What do You think about Where Yesterday Lives (2006)?
Ellen is a top-notch reporter who lives a very busy life with her husband Michael. At the news of her father's death she flies home to be with her mother and four siblings. But the tension between them is eating everyone alive. Her husband didn't join her claiming work and now Ellen is fighting the temptation of a former flame.The story centered on the week leading up to the funeral. It was frustrating and heartbreaking. Frustrating because the siblings in the story didn't seem to real. The family use to be full of love and laughter and it seemed strange that ALL five siblings could be so emotionally damaged and the parents not be seriously concerned. The mom seemed checked out and the brother almost autistic and yet no mention was made about either of these. It was heartbreaking because the author wrote the story to be sad. She did a great job of making the sadness and agony of death seem real. I definitely didn't get bored with the story because it seemed to move along quickly. But based on this book alone I wouldn't read anything else by this author. I just didn't see the point.
—Tima
There are so many things that I love about this book-- one being that the setting is in Petosky, MI-- northern Michigan is one of my favorite places on earth!! Another being the draw that the character feels to her first love-- I think that is a topic that is often not explored with Christians-- women nor men-- if they are Christians and married-- any mention of former lives is often taboo. But the reality is, bonds are formed with people we've once dated-- especially if the relationship wasn't pure. The main character of this book as it a cross-roads in her life-- she is having some marriage issues with her work-aholic husband and her father just died-- she returns to her hometown to strained relationships with her siblings-- all mourning their father in different ways-- naturally, she feels compelled to talk to a man she spend a large portion of her life with.This book was a realistic look into family dynamics among adult siblings, as well as into a marriage and the need to return to the past into order to heal and move forward.
—Karen
Family dynamics are a confusing, frustrating, and memorable. I got tears in my eyes a couple of times, which isn't the norm for me. It's my hope to feel a story and get attached to the characters. A few pieces of the story surprised me, and I liked that. It was better written than the Take One series and the Leaving series. I was irritated by how often the author told us that it took place in Petoskey and told us route numbers and street names while the characters were traveling. Not to be rude, but, I don't care about that, that kind of information doesn't add anything to the building of the story line. The book left me with an emotion of wanting to connect with my siblings, that felt good and believable.
—Linda V.
