Lydia LaPutka's Reviews > Winter Garden

I only read this book because my book club was reading it. I did not read it in time for the meeting but decided to read it anyways because it sounded interesting. Sibling relationships are often complicated, and I was curious how this would play out. I am seriously not really sure why I stuck with it. For some reason, the way the author told the story irritated me. I don't mind books that bounce back and forth between past and present, but the parts where the mom was "storytelling" just bothered me.

I also disliked how vicious the mom was to her daughters as they grew up. Psychologically, that just didn't make sense. Yeah, she had been through a sordid past full of tragedy and awfulness, but being that cold, cruel, and distant to your own flesh and blood? Didn't seem like a possible outcome. Also, absolutely unforgivable. I guess that's why it made no sense in the end that everything turned out hunky dory. I would have respected the story more if there had been hints of a sad past and the daughters found clues while cleaning up their dad's possessions. Also, what father would put up with a wife who is that awful to his children? Nope. Not believable. Sooo . . . I would NOT recommend this book at all.