Grab Your Hankerchiefs for the Next “Summer-Loving’ Read-a-thon Participation Post

Share the Feels!

Share a quote from your current read or

Share a book that really pulled on your heart strings.

By Mary Hill

Winter Garden by Kristin Hanna is another of my all time favorite novels. The book captured my heart from the beginning as it unfolded and opened up to tell the story of three remarkable women: two sisters and their mother. It was book about the past, present and future all wrapped up in a glimmering cold package of love, loss, and heart breaking events.

This book is rated: five hankerchiefs. That is how many you will use because you will cry. At first you think the book is just about estranged sisters and a distant cold mother. A deathbed promise is fulfilled when the mother sits her two now grown daughters down to finish a story that they thought was just a fairytale. The story, however, ends up being the story of their mother’s early life before she met their father near the end of World War Two in war-torn Russia.

It is a heart breaking tale of woman facing hunger and watching her children suffer during the cold Russian winter when millions died from not bombs but from starvation. It is also the story of a mother who is misunderstood by her daughters who have no idea how deeply scarred she really is from her past.

Here is my favorite quote from the story:

“We women make choices for others, not for ourselves, and when we are mothers, we…bear what we must for our children. You will protect them. It will hurt you; it will hurt them. Your job is to hide that your heart is breaking and do what they need you to do.”

― Kristin Hannah, Winter Garden

SpinePoetry2

My Spine Poem:

A version of the truth
Walk two moons
Longing for a homeland
Take joy
Whispers of hope
Dreamland

As I look at the titles, I could rearrange once more:

Walk two moons
Longing for a homeland
Take joy (in the journey)
(Finding) whispers of hope
And a version of the truth
Dreamland

What poem would you create? Love to have your feed back. Now I am off to read more Spine Poetry. This challenge was so fun!

Comments

Michelle Garrett says

July 6, 2013 at 4:03 am

I love that quote! Definitely makes me want to add this to my “must-read” list! Thanks so much for sharing!

Ana @ Anahera Reads says

July 6, 2013 at 1:03 am

Oh wow, that book sounds so sad and beautiful. The quote from it was really thoughtful. 🙂

Lovely Poem! 😀

Jessica Chiles says

July 5, 2013 at 5:31 am

Ahh, I love your ‘5 handkerchief’ rating system HAHA 🙂

And I love the second poem, so beautiful! <3

Jess @ Such A Novel Idea

kimbacaffeinate says

July 5, 2013 at 4:34 am

The last time I read a Hannah book I cried so hard my poor son and husband didn’t know what to do. They were patting me on the back all while staring at each other in horror. I so need to be in the right mind set for her books…oh and then needs to be wine, tissues and chocolate..lots of chocolate!

Sheena-kay Graham says

July 5, 2013 at 3:51 am

Your spine poetry was profound Mary. This book sounds very beautiful and heart wrenching. It left a lump in my throat.

Sarah says

July 5, 2013 at 3:27 am

Your quote and synopsis makes me really want to read the book! Great poem too.

Kate says

July 4, 2013 at 11:07 pm

I haven’t read that book, but I like the quote a lot! I also like your poetry. I like how you changed it up. Both were good!

Thanks for the follow. 🙂

Belle Read says

July 4, 2013 at 8:15 pm

I have not read that book, but I am pulled in by the beautiful quote. There is a lot of truth in that.

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