The Violets of March
by Sarah Jio
Embarrassment of Riches Challenge 8/50
A woman goes to heal in her childhood summer vacation spot and finds a diary from the 40’s which has a tremendous effect on the present.
This is a quick little book about healing, redemption, betrayal and kind of how history can repeat itself. It went so quickly that the story never fully pulled me into its emotional grip, but it was enjoyable and the characters were filled with secrets and major reticence about spilling. In fact, they are obviously from a different generation, because my generation is all about giving too much information!
This was our bookclub read, and while I am happy we read it because it forced me to read a book from my TBR mountain, I wish it was a bit more developed. Don’t get me wrong, I think we will have plenty to talk about, but I am just not sure that anyone will be that emotionally invested in the story to either love it or hate it. However, it has plenty of issues, and characters with problems that we will be able to discuss. Generational differences, adoption, step-parents, honesty with children, cheating spouses and possible forgiveness etc. There really is a ton there and Jio has a lovely writing style. She lays out clues and the reader is able to pick them up so that some parts are totally predictable, while others are a bit of a surprise (at least for me!). She also laid out a couple of misdirections, so it was fun to figure it out and then be surprised later. I love that when I feel all smart and think I know what is going to happen, only to have the author bitch slap that cocky grin right off my face. Good times.
If you want a read that goes over some hard issues, but has resolution and a mystery but doesn’t make you sob like a Jodi Piccoult, this is the book for you. Actually, I stay away from Miss Piccoult because she does make me sob, so I guess I don’t really know what I want! I give this book 3.5 purple stars that show up where you least expect.
I think you explained my reaction perfectly. I would have liked a more developed ending. But, worth the read.
I found questions for our meeting, hoping to get a bit of a discussion happening 🙂
I love to get emotionally invested in my books. It’s what makes me love to read. So this one sounds like a no-go for me. Love the cover though.
I hear ya! This is Jio’s first book, I am curious what her newer books are like, if she delves deeper or not…I might have to find out and let you know 🙂
I have nominated you for an award: http://analyzemaster.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much! 🙂
Your welcome! Tough I don’t know anything about how you win and so on but at least you got a nominee 🙂
It’s sounds like a really interesting concept (I love the ‘someone finds a diary’ type of story) but I’m thinking from your review that it didn’t really get in deep enough to make it a real hit… although, I do like the bitch-slap! 😀
Awwh it’s a bit of a shame that it wasn’t quite developed enough, it looks like a book with a lot of potential. I have a love/hate relationship with Jodi myself. 😛
right? she is a wonderful writer, but I just can’t face that stuff sometimes