by Ann Hood
When I read an obituary, I am expecting it to contain certain information. When Vivien writes an obituary, she isn’t concerned about dates and events, she wants to capture the whole individual. Vivien sets the stage for the survivors in her home, serving them comforting beverages and snacks as they ...
Ann Hood's novel of two women from different era's each tells a story of life from their perspective. As Vivien and Claire's stories unfolds they eventually convene together in a way that displays women of their time in history. Vivien is the obituary writer and lives in Napa in 1919. A survivor o...
This is a story of hope. We begin with Claire, a wife and mother who does her best to be everything she was brought up to be. While she goes through the motions of her life -caring for her daughter and her husband, maintaining a clean and comfortable home, being the perfect social hostess – she feel...
Despite moral objections from her friends, Vivien Lowe is blissfully happy living in her new San Francisco home with her (married) lover, David. When the great earthquake hits in 1906 many lives are lost. Vivien manages to survive, but does not know what happened to David. Encouraged by her best ...
This was a good read, and it has inspired me to read poetry again. I felt like the stories didn't really go together though, and I would have liked each one as their own book,
Rating = 3.5 starsWarning: Prescription credulity goggles may be required. This is one of the most predictable novels I've ever read, and I do mean eye-rollingly predictable. So much so that I'm not even going to discuss plot and characters. Whatever is in the promotional blurb is all you need to kn...
I enjoyed both of the stories contained in this book. Moving back and forth from 1919 to the 1960's worked very well. It could be because I dig both of those time frames. It could be because the writing was crisp and moving. Short, sweet and full of great historical details.
I won this book through a Goodreads giveaway. I wanted to like this book more than I did but it just wasn't for me. It's a lovely little story dealing with two women in very different time periods and how they deal with grief and regret. I usually enjoy reading about women's issues but I didn't c...
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