Janet Roberts (5)

“Life is messy,” in Janet Roberts’ The Leaf Queen. People make judgements without knowing the details, and decisions without knowing the consequences. Guilt and pain ensue. But the story’s threaded with the promise of hope, unfurling slowly like an Irish dawn filled with light and shade. Even wrong relationships can have beautiful consequences. And the sins of the parents don’t always define the paths of the children they bear.

Compelling multi-dimensional characters, haunting back-story, and a lyrical writing style make this a truly enjoyable read. Part Maeve Binchey, part modern American, the story blends Catholic angst, family ties, rebellion, romance and creativity into a novel that ties its loose ends beautifully without being manipulative. I really enjoyed it.

Disclosure: I got it on a deal and I offer my honest review.… (plus d'informations)

This book reminded me of The Coal Miner's Daughter. This book was a very confusing read. The style of writing is good. The backwards and forwards between the past and the present through me sometimes. The main problem I had with this book was the numbers of characters introduced too fast. I had no idea who anyone was and by the time I began to realise who was who, the story was over. In one paragraph, someone mentioned, a husband, a son, a daughter in law and a granddaughter. It was way too many characters to try and get a handle on. Perhaps a slower start would've been better. The story itself could've been better. I would've preferred to find out that she was innocent.… (plus d'informations)

There is a lyric in an old rock/blues song that goes “if it wasn’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all,” well that is Dina’s life story in the Leaf Queen. From her childhood onward she just can’t seem to catch a break. When we first meet her, she has left her hometown in America and moved to Ireland. While there she falls in love with the worst guy for her and he breaks her heart. Then she gives birth to his child and gives the baby up for adoption which breaks her heart again; and this is in the first few chapters. When Dina returns to America she tries to start over and goes to be with her sister CeCe, the only family she has left. CeCe is more stable but has unresolved issues from their childhood. I know this sounds dark and depressing but it is a story about healing.
Dina is smart, artistic, sensitive and talented but emotionally stunted, and anyone, including me, who has made bad choices will relate to her. The author has done a great job taking us into Dina’s thought process, and also in telling the story through different characters. Only one thing kept me from giving this novel a 5 star rating and that was an incident that happens towards the end, because I wondered if it was necessary? No spoiler alert because I’d like to know what other readers think. I’m giving The Leaf Queen 4 stars for the writing, and a good story. Finally, I have just one little warning about some sexual content.… (plus d'informations)