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Third Willow
Third Willow is Lenore Skomal’s classic, heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults.
“In the apex of the wooded matriarch is where he felt it—his oneness with the willow. The branches fluttered with his weight, as he fused into them. He moved as it moved and vice versa, in a synergistic dance; an extension of the lumbering mammoth and it of him, connected in some unfathomable way.”
It’s the summer of ‘54 in the sleepy midwestern town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow—a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence.
Ringleader Hap—a poor man’s Peter Pan—is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father’s iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes levelheaded Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group.
Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.
“In the apex of the wooded matriarch is where he felt it—his oneness with the willow. The branches fluttered with his weight, as he fused into them. He moved as it moved and vice versa, in a synergistic dance; an extension of the lumbering mammoth and it of him, connected in some unfathomable way.”
It’s the summer of ‘54 in the sleepy midwestern town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow—a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence.
Ringleader Hap—a poor man’s Peter Pan—is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father’s iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes levelheaded Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group.
Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.
290 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Lenore Skomal
21 books63 followersLenore Skomal wants you to eat her books. She wants you to chew them in your teeth, savor them on your tongue, breathe them in, and feel her words in your skin. Her passionate desire is to touch your heart, inspire you, and luxuriate in the world of the written word. She finds ecstasy in constructing a perfect sentence and responds willingly to the nagging ache in her heart to create an authentic experience for the reader. Lenore is an award-winning author with the single goal of being heard.
Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal's catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. BLUFF was a Finalist in the International Book Awards Literary Fiction category 2013. Skomal has also won several Society of Professional Journalist Awards, Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and the Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, Skomal's writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.
As a member of the world community, Skomal is excited by the opportunities presented in today's publishing climate. Now, not only can she spend her time traveling internationally and experiencing cultural events like a Lakota Sweat Lodge, she shares these experiences directly with her readers in hopes of resonating with them and underscoring that no one is alone.
In addition to writing, Lenore is an engaging public speaker with over 1000 public engagements, book tours and writing seminars. She has taught college journalism, has one son, and when not off gallivanting from Egypt to Mongolia she resides with her husband in Erie, Pa.
To contact Lenore check out her Website at http://lenoreskomal.com/ or Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.net/pages/Lenore-...
Winner of multiple awards for blogging, literature, biography and humor, Lenore Skomal's catalogue spans many genres. With 30 years of writing experience, over 17 books published and a daily blog, the consistent themes in her work are the big issues the human experience and adding depth and voice to the intricacies involved in living a multi-dimensional existence. BLUFF was a Finalist in the International Book Awards Literary Fiction category 2013. Skomal has also won several Society of Professional Journalist Awards, Whidbey Island Writer's Conference honorable mention for best fiction, Writer's Digest 73rd Annual Fiction Contest, New York Public Library's Best Books for Teens 2003, and the Next Generation Indie Book Award for humor. From journalism, to literary fiction, to humor and biography, Skomal's writing is consistent, if not in genre, then in message.
As a member of the world community, Skomal is excited by the opportunities presented in today's publishing climate. Now, not only can she spend her time traveling internationally and experiencing cultural events like a Lakota Sweat Lodge, she shares these experiences directly with her readers in hopes of resonating with them and underscoring that no one is alone.
In addition to writing, Lenore is an engaging public speaker with over 1000 public engagements, book tours and writing seminars. She has taught college journalism, has one son, and when not off gallivanting from Egypt to Mongolia she resides with her husband in Erie, Pa.
To contact Lenore check out her Website at http://lenoreskomal.com/ or Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.net/pages/Lenore-...
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 2, 2013
Brimming with the exuberance of childhood's waning years and poised on the threshhold of teenage turmoil, 'Third Willow' rings true to life. The innocence of childhood intermingles with gut-wrenching realities of life, even life in the '50s. 'Third Willow' took me back to my own childhood in the '50s: the lingo, the decore, the mores, the mood. I could feel the foursome's eagerness to be strong, powerful and independent along with the underlying fears that some things are too big to face alone. Skomal's profound talent pulls on your heart strings while she tugs you down deep into the lives and minds of her characters. Hap and Patsy, Beah and Raz--you quickly come to care about them. You root for them to make it through this life passage and rise to the challenges ahead. You hope they surface again in a new chapter of their lives--hopefully soon in a sequel! I heartily recommend 'Third Willow'--no matter when you were born.
April 3, 2013
For those who remember the angst of pre-pubescence, Third Willow, will have a familiar feel. The confusion of crossing that threshold from child to young adult is respectfully and sensitively portrayed through the hearts and minds of four young friends – Hap, Patsy, Beah, and Raz. These wise-beyond-their-years preteens spend the summer of 1954 hanging out as much as possible, away from their parents’ strongholds, on the outskirts of a rural Nebraska town. They grow up in a hurry as they wrestle with the adult problems affecting each of their lives. Lenore Skomal’s novel tackles heavy topics with honesty as the children grapple with complicated issues such as religious conviction, sexuality, prejudice, divorce, domestic violence, the effects of war, truth, loyalty and self-esteem -- universal themes as relevant today as they were some 60 years ago. There are more questions than answers posed in this book, superbly crafted by Skomal, leaving room for readers to apply their own experiences and to formulate – just as the children must – their own opinions.
April 23, 2013
This is a wonderful read for adults as well as young adults. The characters - 4 misfit kids in a small Nebraska town - spend a summer in the early 50's getting to know one another, embracing their differences, giving each other courage to face life's challenges and growing. It's poignant and beautiful. Regardless of age, readers will love these characters. The story unfolds beautifully - moving from childhood pursuits to children having to face very adult issues. The author hits a very authentic note through it all. I am still thinking about the four kids and how things may have gone for them after the end of the book. Read it!
December 2, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed on behalf of Awesome Indies.
2.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Third Willow is a heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults…It's the summer of '54 in the sleepy mid-western town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow-a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence. Ringleader Hap-a poor man's Peter Pan-is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father's iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes level headed Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group. Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.”
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
Reviewed on behalf of Awesome Indies.
2.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Third Willow is a heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults…It's the summer of '54 in the sleepy mid-western town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow-a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence. Ringleader Hap-a poor man's Peter Pan-is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father's iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes level headed Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group. Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.”
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
December 2, 2013
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed on behalf of Awesome Indies.
2.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Third Willow is a heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults…It’s the summer of ’54 in the sleepy mid-western town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow-a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence. Ringleader Hap-a poor man’s Peter Pan-is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father’s iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes level headed Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group. Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.”
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
Reviewed on behalf of Awesome Indies.
2.5 out of 5 Stars (rounded up to 3)
ABOUT THE BOOK:
“Third Willow is a heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults…It’s the summer of ’54 in the sleepy mid-western town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow-a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence. Ringleader Hap-a poor man’s Peter Pan-is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father’s iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes level headed Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group. Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.”
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
January 31, 2014
“Third Willow is a heart-wrenching coming of age novel, ostensibly written for young people but better appreciated by adults…It’s the summer of ’54 in the sleepy mid-western town of Sand Flats, Nebraska. Four lonely misfits forge an unlikely friendship under the draping branches of the third willow-a safe place where humor, magic and sorrow coexist. There they discover that best friends can ease the pressures from the adult world that threaten to steal their innocence. Ringleader Hap-a poor man’s Peter Pan-is unwilling to let the abuse of his alcoholic father taint his boyish optimism while he secretly searches for his missing mother. Obsessed with his Indian roots, he constructs a carefree world on the outskirts of town. As the new kid in Sand Flats, tomboy Patsy joins him, eager to escape her father’s iron rule and the pain afflicting her wounded brother, a Korean War veteran. Together, Hap and Patsy befriend timid Beah, who struggles to earn the love of her cold mother following the death of her only brother. It takes level headed Raz, the eldest of the only Jewish family in town, to be the conscience of the group. Told through their eyes, this is a tale of a summer of unbridled adventure, which ends unexpectedly and abruptly forces them all into adulthood. As tender as it is intense, Third Willow will transport you to the last summer of your innocence.”
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
MY THOUGHTS:
The premise of the book is a good one, unfortunately it gets lost somewhere in the execution. I read to 50% before I stopped reading. As a prolific reader it is a rarity for me to not finish a book.
THE STRUCTURE:
The character development and plot pace are very slow in coming, and by 50% of the way through I hadn’t seen anything significant develop. The author has taken all this time to show us the children playing games together, and to introduce the characters. Despite this being so long and drawn out, I still don’t feel connected with any of the protagonists. They are just cardboard cut outs, words on a page. The prose is clumsy and needs work to tidy it up and smooth it out. On numerous occasions the writing changes from past to present and back to past tense, without any discernible reason for doing so. The proof reading and editing need revisiting, and the prose needs work to move it from amateurish to professional.
SUMMARY:
Whilst there are a few nice phrases, on the whole the prose is poor. I didn’t finish the book, and only made it to 50%. This was due to poor plot, pacing and prose. If the author tidied up the manuscript, and cut off a lot of the excess baggage, this could shape up into a good read. Due to the issues mentioned, I feel I can only offer 2.5 out of 5 stars for this book, which I shall round up to 3 stars.
May 23, 2013
I still have no idea why this was on my to-read list. I think I must have entered a giveaway and put it on there, but didn't win, and forgot about it. And the only reason I started reading it was because it was available to read in its entirety from the website.
The book was problematic for me, mostly because nothing actually happens while you're reading. All the action is told in retrospect, in memory, in "thinking back to that moment so many hours ago", which after a few instances can become bothersome but through the entirety of the book is irritating. You get the story in bits and pieces, in all sorts of orders, and through the eyes of the kids who, lord knows if they're even telling it right. Because how far can you trust a child narrator?
Much of the action also seems disconnected from the rest of the story. For example, the stranger in town that the children are scared of, his side story has nothing to do with the rest of what happens, especially since the children all keep silent about what they witnessed and nothing ever comes of it.
Beah's flirtation with being a doesn't seem to fit either, and neither does her discovery that she's . I suppose the could explain her relationship with her mother, but even that wasn't delved into too deeply. The children's parents show up in the background, without truly affecting the children's points of view. Patsy becomes really good at lying to her parents, who just sit back and take it. No punishment for anything ever gets in the way. And Raz, a background character who has almost no development outside of being smart and gorgeous, simply defers to her father's judgment in everything except one.
The ending was too dramatic for the rest of the story, and I'm not sure I agree with how Hap's situation was handled.
A semantics issue but still bothersome: every now and then the author would slip a little bit of Midwestern drawl into the narration, such as "t'other". It was rare and randomly done, which ended up pulling me out of the story and into a "huh?" type moment. If it were written that way all the way through, it wouldn't have been so glaringly obvious. But it seemed that the author was trying too hard to get the Midwestern dialect into the story.
2/5 stars because I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't terrible. Just not for me, I guess.
The book was problematic for me, mostly because nothing actually happens while you're reading. All the action is told in retrospect, in memory, in "thinking back to that moment so many hours ago", which after a few instances can become bothersome but through the entirety of the book is irritating. You get the story in bits and pieces, in all sorts of orders, and through the eyes of the kids who, lord knows if they're even telling it right. Because how far can you trust a child narrator?
Much of the action also seems disconnected from the rest of the story. For example, the stranger in town that the children are scared of, his side story has nothing to do with the rest of what happens, especially since the children all keep silent about what they witnessed and nothing ever comes of it.
Beah's flirtation with being a doesn't seem to fit either, and neither does her discovery that she's . I suppose the could explain her relationship with her mother, but even that wasn't delved into too deeply. The children's parents show up in the background, without truly affecting the children's points of view. Patsy becomes really good at lying to her parents, who just sit back and take it. No punishment for anything ever gets in the way. And Raz, a background character who has almost no development outside of being smart and gorgeous, simply defers to her father's judgment in everything except one.
The ending was too dramatic for the rest of the story, and I'm not sure I agree with how Hap's situation was handled.
A semantics issue but still bothersome: every now and then the author would slip a little bit of Midwestern drawl into the narration, such as "t'other". It was rare and randomly done, which ended up pulling me out of the story and into a "huh?" type moment. If it were written that way all the way through, it wouldn't have been so glaringly obvious. But it seemed that the author was trying too hard to get the Midwestern dialect into the story.
2/5 stars because I didn't enjoy it, but it wasn't terrible. Just not for me, I guess.
April 11, 2013
Fascinating characters, suspense and a good story are enough to recommend Third Willow but there is so much more. Describing it as a "coming of age" novel might trivialize the book as just another romance novel about teens or about to become teens grappling with approaching adulthood. In fact, Third Willow is as much about America coming of age as it is the young Hap Pritchard and the girls he comes to know over the summer of '54
It is through the eyes of Hap and his friends that the issues facing the country as it transitions form the mom and apple pie 50's to the turbulent 60's. Unlike a lot of "coming of age" novels that focus on romantic love, Skomal uses their eyes focus on the issues that would become the hot-buttons of a generation. The innocence of Hap, Patsy, Roz and Beah is shattered by their discovery of prejudice, fear, homosexuality, mental illness, racial tension, alcoholism and even rage.
For those of us who grew up during that era, causes is to look anew at a time we look back on as idyllic and realize how it brought us along, subtlety, to challenge authority and conventional wisdom.
Skomal's first novel, Bluff, proved that her development of characters is a major strength and she excels again with her gift for making them interesting and compelling. The reader quickly becomes engrossed not only about what happens to them but about who they are. What might be most interesting is how minor characters are brought to life with great energy and their importance is magnified by the fact that Skomal doesn't treat them as minor but develops them fully in a very efficient way.
The suspense is enough to make this book a page-turner but it the characters and moral introspection that make Third Willow a must read.
It is through the eyes of Hap and his friends that the issues facing the country as it transitions form the mom and apple pie 50's to the turbulent 60's. Unlike a lot of "coming of age" novels that focus on romantic love, Skomal uses their eyes focus on the issues that would become the hot-buttons of a generation. The innocence of Hap, Patsy, Roz and Beah is shattered by their discovery of prejudice, fear, homosexuality, mental illness, racial tension, alcoholism and even rage.
For those of us who grew up during that era, causes is to look anew at a time we look back on as idyllic and realize how it brought us along, subtlety, to challenge authority and conventional wisdom.
Skomal's first novel, Bluff, proved that her development of characters is a major strength and she excels again with her gift for making them interesting and compelling. The reader quickly becomes engrossed not only about what happens to them but about who they are. What might be most interesting is how minor characters are brought to life with great energy and their importance is magnified by the fact that Skomal doesn't treat them as minor but develops them fully in a very efficient way.
The suspense is enough to make this book a page-turner but it the characters and moral introspection that make Third Willow a must read.
April 16, 2013
I am sometimes wary of young adult novels, feeling that there may not be enough interest for adult readers. Not so with Third Willow. While this would be a great story for young adults, presenting characters and issues they can understand, I was thoroughly drawn in from the start. I really felt for each character, really rallied behind a few of them and kept thinking about them when not reading.
Also, for anyone born or raised in the 50's, you will be drawn back to memories of your childhood, no matter where you were raised. The author's descriptions of the place and times transport the reader to the world of these 4 young people. For younger readers, they will learn a bit about times that were simpler in some ways while being just as complicated as today in other ways. Without wanting to spoil any part of the story, I liked the way Ms. Skomal brought the story to its' end.
Lots of "stuff" for book groups, young and old!
Also, for anyone born or raised in the 50's, you will be drawn back to memories of your childhood, no matter where you were raised. The author's descriptions of the place and times transport the reader to the world of these 4 young people. For younger readers, they will learn a bit about times that were simpler in some ways while being just as complicated as today in other ways. Without wanting to spoil any part of the story, I liked the way Ms. Skomal brought the story to its' end.
Lots of "stuff" for book groups, young and old!
April 17, 2013
Third Willow is about a summer in the life of young friends living in the Midwest in the late 1950’s. But it is so much more than that. Beautifully written, the character development is exquisite. The reader understands each character, and gets to know them through their family situation and through their friends. While each character is significantly his/her own person, the understanding the reader gains causes the reader to cheer each one of them on. So much more than a story, it is tale of growing up, friends’ relationships, difficult family situations and heartbreak. I found myself thinking about the characters, even when not reading the book. And later in their lives? Do they stay friends? How do their family situations change? I loved this book!!
January 19, 2014
This book was great, it made me happy, sad and most of all envious.
I was never one to have permanent friends who you can go back to after graduation and i never had friends who i hang out with after school nor was i bothered by it but this book made me want to have real friendship. I wanted to have a Peter Pan, a tomboy sharp-shooter, a lesbian with no God and a really pretty Jew as friends and play Indian. And there so much going on in each of there lives I'm pretty sure I won't ever get bored if I was part of their gang.
This book is for everyone who can read specially if you want to be 12 again and to forget all your adult responsibilities and problems for a short while. So thank you for the good book first reads and may the odds be ever in my favor the next time I join.
I was never one to have permanent friends who you can go back to after graduation and i never had friends who i hang out with after school nor was i bothered by it but this book made me want to have real friendship. I wanted to have a Peter Pan, a tomboy sharp-shooter, a lesbian with no God and a really pretty Jew as friends and play Indian. And there so much going on in each of there lives I'm pretty sure I won't ever get bored if I was part of their gang.
This book is for everyone who can read specially if you want to be 12 again and to forget all your adult responsibilities and problems for a short while. So thank you for the good book first reads and may the odds be ever in my favor the next time I join.
February 5, 2016
This book deals with very difficult topics despite being told as seen through the eyes of four children from ages of about eleven to twelve. It was difficult to get started in the beginning as it starts quite oddly, but as the story continues it draws you in and doesn't want to let you go and you have to keep reading.
For some reason it reminded me of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer".
It was a really good book, though despite the main characters are children I think it's maybe a bit too difficult and dark for children under the age of twelve.
It has drama and mystery and some childish remarks that will probably remind the readers of their own childhood.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
For some reason it reminded me of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer".
It was a really good book, though despite the main characters are children I think it's maybe a bit too difficult and dark for children under the age of twelve.
It has drama and mystery and some childish remarks that will probably remind the readers of their own childhood.
I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.
November 12, 2013
This was one of those books I was sorry to finish. While I think it would be a great book for young readers, I think it is a story for those of us who hate to admit how long it has been since we have climbed a willow or crawled through the mud playing cowboys and indians. I was taken back so many times while reading Third Willow to hot summer days when I was a child creating my own adventures with my group of friends. Ms. Skomal has crafted the story so perfectly. The characters, the story and the word...the holy trinity of perfection in this amazing work.
March 27, 2014
Great character development in this book. Each of the four friends piqued my interest and emotions. There was nothing black and white in this story - no pure good and no pure evil even if it appeared so on the surface. Without including any spoilers, the ending also had great balance.
This story felt so authentic, I wanted to be at the third willow with them. It brought me back to that feeling of unbridled freedom when I was an adolescent. Great job, Lenore Skomal!
This story felt so authentic, I wanted to be at the third willow with them. It brought me back to that feeling of unbridled freedom when I was an adolescent. Great job, Lenore Skomal!
June 19, 2013
A Classic...
August 30, 2013
What a wonderful coming of age story. This should be on every middle school or even early high school reading list. Very well written and the character development is just great. A must read!
May 21, 2013
Great story with interesting characters. Kept my interest throughout the entire book. The writing was great and the use of language was awesome!!
September 11, 2013
Four children from four very different families spend a summer growing up together in the willows. A wonderful story of friendship!
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