Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.Sometimes I read a book that just gets so inside me that I just... I just... CAN'T. Those books touch me in a very personal way; and they generally make my cry some place. Rilla of Ingleside is one of those, and so is Eve's Daughters. This book is the kind of book I just cannot describe. It is that good. But I'll try.So. It's AMAZING and it's compelling and you get sucked in and you can't stop reading it and your life isn't the same if you haven't read it; so there. :-P Seriously, this is one of my favouritest books ever, and I wish everyone knew of it. Also, there MUST BE A MOVIE. Lynn Austin's novels all deserve their own good movies - and not cheap-ly made ones that have actors that don't look at all like the heros in the book (I'm looking at you, Hidden Places movie.) I mean real, book-accurate, amazing scenery, sweeping music kind-of-movies.I read this book first when I was fourteen (or was it thirteen?) I found it amazing even then, but I wasn't as impressed with it as I am now. I probably was slightly to young for the book, anyway (I'll talk about Content later on.) and I was more charmed with Lynn Austin's less complex novels, like A Proper Persuit etc. Then I re-read it again the next years, and now I've re-read it again. And now I just can't stop talking about it IT'S SO GOOD.(Yes, I realise I've only talked about 'how it's so good' so far. Hush. I promise this review will talk about other things rather than just gushing and swooning. Hush. I'm just filled-to-the-brim with feeeeels and jealously towards Lynn Austin for being able to create such an outstanding, each-time-I-end-it-bewilders-me book. This book is amazing, and don't you DARE tell me otherwise. Don't. You. Dare.)The book follows four generations of women. I'll talk about each of the four stories (and yes, I'll warn you when the spoilery comments arrive.) I've made a collage for each generation, just because I'm obsessed with making collages (and also because I want people to see it and make the right kind of movie. Haha.) Louise's Story I loooove Louise's story.It's my second-favourite of the four, and although some people might say that 'Louise's story is pointless to the story line', I disagree. I find her story fascinating - how a young German couple go to America to start a new life. I love that it's an unusual love story - they are already married in the beginning of the story, but it was an arranged marriage, so the love story is just starting. Frederick is such a sweet-heart - I just love love love him to bits. And I allllmost cry when Louise finally realises she loves her husband and then they hug, dripping wet, crying with happiness. (Read it, and you'll understand why they were dripping wet. It's pretty epic.)Louise's story is one tucked deepest into history, and, as I said, it fascinates me. I think it's absolutely adorable and I LOVE IT. (Wow, we are all very much surprised.) Emma's Story Oh my word, Emma's story. :-)Emma is the second of four girls - the story starts with her as a girl; and we see her discover a secret talent of playing the piano. Emma's story is different that what we first see. Her story unfolds - Emma doesn't tell us everything when she tells the story for the first time. I can't speak in more clearer terms than that, because hey, spoilers, but Emma's story is what makes the plot so thick.I loved Emma, although she made some very big mistakes; and I felt so sorry for her when her sister Eva died because of her. Oh my goodness, when Eva dies - it's so sad and terrible. I can feel Emma's heart tearing to pieces - goodness, it's so vivid. And then she marries Karl. I don't like Karl or Markus - they're both creeps.Anyhow. Emma's story is not one you want to miss. It's amazingly written.(view spoiler)[ I thought Patrick and Emma's romance - y'know the one which is explained by Emma later on, and where all secrets are unfolded - was also amazing. Of course, they made a very big mistake by spending the night together on the island, but they - especially Patrick (goodness, his reaction to his realisation of his mistake is so amazingly written; it makes me so sad) - feel sorry about it, and before that business, I thought their romance was absolutely adorable and I shipped them soooo hard. I do wish Emma was more 'sorry' about it all. I thought it was very sad that she lost her faith. (hide spoiler)]
This was the first Lynn Austin novel I'd read and I wasn't disappointed. Although the author is a Christian, she doesn't "preach at" the reader but instead, tells the story from a Christian perspective, as someone believing in God.The story takes you from the 1800's to the 1980's. Four generations of women struggle with a 'secret'. Beginning with Louise and Friedrich's story and how Louise was obligated into an arranged marriage and leaves her homeland in Germany to flee to American so her husband could avoid the draft. Louise gives up her family to stay with her husband. The story of their life together is truly fascinating!One of Louise's children, Emma, grew up keeping a "secret" that she keeps to herself until the 1980's when her grand-daughter Suzanne is curious and needs to find the truth. Emma's own daughter Grace, sees how her mother was treated and gives up her career to take care of her husband Steven, their daughter Suzanne and their home.Only when Suzanne's marriage is in trouble does Emma finally reveal the secret to her daughter Grace and grand-daughter Suzanne in hopes of helping to salvage her grand-daughter's marriage.Emma had struggled with her secret (a sin) in those times and could not forgive herself, believed her daughter Grace would not forgive her and in turn believed God would not forgive her either.Suzanne had an insatiable desire to learn the truth about her family and said "...nothing quite makes sense until you include God."The novel is very realistic and the situations in the story could really have happened many times over, during that era. As the characters in this story are brought to life with Lynn Austin's uncanny ability to make them real, we are treated to an intimate inside look at each generation.
What do You think about Eve's Daughters (1999)?
A lesson in sacrificeFour generations. Suzanne is preparing to let her husband move to Chicago without her because she doesn't want to give up her career. Her mother, Grace, has a lifetime marriage to her physician husband, giving up her nursing career and becoming a housewife- and not understanding Suzanne's "me" attitude.Emma is Grace's mother. She raised Grace as a single parent. There was mystery surrounding Grace's father & Emma was forced to confront and admit to the truth behind Grace's birth.Emma's mother followed her husband from Germany to America, leaving her family and sacrificing all for her husband. The strength of the family from generation to generation was due to the sacrifices that were made, some known and some not known.As usual, another winner from Lynn Austin.
—Ginger Price
This was another good book by Lynn Austin. Sometimes I really like the way she writes, and sometimes her trite comparisons and analogies seem a little forced. I enjoyed the telling of the stories of each of the four women in the story, and how she linked them together through the generations. Again, she has very strong Christian themes throughout the book as she makes her characters' faith a major part of their lives. The most interesting part of this story to me was the way she portrayed each of the women's marriage relationships throughout the different generations. The first story of the great-grandma begins in 1918 and the final story of the granddaughter ends in 1980, so it makes for an interesting commentary on how things have changed with regards to the roles of women.
—Kristine
So about a week ago I was complaining that I didn't know what book to read but I really just wanted a GOOD book...Well, I found it...Read below! :)I started this book on 11/07/2009. I finished this book on 11/11/2009.This book got five stars from me which is a major thing. All I can say about book (well, not really all I can say) is WOW!! It was amazing. My favorite part was Emma's story. Okay now let's go back some, this book was about 3 women, (Grandmother, Mother, Daughter) and their stories plus the story of their Great-Grandmother. It was about how when a lie was exposed everything started making sense and people started to understand. I love how the author did push God on you she just let the characters speak through the story about their faith. The part about the daughter needing to know that her mom and dad were proud of her hit home big time, as in that's something I fear is my parents won't be proud of me. I can't wait to see what her next book is about!
—TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey
