Winter Garden

ByKristin Hannah

Release Date: 2010-02-02
Genre: Historical Fiction

Score: 4.5

4.5

From 4,681 Ratings

Description

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 Kristin Hannah's 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 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.

Reviews

Wonderful Story
4
By Pattyjo719
I thought this book was a boring in the beginning but, it picked up, and then I couldn’t put it down. I felt like I was there with them. I couldn’t wait to pick up my phone to open, “Books”. I had to read this the moment I had free time. If I woke in the night I had to grab my phone so I could at least read a couple of pages. Great book, and I highly recommended it.
Couldn’t put it down!
5
By SportGrandma
Fantastic! She is one of my favorite writers.
Great Book
5
By Lanette1950
This is a very good book but be prepared to be sad.
Beautiful
5
By kassie reads
Absolutely Beautiful! I couldn’t put it down!
Great story
3
By Reader Girl Tiff
I loved this when I finally got 3/4 through. It was so slow at first and hard to get to that point but I’m not a quitter and got to the good part.
Loved it
5
By kbj56601
This was the first time I had read a book by this author and a book in this genre and I really loved it! It did have me crying at times but overall 5 stars!
Meaningful
4
By kimsmith7441$
Slow to start but as always, very meaningful story.
Two stories in one
4
By beachroadview
It started a little slow, but there is a story within the story, and soon I was totally engrossed in both stories and sorry when it ended.
A story of Generational Trauma
3
By Amigo73
and how healing is possible through honesty and owning one’s narrative. I had a hard time getting into this book at first as the 3 characters were all so very unlikeable. I think the author went overboard there. Then through owning her narrative the mother is able to heal and everyone is transformed in a little too tidy a package for realism. I’d actually give it 3.5 stars. I save 5 for truly exceptional reads, and 4 stars for really really good works. Both those ratings are hard earned from me.
Engaging
5
By Dixie Ricks
This book had me at the first chapter and it was hard to put done.