Books & Chocolate
I love to read just about anything, as long as it's fiction. I read for me - that means I read what I want, when I want. My reviews tend to mostly be based on how I'm able to personally connect with the story/characters. They are not intended to influence someone to read, or not read, a particular book. I always encourage people to take a chance and make up your own mind.
Oh, and I love chocolate.
Winter Garden
Winter Garden is not the first Kristin Hannah book I've read, and sadly it wasn't my favorite. Based on reviews many readers have loved this book, so if you think it's your type of story then give it a shot.
The upside: I enjoyed most of the 'fairy tale' part of the book. I wasn't at all familiar with the Leningrad stories of the 1940's. They were horrific times, and the hardships that people had to endure to survive were heartbreaking. I actually also enjoyed seeing how this affected Vera/Anya's relationship with her family.
The downside: For me, it seemed to drag way too much in the beginning, I didn't like a few of the main characters (in the 'they annoy me' kind of way, not the 'they are intended to be bad people' kind of way), and the ending just made me want to cry - and not for the reasons the author would have wanted me to cry. I think the ending killed it for me the most. I don't want to say more due to spoilers.
In general, I've enjoyed many of Hannah's books and will likely read more. This one just didn't work out in my favor.
5
