Helpful Score: 2
I read all Sarah Jio's previous books and enjoyed them. They are quick reading, one or two evenings, but are all the same formula! Interesting mysteries between a present day woman, interweaving plots with someone from the past, and how the stories come together with a surprise ending you don't always see coming. The book kept me reading until the end, but I think it's time the author tried a different approach.
I want to give a little back history from my perspective on Sarah Jio's books since they are all written with the past and present interwined into the story. The Violets of March was very good. Blackberry Winter was in my opinion good. The Bungalow fantastic! Then came The Last Camellia and I thought...hmmmmm......maybe this past and present thing is gettin' old...time for something new, then out jumps Morning Glory and the magic is back for me.
I loved Morning Glory. I will say some will find it somewhat predictable and typical of Ms. Jio's previous books but I found the descriptions of Boat Street in the 1950's and the socialization back then fascinating. The story is of love and loss with a little mystery thrown in. I loved the ending, maybe a bit unbelieveable but as I have said many times before "It's fiction, it's why we read!" I will continue to read Sarah Jio.
I loved Morning Glory. I will say some will find it somewhat predictable and typical of Ms. Jio's previous books but I found the descriptions of Boat Street in the 1950's and the socialization back then fascinating. The story is of love and loss with a little mystery thrown in. I loved the ending, maybe a bit unbelieveable but as I have said many times before "It's fiction, it's why we read!" I will continue to read Sarah Jio.
This was the first by this author for me. Not my usual fare, but she is a popular author and this one appealed to me because of the houseboat setting. I did love the description of Boat Street and all it entailed and the mystery of Penny from the past kept me reading, but in the end this is not my cup of tea. There was too much sadness and I found the ending difficult to wrap my head around. I enjoyed parts along the way, but not enough to seek out another by this author.
A gorgeous, haunting, exquisite story... I was pulled in from the first installment. There was 'something' about the story that pulled me in and wouldn't let go :).
We're dropped into the lives of Ada and Penny, two different women living different lives yet they more in common than they think.
Ada has suffered a big tragedy and is just existing, working alot to keep herself busy. One day she can't take it anymore and flees New York for Seattle to live on a houseboat for the summer (with the reluctant approval from her therapist) in the hopes of healing from her pain.
Penny is a young bride who is living on the houseboat with her husband Dexter, a talented artist who has his own demons. She feels isolated and lonely since Dexter is off working alot and doesn't feel accepted in her husband's world/by her Boat Street neighbors. She's captivated by their neighbor Collin, who's building a houseboat along the way. She adores her neighbor's son Jimmy, who feels unloved by his parents.
Ada lives in the houseboat that was once occupied by Penny and her husband, abandoned by him after her disappearance. She finds a chest of Penny's belongings and is compelled to find out what happened to her.
What happened to Penny? Was she murdered? Did she run away?
There was so many twists and turns in this... I did not expect who it turned out to be that caused Penny's disappearance or the what happened after. I don't want to give anything away but it's all more closely tied together than you think.
I thought it would be jarring to flip between Penny and Ada but it was done well... we learn and unlearn more each time little bits of the story came from each side. I had certain perceptions one way and then they would be flipped around some pages later when new information came or was re-examined in light of another view.
People I had no sympathy for I changed my mind about some (even though I didn't condone their actions, I understood their motivations) and others I thought I had figured out gave me new angles.
I admired Ada for getting up the courage to open up to Alex, and growing to love him... when the circumstances of her past were revealed, I wanted to give her a big hug and not let her go. My opinion of Alex grew as he was so patient and encouraging with Ada.
Misunderstandings abound for the two of them but I liked how they felt real and not contrived... and that Ada/Alex didn't let things fester but talked them out.
Penny lived in difficult times back then. In spite of it all, she stayed kind and loving. I found myself hating Dexter for not appreciating her but my opinion changed shape as I got further into the story. Despite his faults, he did love Penny and was devastated when everything happened.
I can see why things happened the way that they did... it felt 'finished' in a way... It's hard to describe without giving too much away but a final twist at the end put alot of things into perspective. It's bittersweet in one way and happy with another.
The houseboat life, the sense of community and family... loved it. I would love to try to live on one but doubt I could afford it these days.
Highly recommend this book, one of the best ones I've read this year :) Happy reading!
"Every person, every thing, has a purpose in this life. You, me, this little morning glory. We're all inter-connected." Jimmy pauses to look at the flower in my hand. "It's our job to remember that and to realize how it all works together, even when it feels like the puzzle pieces don't fit."
We're dropped into the lives of Ada and Penny, two different women living different lives yet they more in common than they think.
Ada has suffered a big tragedy and is just existing, working alot to keep herself busy. One day she can't take it anymore and flees New York for Seattle to live on a houseboat for the summer (with the reluctant approval from her therapist) in the hopes of healing from her pain.
Penny is a young bride who is living on the houseboat with her husband Dexter, a talented artist who has his own demons. She feels isolated and lonely since Dexter is off working alot and doesn't feel accepted in her husband's world/by her Boat Street neighbors. She's captivated by their neighbor Collin, who's building a houseboat along the way. She adores her neighbor's son Jimmy, who feels unloved by his parents.
Ada lives in the houseboat that was once occupied by Penny and her husband, abandoned by him after her disappearance. She finds a chest of Penny's belongings and is compelled to find out what happened to her.
What happened to Penny? Was she murdered? Did she run away?
There was so many twists and turns in this... I did not expect who it turned out to be that caused Penny's disappearance or the what happened after. I don't want to give anything away but it's all more closely tied together than you think.
I thought it would be jarring to flip between Penny and Ada but it was done well... we learn and unlearn more each time little bits of the story came from each side. I had certain perceptions one way and then they would be flipped around some pages later when new information came or was re-examined in light of another view.
People I had no sympathy for I changed my mind about some (even though I didn't condone their actions, I understood their motivations) and others I thought I had figured out gave me new angles.
I admired Ada for getting up the courage to open up to Alex, and growing to love him... when the circumstances of her past were revealed, I wanted to give her a big hug and not let her go. My opinion of Alex grew as he was so patient and encouraging with Ada.
Misunderstandings abound for the two of them but I liked how they felt real and not contrived... and that Ada/Alex didn't let things fester but talked them out.
Penny lived in difficult times back then. In spite of it all, she stayed kind and loving. I found myself hating Dexter for not appreciating her but my opinion changed shape as I got further into the story. Despite his faults, he did love Penny and was devastated when everything happened.
I can see why things happened the way that they did... it felt 'finished' in a way... It's hard to describe without giving too much away but a final twist at the end put alot of things into perspective. It's bittersweet in one way and happy with another.
The houseboat life, the sense of community and family... loved it. I would love to try to live on one but doubt I could afford it these days.
Highly recommend this book, one of the best ones I've read this year :) Happy reading!
"Every person, every thing, has a purpose in this life. You, me, this little morning glory. We're all inter-connected." Jimmy pauses to look at the flower in my hand. "It's our job to remember that and to realize how it all works together, even when it feels like the puzzle pieces don't fit."
It's been awhile since I read this novel but I recall that this was romance like others I've read by the author. She uses the same pattern time after time. That makes it easy to write a new novel. However, it also makes it become same oh same oh for the reader. I think the author needs to stretch her wings and fly into new territory. Yes, I liked this story but let's to see how her talent can tackle new ideas and new stories. Enough of Sleepless in Seattle! This writer is talented and writes well and it's obvious she is a romantic.
