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.First let me start off by saying that Kristin Hannah is probably one of my favorite non-fiction author. Her writing style is flowery and I can rely on her books to make me shread one or two tears. Winter Garden was a great read. I found myself being drawn into the fairy tales just like Meredith and Nina did as they were kids. The characters were so different but that difference made the characters work together. Meredith, despite wanting to be like her mother seemed the most like her; She was distent and remote to her husband that she once loved so dearly. Nina is the one I connected with the most, she was wild and free but at the same time she was haunted by the deaths and pains that she has experienced. She hids behind her work and never lets herself be loved.
Ms. Hannah tore my heart out with this book; I loved it to the core. I can not say it was an easy read because it wasn't. I had a hard time reading parts of the 'fairy tale' that so closely hits home for so many people. Winter Garden is a such a bittersweet story!
Some authors when they write from two different points of view they try and make the reader like a certain one, but Ms. Hannah does a great job at keeping each character balanced and so sweet. I loved Meredith and Nina with such vigor that I felt what they were feeling. Anya was my favorite, she went through so much, her emotions were real and can never be forgotten. I gave this book a 5 out of 5!
