Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Yellow Crocus (Freedman/Johnson, Bk 1)

Yellow Crocus (Freedman/Johnson, Bk 1)
ourbookaddiction avatar reviewed on


All the publishers in NYC who took a pass on this novel should be kicking themselves. I cant even find a website for the publisher that did publish this book which makes me think it was self-pub. I discovered this book as part of a free download promo on Amazon and the synopsis grabbed me. I enjoy reading books based in the south during this time period. There are paperback copies available, but the easiest way to read is via kindle download.

This book is beautifully written...just lovely! These characters, Mattie and Lisbeth, are deeply layered and the author does an incredible job bringing them to life and making them realmaking you feel each side of their longing and pain. I ached for Mattie and the sacrifices she was forced to make by leaving her own child to basically be raised by another while she raised Lisbeth. Mattie had no choices in her life. As a mother myself that ripped my heart out.

This book illustrates the power of attachment and how we form our identity not by those who gave birth to us, but by those we are raised by. Our identity is a direct result of those who were our caregivers. Take for example adoption and those raised primarily by nannies. Who does the child seek for comfort and love? It is not the distant or unknown mother, it is the mother that is with them day in and day out raising them. As an adopted child myself Ive always said that biology does not make a parent.

I loved this book and highly recommend it to those who are interested in this period of history. Its a shame this never made it mainstream as a trade paperback.