Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen is a definition of home and family. The themes of love and family and its many manifestations permeate this book through the different characters. Together from all these pieces, Anna Quindlen creates a vivid picture of Miller's Valley and of ordinary people - that I as the reader care about - living life with all the struggle and love it has to offer.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/03/millers-valley.html
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016/03/millers-valley.html
Reviewed based on a publisher's galley received through NetGalley
Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen is told from Mary Margaret's (Mimi) point of view. Mimi is a young girl growing up in Miller's Valley where the government wants to move everyone out the valley (where it floods the homes when it rains) and flood it creating a reservoir. We get to see how Mimi grew up, her family, and her home life (the book starts when she is eleven years old). Mimi's Aunt Ruth lives in a cottage behind the main farmhouse. Aunt Ruth never leaves her cottage. She does not do cooking and expects meals to be brought to her. She also has to have someone do the shopping. Mimi's mother, Miriam is a nurse and her father, Buddy runs the family farm. Her brother, Tommy goes off to fight in the Vietnam War and returns a different man. We get to see Mimi grow up in Miller's Valley, live her life, go to school, get married, and then, ultimately, come back to Miller's Valley.
I thought Miller's Valley would be more than the life of one girl growing up in a small town. I found Miller's Valley to be boring. The story is told in the first-person perspective (which I really dislike). It was more like reading a diary than a novel. I had a very hard time staying awake to read it. There is no depth to the book. The book is simple and easy to read, but there is no spark. This book does not leave with any impression when you are done reading it (except glad it is over). I give Miller's Valley 2.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Miller's Valley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
I thought Miller's Valley would be more than the life of one girl growing up in a small town. I found Miller's Valley to be boring. The story is told in the first-person perspective (which I really dislike). It was more like reading a diary than a novel. I had a very hard time staying awake to read it. There is no depth to the book. The book is simple and easy to read, but there is no spark. This book does not leave with any impression when you are done reading it (except glad it is over). I give Miller's Valley 2.5 out of 5 stars.
I received a complimentary copy of Miller's Valley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.
Another great book from Anna Quindlen. This one kept me wanting to read more, when I had to quit to do work.
I have always enjoyed Quindlen's writing, especially as she captured so well the lives of my peers and me as we raised our families, in her columns now captured in book form. This writing does't hit the top of the list of her writing, but it still captures thoughtfully and insightfully the impact of corporate decisions on families and communities.
