This author has written 7 novels (including this one) and I've read one which I really enjoyed and now this one which has left a deep impression on me. She has also written several non-fiction books. I liked this story very much but I must warn you that she does touch on the subject of lesbianism. It is done tastefully and I wasn't turned off but because I am a Christ follower, I cannot give this a 10 rating. The story itself deserves a 10 but some of the sexual scenes described, although I understand it to be part of the character development, could have been "scaled down" somewhat. For that reason, I give it a lower number. (i also loved the book because my 2nd daughter's college, UNH, is mentioned several times in the story, as well as the towns in the surrounding area!).
STORY SUMMARY
It is 1949 when the story opens. It opens in a farming community of New Hampshire. The Plank family consists of Connie, a no-nonsense Christian woman and her hard working, kind, and gentle husband, Edwin. Edwin is a farmer. They have 4 daughters: Sarah, Naomi, Esther, Edwina (also known as Winnie). Soon they are about to have daughter #5 whom they will name Ruth.
another family in town named Dickerson. George and his artsy wife Valerie (known as Val). George can never seem to be successful with money although he is always thinking of new ways to acquire it. He's a musician wannabe. He's also into get rich quick schemes. Val is an artist and a pretty good one! She is also very beautiful. They have a son named Ray and is about to have a daughter whom they will name Dana.
Dana and Ruth are born on the same day (July 4, 1950) in the same New Hampshire hospital.
Ruth is a passionate, creative and artistic little girl who is quite different from her more serious and predictable sisters. Ruth's goal is to go to Art School in Boston and escape the farm life.
Dana is a scientist and a realist whose faith is solidly planted in the natural world. She loves chemistry and plants. She also loves the female body and would rather dream about a life with another woman than with dating boys. Dana is being raised by her drifter parents and wants nothing more than to put down roots somewhere and be settled.
Connie Plank makes it a point to get together with the Dickerson family every July 4th. The "birthday sisters" couldn't be more different however and don't consider themselves friends with one another.
Both girls share the need of trying to find themselves and find their place in the world. As they grow up, they both experience love, loss, and the feeling that they never truly belong.
They both also share the love of Dana's brother Ray. Ray is handsome and wild. He will leave quite a mark on both of the girls' lives.
What really happens to Ray and Ruth? Why does Connie want this friendship that has turned to love to end? What happens when Dana meets the love of her life....a woman named Clarice? Why does UNH deny Clarice's tenure?
Will the "birthday sisters" ever really discover the truth about them selves??
MY THOUGHTS
This book just grabbed me right from the start. It was the setting and character development rolled into one. It's such a great story and every chapter is either Ruth's voice or Dana's. This book is poignant and heart-warming but it is also super sad and deep.
There are some heavy topics in this story: it touches on betrayal, familial relationships, friendships, lust, love, abortion, divorce, dysfunctional families, lesbianism, terminal illness, euthanasia, parenthood, forgiveness.
The story takes you through the conservative, traditional values of the 1950s to the free-love, anti-war, and drug culture of the 1960s to the technology and changes of the 21st century. The developing personalities of both girls is exquisitely done by this author.
The farmer in the story goes into quite some detail about strawberries and something about strawberry runners known as daughters. I know there's some symbolism with this and it was very well done, I was a bit bored with the strawberry/biology specifics. It all ties in and it shows the relationship and bond that Ruth's dad had with Dana. You definitely don't want to skim over this part.
There is a reason why the girls never truly feel like they belong in their respective families and when you find out why, you will weep. I had tears in my eyes when I realized where the author was going with this. It is a very moving story.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to mature subject matter).
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 9.
1 comment:
Sounds like a very involved deep story, though I think I would take a pass because of the scenes you mention especially in the context of a lesbian relationship. I'm wondering though, out of curiosity, how the author handled the Christian Mom. Was she written fairly, or was she written as a "bible pushing crazy person"?
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