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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My review is probably the kind you won’t see more than once. I absolutely loved this book, but I could not finish reading it. It was as if Kristen Hannah had grown up in my home, and it was too painful to continue through to the end.
Very good book. Though i am a fan of Kristin Hannah
This is the best book I have read this year
The ending is so unexpected
A great informative book about the siege of Leningrad and how it affected the family life
Started slowly with characters that were not great company, but evolved into an exciting, thrilling, heart rendering story. Highly recommend!
This book was sad but I liked the characters and it ended with happiness and forgiveness.
i loved this story ! The characters were wonderful. The ending was so unbelievable..
Four stars, as good if not better than the Nightingale
Really enjoyed this book – great storyline and well developed characters.
My favorite of Kristin Hannah’s books.
I love Hannah’s books and feel that The Nightingale and The Great Alone have set the bar very high. Two wonderful books. This book is not one of my favorites. It was interesting to learn of women going through WWII in Russia and is a subject I hadn’t given much thought to. I guess I just didn’t care for the way the story was told, present day …
A really interesting, book with really good characters. I liked the book.
Talented author blends meaningful life stories to remind us of the things that should be truely valuable in all of our lives.
One of my all-time favorite authors. She never lets me down.
The mystery of lives are unfolded into a part of History I had no idea was so humanly suppressed, and yet love prevails.
Mix of emotions! Interesting story!
Best book I have read in a long time, Gripping facts during WWII at the start of it with Germany and Russia, What a story Barely put it down to sleep
Interesting characters. Good plot development
It started off very slow, couldn’t figure out where it was going. Think it could have gotten to the point sooner. The characters were not very likable so it took awhile. I came close to putting it aside for awhile because of that. I gave it a 5 but it really should be more of a 4.
Kristen Hannah never disappoints me. Lovely book!
A superb historical novel. History is certainly illuminated as well as how our past impacts relationships.