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The Thorn Tree
First published by the Viking Press in April 1955.
316 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1955
7 people want to read
About the author
Nelia Gardner White
28 books11 followersNelia Gardner White, one of five children of a Methodist minister, lived in several small towns as she was growing up. Though the family had very little money, the atmosphere of the home was happy; life was filled with "books, friends, and fun." By taking many different sorts of jobs, White was able to attend Syracuse University for two years (1911-13) and the Emma Willard Kindergarten School (1913-15). After several years as a kindergarten teacher, she married a lawyer. The couple had two children.
During World War II, as a guest of the British Ministry of Information, White wrote articles about England. In 1948 she won the $8,000 prize in the Westminster Press Fiction Contest with her novel No Trumpet Before Him. White gives great credit for her start as a writer to Maude Stewart, a teacher in the kindergarten school who helped her toward an understanding of human character and of the various relationships between people. White contributed articles about child care to a kindergarten magazine. She began writing fiction with stories for kindergarten children and four novels for young people and then branched out to adult fiction. The rest of her life is a record of much industry and a great deal of success. Hundreds of her stories appeared in such popular magazines as the American, Ladies' Home Journal, People's Home Journal, Midland, McCall's, Pictorial Review, Forum, and Good Housekeeping. In addition, she wrote 25 novels.
During World War II, as a guest of the British Ministry of Information, White wrote articles about England. In 1948 she won the $8,000 prize in the Westminster Press Fiction Contest with her novel No Trumpet Before Him. White gives great credit for her start as a writer to Maude Stewart, a teacher in the kindergarten school who helped her toward an understanding of human character and of the various relationships between people. White contributed articles about child care to a kindergarten magazine. She began writing fiction with stories for kindergarten children and four novels for young people and then branched out to adult fiction. The rest of her life is a record of much industry and a great deal of success. Hundreds of her stories appeared in such popular magazines as the American, Ladies' Home Journal, People's Home Journal, Midland, McCall's, Pictorial Review, Forum, and Good Housekeeping. In addition, she wrote 25 novels.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 20, 2015
*Yawn*
Basically, everything you need to know about this book is in the description. And, the main reason we read this book is to find out what's wrong with Elsbeth. We find out halfway. But she doesn't change. Then second to last page she returns to normal after everyone is getting fed up with her. But, is there a real "ending" to the story? No. Everyone goes back to normal as if nothing happened. Oh, a few of them become less selfish over the three weeks this story is going on and one becomes less shallow but the character you really care about, the one who everyone relies on, Sebastian just goes back to his work in Paris, his dreams still unfulfilled and nobody needing him anymore. Till the next crisis anyway.
Not a very happy book or a satisfying one. I'm not in any rush to read more by this author.
Bottom line: this is a character study. So not must happens plot wise.
G Nothing to offend anyone.
Basically, everything you need to know about this book is in the description. And, the main reason we read this book is to find out what's wrong with Elsbeth. We find out halfway. But she doesn't change. Then second to last page she returns to normal after everyone is getting fed up with her. But, is there a real "ending" to the story? No. Everyone goes back to normal as if nothing happened. Oh, a few of them become less selfish over the three weeks this story is going on and one becomes less shallow but the character you really care about, the one who everyone relies on, Sebastian just goes back to his work in Paris, his dreams still unfulfilled and nobody needing him anymore. Till the next crisis anyway.
Not a very happy book or a satisfying one. I'm not in any rush to read more by this author.
Bottom line: this is a character study. So not must happens plot wise.
G Nothing to offend anyone.
Displaying 1 of 1 review