I could offer an apology for addressing yet another one of Kristin Hannah’s magical works in the unlikely scenario that I really am starting to annoy folks with this redundancy, but I don’t want to. I could kick myself for waiting until I was 30 to begin exploring the incredible storytelling that occurs within Hannah’s material, but I suppose better late than never.
I would like to reach a point at which I’ve read each and every single one of her books, and one has to start somewhere. So, please be patient as we continue to delve into this brilliant woman’s writing.
The Winter Garden is, in my own observations and understanding, a lesser-known title of Hannah’s. Anyone I mention the book to isn’t familiar with it, even if they’re an avid fan of her work, so I wasn’t entirely sure of what to expect going into it aside from the assumption it would offer great writing, because that’s what Hannah does, each and every time.
The Winter Garden tells the story of a family with Russian heritage. Nina and Meredith are two sisters who fail to share many similarities or common interests, aside from their lifelong, desperate attempts to get to know their cold and closed-off mother. After losing their father (I don’t consider this a spoiler because it happens relatively early on in the plot), the girls decide to honour their father’s lifelong desire – to familiarize themselves with each other, their mother, and their family history.
I will say the opening few chapters are rather slow, but once you’re through them, the plot starts to pick up. I’m almost finished it, and while it isn’t one of my favourite Kristin Hannah novels, it presents, as always, excellent character-building and storytelling.
The Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah is definitely a read, and not a rid.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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