2013 Book Review #26: Yesterday's Sun

I don't often read fantasy as I usually don't like it but there have been a few books in the last couple of years that have fallen into this genre and I've really enjoyed them.  This is another of those books.  My sister Joy let me borrow this as she thought I would like it....and I did, although it was a bit "slow" in the middle.  But it quickly picked back up towards the end.

Also, it is interesting to note that the author, a single mom to a teen-aged daughter, was inspired to write this when her little boy Nathan, died of cancer at just 3 years old in 2006.  She was determined that his legacy would be one of inspiration rather than devastation.  The story comes from her own experience of motherhood and how much a mother would sacrifice for the life of her own child.

STORY SUMMARY

Setting:  a small village outside the city of London, England. 2010

Holly and Tom are newlyweds who have just moved into the dream house...a pretty English gatehouse in the suburbs of London.  Tom is an up and coming television journalist, who recently has had to do a lot of traveling to foreign countries.  His dream is to have a houseful of children some day.

Holly is a freelance artist...a sculptor.  Her works are displayed in a London gallery and are doing well.  She isn't so sure about the whole mothering thing as her own parents were very neglectful when she was growing up.  She basically knows nothing about being a parent.  But, she figures that she and Tom are young, in love, and have plenty of time to decide about children and the future.

One day she discovers a crystal orb.  It is the missing top to a moon-dial that is in their garden.  It is from an explorer from the last century who stole it from Central America where it once belonged to the Aztec people.  Holly discovers that this is no ordinary moon-dial.  Under the light of a full moon, she sees her future............a future where her husband is raising their baby daughter Libby.  Alone.

Holly's new friend Jocelyn, an elderly woman, reveals the curse/secret of the moondial and it's power.  Now Holly must choose between herself and her baby daughter.  This will prove to be a painful decision that will teach her about motherhood and sacrifice and how far someone will go in the name of love.

What happens??  Which decision will Holly choose? Can she really choose her future? 

or can she change the power of the moon-dial??

MY THOUGHTS

I enjoyed this book although I probably wouldn't have chosen it if my sister, who is an avid reader like me, hadn't recommended it.

The story draws you in to the possibility of time travel and the fantasy of knowing the future. 

Did you know that the moon steals its light from yesterday's sun? and that they are only accurate on the night of a full moon?

This story leaves you with the knowledge that the future is better left unknown!

The ending is a marvelous, although sad, surprise.  I was NOT prepared for the ending as I thought the ending would be predictable and thankfully it was not!  (i don't like predictable endings!!

I do like this line in the epilogue....I like it because I can relate to it and it's something I firmly believe in.

"A life is for living and you should start each day with a blank page, although once in awhile you might just notice the occasional glow from yesterday's sun."  (Amanda Brooke, author of Yesterday's Sun pg 322, c .2012)

I don't want to say too much about this novel because it is fresh in my mind, it left quite an impression of how precious life is and the friendships that we are given to treasure..........and I don't want to spoil it for you in case you decide to read it.

In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 14 and older.

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9.