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NILTON TEIXEIRA's Reviews > Winter Garden
Winter Garden
by
by
3.5 stars
This was my 5th book by this author.
Before anyone asks, yes, I have read the following books, listed in order of preference, including my ratings:
“The Nightingale” (outstanding!) 5 stars
“The Four Winds” (the writing!!!) 5 stars
“The Great Alone” (4 stars)
and
“Night Road” (4 stars)
So, after reading the books listed above, I was curious about her earlier works.
This book was released in 2010 and I don’t think that I will be reading anything that was written before that.
I can say that her writing has improved a great deal, since this one.
The writing is really good, no doubt about it, but the development of the story was very slow and very repetitive, never mind the unlikeable characters (I didn’t care for a single one).
I did like the dynamic between the characters, and I liked the structure.
Although I felt no connection with the characters, I did think that the author did a great job representing grieve (there are some heartbreaking moments) and the relationship between family members.
But the first half felt too long.
The pages leading to the conclusion were so heartbreaking, but to be honest, I did not like how it ended.
When I posted this book in a reading group, everyone said that I was going to love it.
Don’t you hate that kind of pressure?
Well, I don’t mind being the outlier.
Hardcover (St. Martin Press): 398 pages
e-book (Kobo): 472 pages (default), 128k words
This was my 5th book by this author.
Before anyone asks, yes, I have read the following books, listed in order of preference, including my ratings:
“The Nightingale” (outstanding!) 5 stars
“The Four Winds” (the writing!!!) 5 stars
“The Great Alone” (4 stars)
and
“Night Road” (4 stars)
So, after reading the books listed above, I was curious about her earlier works.
This book was released in 2010 and I don’t think that I will be reading anything that was written before that.
I can say that her writing has improved a great deal, since this one.
The writing is really good, no doubt about it, but the development of the story was very slow and very repetitive, never mind the unlikeable characters (I didn’t care for a single one).
I did like the dynamic between the characters, and I liked the structure.
Although I felt no connection with the characters, I did think that the author did a great job representing grieve (there are some heartbreaking moments) and the relationship between family members.
But the first half felt too long.
The pages leading to the conclusion were so heartbreaking, but to be honest, I did not like how it ended.
When I posted this book in a reading group, everyone said that I was going to love it.
Don’t you hate that kind of pressure?
Well, I don’t mind being the outlier.
Hardcover (St. Martin Press): 398 pages
e-book (Kobo): 472 pages (default), 128k words
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Reading Progress
April 12, 2020
– Shelved
April 12, 2020
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 26, 2023
–
Started Reading
May 26, 2023
–
1.0%
"It’s time to read this one, but I will start it tomorrow morning.
This book has been sitting around for too long."
This book has been sitting around for too long."
May 27, 2023
–
26.0%
May 27, 2023
–
50.0%
"I have to say that, since the release of this book (2010), this author has improved a lot.
Having said that, I doubt that i will be reading anything older than this, unless someone can be very convincing."
Having said that, I doubt that i will be reading anything older than this, unless someone can be very convincing."
May 28, 2023
–
82.0%
May 28, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-10 of 10 (10 new)
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by
Jenny
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
May 28, 2023 09:19AM
Funny I rated this highly because it stuck with me for awhile after finishing but I actually agree with most of your review 😆
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I agree very much with your review! The four books you listed are also my absolute favorites by Kristin Hannah. I have had some luck with earlier works but not a ton. I think you hit the nail on the head; her writing has certainly improved a great deal.
Wonderfully honest review Nilton. It is hard to like a book when you can't like the characters. It takes practically all the way to the end to understand the motivations behind the attitude. And that isn't good - as a reader - we want to connect with the characters - root for them. I understand your feelings about what happened for you with this book - and how the author has matured in her writing with her later books. :)
Your *-star trajectory seems to be on a downward slide, Nilton, so I hope you're able to read some of her newer, better novels! Great review!!
Thanks Jodi! The next one will be Firefly Lane, which is older, 2008, but I did purchase a paperback because of the tv series, which I have not yet watched.
Thanks, Nilton! My reviews of the others you’ve read are just about the same as mine, so I think I’m going to skip this one 😁
Thanks Maren! Lots of readers loved this book, so perhaps you would too. Although my copy was from the library, I did feel like reading the whole book.
