. You know there’s so much more going on than first meets the eye, but there’s an invisible wall in the way. Little by little that wall comes down. The characters lives seem to be falling apart, but the more they learn of their mother’s painful, secretive past, the …
I have loved all the Kristen Hannah books I have read and Winter Garden was terrific. Also recommend The Nightingale.
I loved this book! Kristen Hannah does an incredible job of developing characters and bringing you into their world. This book will stick with you long after you finish it.
Great read. I learned a lot about the “siege of Leningrad “ I couldn’t put this down!
Great family dynamics. Learned about Russian history. How life experiences can effect behavior and relationships. Thought provoking. Not a light beach read but very good.
Seeing a side of war conflict (so far unknown to me) was enlightening. Interesting characters, keep reading….it will make sense.
There has been so much talk on how wonderful The Nightingale is, and rightfully so. It was an amazing book. But Kristin Hannah wrote another book several years ago that was similar intone and subject matter. It wasn’t a WWII story, but was set during the Russian Revolution. The women in both stories had to deal with struggle and survival, with no …
A wonderful story about the effects living through the Nazi Regime had on one woman and her family even many years after the war ended.
One of the best books I have ever read. I would suggest the nightingale also a wonderful read!
At first reading the one daughters attitude turned me off but I persevered and then couldn’t put it down. The history and challenges kept my interested and I’m glad I did.
The depth the characters is what makes this book with an unusual premise riveting. I was completely entranced with their the dynamics revealed as the story progressed.
Those of us who grew up during and remember WW!! can appreciate this heart wretching story
I especially loved the parts that took place in Russia. The modern day characters were a little annoying.
I loved this book. I recommend it all the time.
I was a little slow but if you love historical fiction you will find it compelling.
Loved it! Great true to life characters. Uplifting!
Love her writing style