Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah

Winter Garden

By Kristin Hannah

  • Release Date: 2010-02-02
  • Genre: Historical
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 2,994 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

  • Five stars!

    5
    By carleigh.jack
    I couldn’t put this book down. Had me “ugly crying”. The last book to do that to me was The Nightingale, by the same author. She is an amazing story teller and did not disappoint with this book. Would highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction. Officially one of my favorites now.
  • Winter Garden

    5
    By palhc
    I ended this book with tears running down my face. I love history and have read many books (fiction and nonfiction) about WWII and and the atrocities during that period. The Author does an excellent job of depicting the effect of the horrors on a personal level. I would think this was a hard book to write. Thank you for doing so. How soon we forget the horrors of war and how crucial it is for us to remember. I have read and enjoyed several of Hannah’s books. Will continue to do so.
  • Beautifully written

    5
    By Spomky
    This is such a captivating, beautiful work of art. One of the best stories I’ve read in many years.
  • Simply amazing!

    5
    By DenverShopper2214
    Incredibly sad but it’s a well written story!!!
  • Tears often

    5
    By Peggy Padelt
    Splendid telling of sorrow, love, pain, laughter…and the story of life.
  • Winter Garden

    5
    By Natogo
    Beautiful story! The way she writes makes you feel you are there and part of it.
  • A tedious read…

    2
    By MaxiFern
    The book built too slowly.
  • From boring to amazing

    4
    By Sherri Rose
    I had a very difficult time getting through the first chapters and almost gave up on the Winter Garden! If I begin a book I never stop until the end, but Winter Garden challenged me for sure as I found it repetitive and dragging for many chapters. However, it all changed midway and the second half of this amazing story is worth the wait!! You will become completely enthralled and will stay up way past your bedtime to get to the end of Winter Garden! Highly recommended!!
  • Loved it!

    5
    By Janilou
    I could not put this book down. I didn’t think I would love another book as much as I love The Nightengale but this book is my new favorite!!
  • Love it!

    5
    By #1 Pic Collage
    Beautiful story! I’ll admit I cried! This is the 4th of this authors book that I’ve read!