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Stella and Margie
A beautiful novel about two women - a generation apart - thrown together by circumstance, who slowly come to love and understand one another.
Stella and her mother-in-law Margie are two very different women.
Stella is kind, compassionate and just a little chaotic. Margie is prickly, demanding and a stickler for convention. Stella has exciting dreams for the future. Margie has only bitter memories of the past.
When Margie needs help recovering from a major operation, Stella offers her a place to stay. With no other options, Margie returns to the family farm where for decades, until Stella's arrival, she was the one in charge.
Margie has never made life easy for her daughter-in-law, and that's not going to change now she's been made a guest in her former home.
But as the dry summer turns to a beautiful autumn, the two women gradually form an unlikely bond, as the ambitions, secrets, and tragedies that have shaped their lives are slowly uncovered...
Stella and her mother-in-law Margie are two very different women.
Stella is kind, compassionate and just a little chaotic. Margie is prickly, demanding and a stickler for convention. Stella has exciting dreams for the future. Margie has only bitter memories of the past.
When Margie needs help recovering from a major operation, Stella offers her a place to stay. With no other options, Margie returns to the family farm where for decades, until Stella's arrival, she was the one in charge.
Margie has never made life easy for her daughter-in-law, and that's not going to change now she's been made a guest in her former home.
But as the dry summer turns to a beautiful autumn, the two women gradually form an unlikely bond, as the ambitions, secrets, and tragedies that have shaped their lives are slowly uncovered...
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 2, 2018
10 people are currently reading
238 people want to read
About the author
Glenna Thomson
4 books42 followersAfter a successful career in overseas aid, and as a senior executive with a global food company, Glenna and her husband spent almost twenty years living and working on their 500-acre cattle property in rural in north-east Victoria. During that time, they also owned and operated a commercial blueberry orchard. Glenna’s time in the country enables her to write authentically about life in the city as well as in remote locations. She and her husband now live in Melbourne. Glenna is also the author of Blueberry and Stella and Margie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 6, 2018
The hip replacement Margie had had was painful and recovery was slow. Her time in hospital was tedious – it felt like she’d been left behind; no one visited, well not often anyway. Until the day an old adversary from the past was put in the bed beside her and Margie decided she was going to leave the hospital. She couldn’t stay a moment longer.
Margie’s son Ross and his wife Stella ran the farm that Margie had called home for decades. She’d moved from Maryhill to a small place in Benalla so Ross and Stella could have the place to themselves. They had two daughters now – Isobel and Jemima – and when Stella offered Margie their hospitality until she was well enough to return to her own home, Margie didn’t want to go. But there was nowhere else – and so the home she knew inside out, and which held many of Margie’s secrets, was once again her haven.
Margie was a conventional woman; hard to talk to, stubborn and cantankerous. But she was also eighty years old and had had a tragic past. Stella was a kind and caring woman who loved her husband and daughters dearly – but with Ross against his mother staying with them, the atmosphere was strained.
Would Margie and Stella form a bond? What would happen to the old woman who’d always just done her best?
Stella & Margie by Aussie author Glenna Thomson is the second I’ve read by this author and just as good as the first. A wonderful contemporary novel with the two main characters decades apart in age and experience, and the circumstances they encounter as they come to know one another. Set in country Victoria, which I’ve travelled through many times, I could visualize the farm; the Hume Freeway which joins Melbourne to the small towns along the route and on to Sydney. An excellent novel, Stella & Margie is one I highly recommend.
Margie’s son Ross and his wife Stella ran the farm that Margie had called home for decades. She’d moved from Maryhill to a small place in Benalla so Ross and Stella could have the place to themselves. They had two daughters now – Isobel and Jemima – and when Stella offered Margie their hospitality until she was well enough to return to her own home, Margie didn’t want to go. But there was nowhere else – and so the home she knew inside out, and which held many of Margie’s secrets, was once again her haven.
Margie was a conventional woman; hard to talk to, stubborn and cantankerous. But she was also eighty years old and had had a tragic past. Stella was a kind and caring woman who loved her husband and daughters dearly – but with Ross against his mother staying with them, the atmosphere was strained.
Would Margie and Stella form a bond? What would happen to the old woman who’d always just done her best?
Stella & Margie by Aussie author Glenna Thomson is the second I’ve read by this author and just as good as the first. A wonderful contemporary novel with the two main characters decades apart in age and experience, and the circumstances they encounter as they come to know one another. Set in country Victoria, which I’ve travelled through many times, I could visualize the farm; the Hume Freeway which joins Melbourne to the small towns along the route and on to Sydney. An excellent novel, Stella & Margie is one I highly recommend.
November 23, 2018
I simply love it when you read a book and it turns out to be so much better than you first imagined it would be. Stella and Margie is a beautiful and superbly written story of an unlikely friendship between two women.
This was a delightful read and one in which I thoroughly loved. Highly recommended.
This was a delightful read and one in which I thoroughly loved. Highly recommended.
January 1, 2018
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
4.5 stars
Stella and Margie, Australian novelist Glenna Thomson’s second novel, is a wonderful addition to the modern Australian fiction genre. It features two unforgettable heroines, a touching friendship that is born out of hardship, all set against a rich Australian country setting. When I observed well known Australian figure Ita Buttrose endorsed the stunning front cover of this book, I knew I was in for a treat.
Stella and Margie is the heart warming story of two very different women from contrasting generations. Stella is a busy mother of two and a farmer’s wife, balancing her home duties with her interest in theatre. Margie on the other hand, is an eighty year old woman, who is very much stuck in her ways and is not the easiest person to live with. When Margie has a fall and is sent for a major operation to repair her hip, Stella, Margie’s daughter in law, insists Margie comes to stay with her. With all other care options exhausted, Margie reluctantly returns to her old family farm, which now belongs to her son Ross, his wife Stella and their two daughters. Margie grapples with being the outsider. She was once the matriarch of this thriving farm house. All Margie sees when she comes to stay as a guest in her old home is a lack of care. It riles her and she becomes quite the unwelcome guest. Little by little, Margie begins to realise the only person who truly cares about her well being is the one person she detests, Stella. Eventually, an unlikely union forms between Stella and Margie. This bond signals the revelation of aspirations, secrets and moments of loss which have come to influence these two remarkable women’s lives.
In early 2017, I recall being impressed by Glenna Thomason’s debut novel, Blueberry. Thomson has electrified me once again with her second novel and a poignant one at that, Stella and Margie. What I loved most of all about this novel is the unexpected friendship that flourishes between two completely different women.
Once again, I was fully immersed in the picturesque and authentic country based setting of Glenna Thomson’s novel. In Stella and Margie, the reader is transported to Maryhill, a rural farm located just outside Benalla, in the north east high country of Victoria. Thomson’s prose setting wise is touched with a vivid quality that promotes the natural beauty of this region. I exalted in the many rich descriptions of the local fauna that can be found in this picturesque part of Australia. All my senses were ignited as Maryhill and the surrounding area was explained by Thomson. A high point in Stella and Margie is everyday the farming sections of the novel, clearly drawn from the author’s own personal experiences living and working on the land.
Glenna Thomson’s characterisation seems to be going from strength to strength. In her second novel, Thomson demonstrates her ability to bring her characters before the reader’s eyes, in a very touching form. I was soon able to conjure up a clear image of both leads, Stella and Margie, through Thomson’s expert storytelling abilities. Thomson has a great handle on her leads, as well as supporting characters such as Ross, Chester and younger characters Isabel and Jemima. Through the progression of the novel, Thomson takes us through the current lives, hopes, fears, flaws, mistakes, difficulties and memories of the past that define this appealing character set. Margie was the highlight of the novel in terms of character exploration. From her initial introduction as a stoic and cantankerous woman, Margie eventually lets her guard down to Stella. The interesting result is the revelation of secrets Margie has held close to her chest for so many years, which sheds some light on the person she has become. I felt the overall voyage we undertake with the cast of Stella and Margie is quite a moving and touching one.
Relationships and friendships are the focal point of Stella and Margie. Initially, Margie has little thought for Stella, having nothing positive to say. As the novel progresses, Margie comes to the realisation that Stella is her pillar and the one person who genuinely cares for her welfare. I loved the interplay between these characters, it was such a joy to read.
There are a number of other themes that come into play in this novel that is explored extremely well by Thomson. From aged care, medical treatment of the elderly, loss of independence, grief, marital issues, parenting, adultery, domestic abuse and family dynamics. However, the overall focus of the book really is on the importance of friendship to life, which is what I garnered from reading of this touching novel.
I read this novel in a sitting, one warm summer’s day. I am thankful to the author of Stella and Margie, Glenna Thomson, for opening my eyes to an unconventional female friendship that blossoms between her lead heroines of her second novel. I am confident that Stella and Margie is the kind of story that will stay by my side. Through the book, I was reminded of the importance of the restorative power of friendships and how they know no bounds in terms of age or circumstance. Stella and Margie is another stellar read from Glenna Thomson, an author who is now high on my watch list.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
4.5 stars
Stella and Margie, Australian novelist Glenna Thomson’s second novel, is a wonderful addition to the modern Australian fiction genre. It features two unforgettable heroines, a touching friendship that is born out of hardship, all set against a rich Australian country setting. When I observed well known Australian figure Ita Buttrose endorsed the stunning front cover of this book, I knew I was in for a treat.
Stella and Margie is the heart warming story of two very different women from contrasting generations. Stella is a busy mother of two and a farmer’s wife, balancing her home duties with her interest in theatre. Margie on the other hand, is an eighty year old woman, who is very much stuck in her ways and is not the easiest person to live with. When Margie has a fall and is sent for a major operation to repair her hip, Stella, Margie’s daughter in law, insists Margie comes to stay with her. With all other care options exhausted, Margie reluctantly returns to her old family farm, which now belongs to her son Ross, his wife Stella and their two daughters. Margie grapples with being the outsider. She was once the matriarch of this thriving farm house. All Margie sees when she comes to stay as a guest in her old home is a lack of care. It riles her and she becomes quite the unwelcome guest. Little by little, Margie begins to realise the only person who truly cares about her well being is the one person she detests, Stella. Eventually, an unlikely union forms between Stella and Margie. This bond signals the revelation of aspirations, secrets and moments of loss which have come to influence these two remarkable women’s lives.
In early 2017, I recall being impressed by Glenna Thomason’s debut novel, Blueberry. Thomson has electrified me once again with her second novel and a poignant one at that, Stella and Margie. What I loved most of all about this novel is the unexpected friendship that flourishes between two completely different women.
Once again, I was fully immersed in the picturesque and authentic country based setting of Glenna Thomson’s novel. In Stella and Margie, the reader is transported to Maryhill, a rural farm located just outside Benalla, in the north east high country of Victoria. Thomson’s prose setting wise is touched with a vivid quality that promotes the natural beauty of this region. I exalted in the many rich descriptions of the local fauna that can be found in this picturesque part of Australia. All my senses were ignited as Maryhill and the surrounding area was explained by Thomson. A high point in Stella and Margie is everyday the farming sections of the novel, clearly drawn from the author’s own personal experiences living and working on the land.
Glenna Thomson’s characterisation seems to be going from strength to strength. In her second novel, Thomson demonstrates her ability to bring her characters before the reader’s eyes, in a very touching form. I was soon able to conjure up a clear image of both leads, Stella and Margie, through Thomson’s expert storytelling abilities. Thomson has a great handle on her leads, as well as supporting characters such as Ross, Chester and younger characters Isabel and Jemima. Through the progression of the novel, Thomson takes us through the current lives, hopes, fears, flaws, mistakes, difficulties and memories of the past that define this appealing character set. Margie was the highlight of the novel in terms of character exploration. From her initial introduction as a stoic and cantankerous woman, Margie eventually lets her guard down to Stella. The interesting result is the revelation of secrets Margie has held close to her chest for so many years, which sheds some light on the person she has become. I felt the overall voyage we undertake with the cast of Stella and Margie is quite a moving and touching one.
Relationships and friendships are the focal point of Stella and Margie. Initially, Margie has little thought for Stella, having nothing positive to say. As the novel progresses, Margie comes to the realisation that Stella is her pillar and the one person who genuinely cares for her welfare. I loved the interplay between these characters, it was such a joy to read.
There are a number of other themes that come into play in this novel that is explored extremely well by Thomson. From aged care, medical treatment of the elderly, loss of independence, grief, marital issues, parenting, adultery, domestic abuse and family dynamics. However, the overall focus of the book really is on the importance of friendship to life, which is what I garnered from reading of this touching novel.
I read this novel in a sitting, one warm summer’s day. I am thankful to the author of Stella and Margie, Glenna Thomson, for opening my eyes to an unconventional female friendship that blossoms between her lead heroines of her second novel. I am confident that Stella and Margie is the kind of story that will stay by my side. Through the book, I was reminded of the importance of the restorative power of friendships and how they know no bounds in terms of age or circumstance. Stella and Margie is another stellar read from Glenna Thomson, an author who is now high on my watch list.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
August 19, 2018
Stella and Margie is the second novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. Stella Adams has always known that she did not meet her mother-in-law’s approval: Margie Ballantine was never more than civil to her. But now Margie, turning eighty, is in hospital, recovering from a broken leg. Arriving with cake and cards, Stella, Ross and their daughters learn that the rehab has no vacancy. Stella, always generous to a fault, suggests Margie live with them on the family farm, Maryhill, until she can go home. Ross is less than happy, and Margie only grudgingly agrees.
While Ross busies himself with the farm, aspiring playwright Stella is frantically trying to get government funding for her amateur theatre group’s production of her first play. This, on top of the everyday chores of the farm wife and mother. Stella’s management style and her priorities are not Margie’s, who observes it all and generally disapproves: she’d curt, critical and cranky. And Margie so stubbornly refuses to articulate her own needs and wants that it is nothing short of a miracle that Stella is not more exasperated.
As the weeks progress, Margie’s behaviour causes friction between Ross and Stella, whose marriage is usually happy and content: Ross resents his mother’s lack of respect for Stella and thinks Stella is being far too kind; Stella believes Ross could show his mother more love and tenderness. Gradually, past events, long-buried, and secrets, long-guarded, are revealed. While it is true that Margie has not had an easy life, she seems intent on making herself difficult to like, let alone love, and stiffly resists attempts at affection.
Thomson gives the reader a plot that is realistic and not wholly predictable. Her characters are much more than one-dimensional and their dialogue is easily credible. The dual narrative works well, presenting incidents from two vastly different perspectives. The story touches on domestic violence, succession plans, and patriarchy; adultery, grief, and the conflict between doing one’s duty and following one’s aspirations, also feature. Thomson’s descriptive prose is quite evocative, and the birds are a delightful bonus. This is a heart-warming novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
While Ross busies himself with the farm, aspiring playwright Stella is frantically trying to get government funding for her amateur theatre group’s production of her first play. This, on top of the everyday chores of the farm wife and mother. Stella’s management style and her priorities are not Margie’s, who observes it all and generally disapproves: she’d curt, critical and cranky. And Margie so stubbornly refuses to articulate her own needs and wants that it is nothing short of a miracle that Stella is not more exasperated.
As the weeks progress, Margie’s behaviour causes friction between Ross and Stella, whose marriage is usually happy and content: Ross resents his mother’s lack of respect for Stella and thinks Stella is being far too kind; Stella believes Ross could show his mother more love and tenderness. Gradually, past events, long-buried, and secrets, long-guarded, are revealed. While it is true that Margie has not had an easy life, she seems intent on making herself difficult to like, let alone love, and stiffly resists attempts at affection.
Thomson gives the reader a plot that is realistic and not wholly predictable. Her characters are much more than one-dimensional and their dialogue is easily credible. The dual narrative works well, presenting incidents from two vastly different perspectives. The story touches on domestic violence, succession plans, and patriarchy; adultery, grief, and the conflict between doing one’s duty and following one’s aspirations, also feature. Thomson’s descriptive prose is quite evocative, and the birds are a delightful bonus. This is a heart-warming novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
January 3, 2018
Stella and Margie is what I like to call ‘quietly beautiful’. There is no fast paced dramatic plot, but rather a gently unfolding story of every day life in a contemporary family. It’s a real treasure of a novel and I enjoyed it immensely.
Both Stella and Margie were highly authentic characters and I could relate to them both, their flaws adding that layer of reality that ensured my continued investment in their journey. Margie’s situation made me sad, her backstory as well as her current plight. The feeling of being a burden to your family was articulated through Margie by Glenna Thompson with such a precise intricacy. To be old and infirm, relying on others for everything; Margie might have been stubborn and rude, but her unhappiness was so ingrained into her soul that accepting kindness was as much of a struggle for her as moving about as her hip healed. Stella, with her compassion and patience, was an admirable daughter-in-law; many women would not have put up with what she did, particularly given the fact that her husband, Margie’s own son, did not want his mother in the house, and went out of his way to make this fact known. I particularly enjoyed Glenna Thompson’s examination of Stella, a woman pulled in many opposing directions, like so many of us are today. Balancing the demands of our children, husbands, households, our own work and interests; throwing in the care of an elderly parent as another ball to juggle is no small thing.
There are many important themes brought into the spotlight within this novel. I quite liked the character of Ross, despite his coldness to his mother. It’s hard to understand the parent-child relationship when domestic violence has been thrown into the mix, unless you’ve actually experienced it yourself, and suffice to say, I felt Ross’s perspective keenly and feel Glenna Thompson hit the nail on the head squarely. It’s all too easy to judge a person on their present actions, but backstory matters, it shapes and influences, and in some instances, it even excuses. I completely understood Ross’s need to just not go there; sometimes you just want to let things lie.
Margie’s interest in birds and Stella’s interest in community theatre added much to this story in terms of demonstrating a personal side to both of these women. It showed them as individuals outside of the confines of their everyday roles, two women rather than a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law. The intersecting of these interests for the two women gave each of them an ability to understand and appreciate the other within a different context.
Stella and Margie is the perfect novel for our times, encapsulating the sort of issues we are all facing day to day. It shows the importance of kindness and patience, and how with both, understanding can come between people who are vastly different.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of Stella and Margie for review.
Both Stella and Margie were highly authentic characters and I could relate to them both, their flaws adding that layer of reality that ensured my continued investment in their journey. Margie’s situation made me sad, her backstory as well as her current plight. The feeling of being a burden to your family was articulated through Margie by Glenna Thompson with such a precise intricacy. To be old and infirm, relying on others for everything; Margie might have been stubborn and rude, but her unhappiness was so ingrained into her soul that accepting kindness was as much of a struggle for her as moving about as her hip healed. Stella, with her compassion and patience, was an admirable daughter-in-law; many women would not have put up with what she did, particularly given the fact that her husband, Margie’s own son, did not want his mother in the house, and went out of his way to make this fact known. I particularly enjoyed Glenna Thompson’s examination of Stella, a woman pulled in many opposing directions, like so many of us are today. Balancing the demands of our children, husbands, households, our own work and interests; throwing in the care of an elderly parent as another ball to juggle is no small thing.
There are many important themes brought into the spotlight within this novel. I quite liked the character of Ross, despite his coldness to his mother. It’s hard to understand the parent-child relationship when domestic violence has been thrown into the mix, unless you’ve actually experienced it yourself, and suffice to say, I felt Ross’s perspective keenly and feel Glenna Thompson hit the nail on the head squarely. It’s all too easy to judge a person on their present actions, but backstory matters, it shapes and influences, and in some instances, it even excuses. I completely understood Ross’s need to just not go there; sometimes you just want to let things lie.
Margie’s interest in birds and Stella’s interest in community theatre added much to this story in terms of demonstrating a personal side to both of these women. It showed them as individuals outside of the confines of their everyday roles, two women rather than a mother-in-law and a daughter-in-law. The intersecting of these interests for the two women gave each of them an ability to understand and appreciate the other within a different context.
Stella and Margie is the perfect novel for our times, encapsulating the sort of issues we are all facing day to day. It shows the importance of kindness and patience, and how with both, understanding can come between people who are vastly different.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of Stella and Margie for review.
April 26, 2018
This is tricky, I feel like I have been holding my breath through the entire book. Relationships can be very tricky, especially when expectations are high. These two women have something very important in common, but it isnt always easy to navigate a relationship from two very different viewpoints.
I thought this was a story that was extremely well told.
I thought this was a story that was extremely well told.
September 28, 2018
Stella and Margie is a book about how two women learn to love and respect each other. When Margie hurt her hip in a fall at home, she had to move back to live with her son on the farm. However, for Margie going back to the family property was something that Margie did not want to happen. Margie son Ross did not want his mother to come home because of the ways she treats Stella, but Stella thinks it the right thing to do. The readers of Stella and Margie will continue to follow to see what happens to Stella and Margie will they became friends or enemies.
I enjoyed reading Stella and Margie. I like Glenna Thomson writing style and the work she puts into researching for her books. I love Glenna Thomson portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other. The way Glenna Thomson describes her settings I can image sitting overlooking the beautiful countryside.
The Readers of Stella and Margie will see the importance of giving a person kindness and respect. Also, the Readers will learn about running a small rural theatre company. While reading Stella and Margie, you will see start to learn about running a small rural property with fewer helpers.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Stella and Margie. I like Glenna Thomson writing style and the work she puts into researching for her books. I love Glenna Thomson portrayal of her characters and the way they intertwine with each other. The way Glenna Thomson describes her settings I can image sitting overlooking the beautiful countryside.
The Readers of Stella and Margie will see the importance of giving a person kindness and respect. Also, the Readers will learn about running a small rural theatre company. While reading Stella and Margie, you will see start to learn about running a small rural property with fewer helpers.
I recommend this book.
January 9, 2018
There is one thing that I admire in writing and that is visual description that paints vivid rural landscapes, offset with the intricacies of domestic living and archtecture. Thomson also cleverly interwines rural living in a contemporary arts context which combines two bold women with their honesty and practicality.
The dual perspective is really interesting where it is fascinating to read two impressions of a situation. This book makes me excited and has inspired me to look at things differently. As mother I can also relate to the adage ' I did my best ', as Im sure we all do.
The dual perspective is really interesting where it is fascinating to read two impressions of a situation. This book makes me excited and has inspired me to look at things differently. As mother I can also relate to the adage ' I did my best ', as Im sure we all do.
July 20, 2024
Stella and Margie
A heart-warming read that will pull you out of a reading slump.
Read my full review below
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
A heart-warming read that will pull you out of a reading slump.
Read my full review below
https://hundredacreofbooks.com/index....
January 12, 2018
This book was the most delightful surprise. I ended up liking it so much.
Margie is 80 and is recovering from a hip operation. Whilst awaiting a bed in a rehab facility, her rooming situation in hospital becomes unbearable and she is forced to accept her daughter in law Stella’s offer for her to come and stay on the family farm. The home that was Margie’s for many, many years. The one she vacated when her son Ross married Stella, who was from the city. Not a farming wife and everything that Margie didn’t understand. She is incredibly reluctant to return to the farm, for many reasons. It’s not what it was when Margie ran the household. Stella seems lazy, failing at housework, at cooking proper meals, failing at the upkeep on the precious garden that Margie cultivated so carefully. Her son Ross is distant and uninterested and Margie struggles to remember much about her two grandchildren. Despite the fact that she’s lived relatively close nearby in town since Ross married Stella, it doesn’t appear as though she’s spent a lot of time with them at all.
The book alternates between Stella and Margie and at first Margie sounds like the grumpiest of old ladies, bitter about her daughter-in-law not being what she would’ve chosen and the ways in which modern women don’t hold up to their historical counterparts. But Margie’s story is a very complex one and is revealed in the most delicate of layers and all of a sudden you begin to understand her abruptness, her inability to be seen as needing help, or even weak. Stella is kind and also businesslike – she doesn’t see Margie as this heavy burden of responsibility as I think Margie feels. I think that in the beginning Stella does regard it as their obligation because Margie is family but she’s not reluctant (unlike Ross). And as she actually gets to know a little bit about Margie and realises how much more there is to this woman that she doesn’t really know despite being part of her family.
Margie is clearly struggling with the modern changes of the farm and their lifestyle. She laments the time the children spend glued to their iPads without understanding what they’re doing, which can be a common complaint. But to be honest, they’re a crucial part of learning these days – my kids’ school does a BYOD from Grade 3 and they use them every day. Margie notices the dust, the slapped together meals as Stella works on something incredibly important to her and the way Stella is always rushing around but without so many things getting done the way Margie would’ve had them done. Margie also refuses Stella’s help on the principle that it’s Stella offering it and often rudely rejects suggestions for the same reason. She knows that she’s doing it simply because it’s Stella doing the asking but yet she can’t seem to stop herself, even when what Stella wants to help with or do is something that Margie wants or needs. I think Margie has a huge amount of pride and due to circumstances in her life, has held herself very aloof from others and it’s something that has become automatic to her, even when that’s not the way she wants to be. It’s a slow process for Margie to let down her guard even just a tiny bit.
Stella ends up becoming such an advocate for Margie – it’s her choice to have her at the farm and she does the bulk (well okay, actually all) of Margie’s care. Helping her shower and dress, washing her clothes, preparing her meals and bringing them to her on a tray. She takes her to her appointments, all whilst juggling many other different time consuming things. In fact she’s so much more supportive of Margie’s presence in their lives than her own husband that it begins to cause friction in their marriage as Stella struggles to get Ross to reconnect with his mother and at least make her feel as though he welcomes her stay. Ross has many unresolved issues over his childhood and his relationship with his mother and some of those seem to manifest into his dislike of Margie’s disrespect for Stella. I thought that it was great he stood up for Stella and didn’t want Margie to disrespect her (isn’t that the wish of many women, that their husbands would call out rudeness and nastiness directed at them from their mothers-in-law) but Stella is actually perfectly capable of taking care of herself and she looks beyond Margie’s dismissal of her as not worthy of much, in a generous way that I suspect I could not. Stella seems to see through Margie’s abrupt attitude or lets it wash over her but she has her times when she feels as though she’s not getting anywhere and why is she making all this effort for someone who doesn’t seem to appreciate it at all?
I read this in a single afternoon – it’s a quiet sort of exploration of families and the secrets some people keep, often for years. The connections and relationships were very well done. I enjoyed the setting and the look at farm lifestyle over the years and how things had changed during Stella and Ross’ era. Both Stella and Margie are wonderful characters in very different ways – I ended up having quite a lot of fondness for Margie. This is a touching look at what it means to be getting older and realising that you are going to have to accept help in humiliating and demeaning ways, but sometimes the people who you feel the most distant from can be the ones that offer so much.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purposes of a review**
Margie is 80 and is recovering from a hip operation. Whilst awaiting a bed in a rehab facility, her rooming situation in hospital becomes unbearable and she is forced to accept her daughter in law Stella’s offer for her to come and stay on the family farm. The home that was Margie’s for many, many years. The one she vacated when her son Ross married Stella, who was from the city. Not a farming wife and everything that Margie didn’t understand. She is incredibly reluctant to return to the farm, for many reasons. It’s not what it was when Margie ran the household. Stella seems lazy, failing at housework, at cooking proper meals, failing at the upkeep on the precious garden that Margie cultivated so carefully. Her son Ross is distant and uninterested and Margie struggles to remember much about her two grandchildren. Despite the fact that she’s lived relatively close nearby in town since Ross married Stella, it doesn’t appear as though she’s spent a lot of time with them at all.
The book alternates between Stella and Margie and at first Margie sounds like the grumpiest of old ladies, bitter about her daughter-in-law not being what she would’ve chosen and the ways in which modern women don’t hold up to their historical counterparts. But Margie’s story is a very complex one and is revealed in the most delicate of layers and all of a sudden you begin to understand her abruptness, her inability to be seen as needing help, or even weak. Stella is kind and also businesslike – she doesn’t see Margie as this heavy burden of responsibility as I think Margie feels. I think that in the beginning Stella does regard it as their obligation because Margie is family but she’s not reluctant (unlike Ross). And as she actually gets to know a little bit about Margie and realises how much more there is to this woman that she doesn’t really know despite being part of her family.
Margie is clearly struggling with the modern changes of the farm and their lifestyle. She laments the time the children spend glued to their iPads without understanding what they’re doing, which can be a common complaint. But to be honest, they’re a crucial part of learning these days – my kids’ school does a BYOD from Grade 3 and they use them every day. Margie notices the dust, the slapped together meals as Stella works on something incredibly important to her and the way Stella is always rushing around but without so many things getting done the way Margie would’ve had them done. Margie also refuses Stella’s help on the principle that it’s Stella offering it and often rudely rejects suggestions for the same reason. She knows that she’s doing it simply because it’s Stella doing the asking but yet she can’t seem to stop herself, even when what Stella wants to help with or do is something that Margie wants or needs. I think Margie has a huge amount of pride and due to circumstances in her life, has held herself very aloof from others and it’s something that has become automatic to her, even when that’s not the way she wants to be. It’s a slow process for Margie to let down her guard even just a tiny bit.
Stella ends up becoming such an advocate for Margie – it’s her choice to have her at the farm and she does the bulk (well okay, actually all) of Margie’s care. Helping her shower and dress, washing her clothes, preparing her meals and bringing them to her on a tray. She takes her to her appointments, all whilst juggling many other different time consuming things. In fact she’s so much more supportive of Margie’s presence in their lives than her own husband that it begins to cause friction in their marriage as Stella struggles to get Ross to reconnect with his mother and at least make her feel as though he welcomes her stay. Ross has many unresolved issues over his childhood and his relationship with his mother and some of those seem to manifest into his dislike of Margie’s disrespect for Stella. I thought that it was great he stood up for Stella and didn’t want Margie to disrespect her (isn’t that the wish of many women, that their husbands would call out rudeness and nastiness directed at them from their mothers-in-law) but Stella is actually perfectly capable of taking care of herself and she looks beyond Margie’s dismissal of her as not worthy of much, in a generous way that I suspect I could not. Stella seems to see through Margie’s abrupt attitude or lets it wash over her but she has her times when she feels as though she’s not getting anywhere and why is she making all this effort for someone who doesn’t seem to appreciate it at all?
I read this in a single afternoon – it’s a quiet sort of exploration of families and the secrets some people keep, often for years. The connections and relationships were very well done. I enjoyed the setting and the look at farm lifestyle over the years and how things had changed during Stella and Ross’ era. Both Stella and Margie are wonderful characters in very different ways – I ended up having quite a lot of fondness for Margie. This is a touching look at what it means to be getting older and realising that you are going to have to accept help in humiliating and demeaning ways, but sometimes the people who you feel the most distant from can be the ones that offer so much.
**A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for the purposes of a review**
January 9, 2018
This book is an easy read and the way its written draws you into the characters and their stories. It's one of those books that you can't put down and has you wanting more.
It has had a profound effect on how I view ageing, accepting the cards we are dealt with and just doing your best. A story I will always remember.
What an awesome writer Glenna Thomson is.
It has had a profound effect on how I view ageing, accepting the cards we are dealt with and just doing your best. A story I will always remember.
What an awesome writer Glenna Thomson is.
July 1, 2018
Stella and Margie is the second novel from Australian author Glenna Thompson. Her first novel, Blueberries, was a delight so I was really looking forward to this latest release. With themes of family relationships, forgiveness, letting go as well as birds, Stella and Margie lived up to my expectations. Told in alternating chapters between 42 year old Stella and her mother in law, 80 year old Margie, it is a story set in country Victoria that looks at the relationship between the two woman when they come to live together under the one roof. It explores both middle age and old age in contemporary society. It is also a social commentary on the roles women have played in the past and in the present within society.
Stella is a brilliant role model for women today. A city girl who married a farmer, she changed her life to be with the man she loved. In doing so, Stella became a mother to two young children she but never gave up on her dreams. For years, Stella has aspired to become a playwright despite the obstacles in her way. One of these obstacles is her mother in law, Margie. While many daughter in laws may back down, Stella showed compassion and love while still standing up for herself. I admired Stella for these admirable qualities in the face of adversity.
While Stella is a modern woman, her mother in law is the exact opposite. Margie is an old fashioned widow who clings to her role as the homemaker. Mourning the recent death of her close friend, Margie is portrayed as a prickly woman who finds it difficult to share her emotions. As a result, it is often Margie’s way or the highway, creating conflict within the family. She is unable to open up to her son about his father and until she moves in, has had very little to do with her grandchildren. Stella is the breath of fresh air that Margie needs to make necessary changes in her life.
With two such different personalities under the same roof, it was a pleasure to see friendship bloom between Stella and Margie. Slow yet steady, I felt like I was witnessing a vital moment in their lives that would change everything for the better.
#AWWC#
Stella is a brilliant role model for women today. A city girl who married a farmer, she changed her life to be with the man she loved. In doing so, Stella became a mother to two young children she but never gave up on her dreams. For years, Stella has aspired to become a playwright despite the obstacles in her way. One of these obstacles is her mother in law, Margie. While many daughter in laws may back down, Stella showed compassion and love while still standing up for herself. I admired Stella for these admirable qualities in the face of adversity.
While Stella is a modern woman, her mother in law is the exact opposite. Margie is an old fashioned widow who clings to her role as the homemaker. Mourning the recent death of her close friend, Margie is portrayed as a prickly woman who finds it difficult to share her emotions. As a result, it is often Margie’s way or the highway, creating conflict within the family. She is unable to open up to her son about his father and until she moves in, has had very little to do with her grandchildren. Stella is the breath of fresh air that Margie needs to make necessary changes in her life.
With two such different personalities under the same roof, it was a pleasure to see friendship bloom between Stella and Margie. Slow yet steady, I felt like I was witnessing a vital moment in their lives that would change everything for the better.
#AWWC#
January 17, 2018
Stella and Margie. Oh, my heart. What a beautiful story of two very different women. I found myself grieving with both of them and loving them, even in their imperfections. And then equally wanting to shake sense into both of them!
I admit, I did not expect to love a contemporary women's fiction. Being drawn to the magical elements in books, I wondered what would hold my attention. I'll tell you what held it. Two spit-fire females, both broken and strong, who over and over again decided to show up an attempt to be honest and vulnerable. And I loved them for it.
The author, Glenna Thomson, did a marvellous job of letting us creep into the minds and the aches of Stella and Margie's souls. This is a proud Australian novel, set in our sometimes stark and often wild landscape. A must read.
I admit, I did not expect to love a contemporary women's fiction. Being drawn to the magical elements in books, I wondered what would hold my attention. I'll tell you what held it. Two spit-fire females, both broken and strong, who over and over again decided to show up an attempt to be honest and vulnerable. And I loved them for it.
The author, Glenna Thomson, did a marvellous job of letting us creep into the minds and the aches of Stella and Margie's souls. This is a proud Australian novel, set in our sometimes stark and often wild landscape. A must read.
July 12, 2018
3 1/2 stars. A well written and easy to read look at the relationship between Stella, city born wife of Ross, who has returned to run the family farm, and Margie, the difficult mother-in-law. A lovely glimpse of rural life but underneath not everything is as straight forward as it seems. The dynamics between Stella and Margie are sympathetically handled as each comes to understand and respect the other.
June 10, 2018
I found this a bit slow and didn’t really enjoy the writing style but it was a nice family story based in rural Australia.
January 18, 2019
3.75 stars. I listened to this book on audio book, and although I didn’t expect much from it, I’ve spent the last two days listening to it while at home instead of watching TV or reading. So, I suppose that says something. There’s a book explores the relationships between women, what it means to be a mother, a daughter, a daughter in law. All of the frailties that women have, hold amongst themselves, and can sometimes never forget or forgive.
March 10, 2021
Stella and Margie is the 'odd couple' type of pairing in an Australian setting. There is a strong story for each woman to progress throughout the book, but what stopped me from going to 5 stars is the progression of their characters, it is very much a backwards looking retrospective rather than a 'catch up to this point in time and then decide for the future' type scenario.
It is still a really well composed story and the characters are well conceptualized.
It is still a really well composed story and the characters are well conceptualized.
December 15, 2020
If I have to read another novel about fraught relationships between daughters-in-law and mothers-in-law...
It's not bad. I just don't care.
It's not bad. I just don't care.
January 16, 2018
Brilliant characters. Beautiful writing. Loved this book.
January 13, 2018
This is a gentle story of two women, set vividly in the beautiful Victorian high country. I fell in love with the female protagonists, whose lives and stories are starkly different, yet both so relateable. I would love to have them over for dinner! I highly recommend this charming, heartwarming and witty read.
March 5, 2018
I really enjoyed the two very different women in this book. I loved the way we got insight through their own reflection on their behavior and the mystery that lay there.
February 2, 2020
Two Women, One House and Long-Buried Secrets from The Past
This is a thoughtful novel that exposes the narrative in two very different voices - one, a woman I imagine to be in her late-30s, married to a cattle farmer who lives in his ancestral home in north-east Victoria; the other, Stella’s crotchety mother-in-law who’s come to stay on the farm - her former home - while recovering from painful hip surgery. Their differing points of view on everyday happenings around them in this rural community - including long-buried secrets suddenly exposed that make a once-broken heart vulnerable again - take readers deep into Stella and Margie’s individual worlds, leaving both their strengths and weaknesses open and raw. The older one has become cynical, bitter and critical over time, while her younger daughter-in-law exudes an over-abundance of patience and concern when she could easily have left Margie to fend for herself, just as the rest of the family have done down through the years.
Over the course of the book, their relationship travels from frustration and indifference to understanding and acceptance for what each one has been through on their individual life paths.
One of the most memorable lines that resonates with how I feel so often as I wander the streets or read Facebook posts and comments is, “And the vulgar language seems entirely unnecessary: to me, it’s evidence of a mind too lazy to find a better word to express oneself.”
I enjoyed this story, although not as much as Glenna Thomson’s debut novel ‘Blueberry’. Both are set around relationships and slow-growing friendships, well-written and peppered with descriptive phrasing about life on the land. And just like her first one, ‘Stella and Margie’ left this reader feeling as though she’s been eavesdropping on two people who’ve come to accept life and all its foibles, and eventually make peace with their past, themselves and each other.
I give it 7/10.
This is a thoughtful novel that exposes the narrative in two very different voices - one, a woman I imagine to be in her late-30s, married to a cattle farmer who lives in his ancestral home in north-east Victoria; the other, Stella’s crotchety mother-in-law who’s come to stay on the farm - her former home - while recovering from painful hip surgery. Their differing points of view on everyday happenings around them in this rural community - including long-buried secrets suddenly exposed that make a once-broken heart vulnerable again - take readers deep into Stella and Margie’s individual worlds, leaving both their strengths and weaknesses open and raw. The older one has become cynical, bitter and critical over time, while her younger daughter-in-law exudes an over-abundance of patience and concern when she could easily have left Margie to fend for herself, just as the rest of the family have done down through the years.
Over the course of the book, their relationship travels from frustration and indifference to understanding and acceptance for what each one has been through on their individual life paths.
One of the most memorable lines that resonates with how I feel so often as I wander the streets or read Facebook posts and comments is, “And the vulgar language seems entirely unnecessary: to me, it’s evidence of a mind too lazy to find a better word to express oneself.”
I enjoyed this story, although not as much as Glenna Thomson’s debut novel ‘Blueberry’. Both are set around relationships and slow-growing friendships, well-written and peppered with descriptive phrasing about life on the land. And just like her first one, ‘Stella and Margie’ left this reader feeling as though she’s been eavesdropping on two people who’ve come to accept life and all its foibles, and eventually make peace with their past, themselves and each other.
I give it 7/10.
November 23, 2017
I was very pleasantly surprised by this book. It’s a lovely piece of domestic drama. At its heart is the developing friendship between Stella and Margie. But it is about much more than that.
It is also the story of families and how they nurture and hold us but also how they exclude and damage us. Other enduring themes are domestic violence, ageing and grief.
This story isn’t a fast moving thriller. It’s a lovely gentle drama which signposts the healing that is possible in female friendships.
It is also the story of families and how they nurture and hold us but also how they exclude and damage us. Other enduring themes are domestic violence, ageing and grief.
This story isn’t a fast moving thriller. It’s a lovely gentle drama which signposts the healing that is possible in female friendships.
January 15, 2018
Original review on my blog: http://bit.ly/2EHzgwW
"Told from both Stella and Margie’s perspectives with alternating chapters, Thomson carries the voices of each woman wonderfully. I found this particularly noticeable with Margie’s chapters, where her inner discourse felt more formal (or old-fashioned) compared to Stella.
However, this meant that I tended to enjoy Stella’s chapters more than Margie’s, simply because I found her voice younger and more relatable to my age.
Thomson’s prose glides the fine line between easy-to-read ‘popular’ fiction and technically-profound literary fiction, with many beautiful moments to underline.
“When he turns to face the room, I see his eyes are large, soft and dark like those of a sooty owl…” (Page 49)
Flocks of bird motifs flit across chapters, following the Ballantine family back in time to uncover secrets and long-lasting pain. The birds themselves are symbolic of freedom, something Margie and Stella have struggled to find in their lives.
Stella seems to have overcome her struggles (with her own mother) by writing a play, ‘I Did My Best’, which acts as metafiction for the relationship Margie has with her family.
Margie’s past and its impact on generations of her family makes up the majority of the novel’s main plot points, from domestic violence to grief and loss to lustful affairs. Like nursing a baby bird back to health, Stella nurses Margie with love and compassion, bringing her back into the Ballantine family.
Despite Stella and Margie being largely about Stella and Margie, I was also intrigued by the disconnect between Margie and her son, Ross. Ross’s contempt for his mother swoops into the plot, adding another element of tension.
The tension between parents and children circles the story like a bird of prey: the anger between Stella and her long-dead mother; the concern Stella has for her daughters; the discomfort between Margie and Ross (and the absent Caroline); the heartache Stella has for Mark; the responsibility and regret Ross (and his father) feel at taking over the Ballantine farm; and even the confronting farm life of impregnating heifers, or pulling a calf from a cow.
While Stella and Margie centers on the reconciliation of these two women, it is really about family. Sometimes the nest is bare and brittle, and sometimes it’s warm with downy feathers.
“I don’t think a child can fully relate to a mother as a regular person… She did her best, like all of us try and do. Anyway, here we are. Thanks to her.” (Page 267)
***
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of Stella and Margie by Glenna Thomson in exchange for an honest review."
"Told from both Stella and Margie’s perspectives with alternating chapters, Thomson carries the voices of each woman wonderfully. I found this particularly noticeable with Margie’s chapters, where her inner discourse felt more formal (or old-fashioned) compared to Stella.
However, this meant that I tended to enjoy Stella’s chapters more than Margie’s, simply because I found her voice younger and more relatable to my age.
Thomson’s prose glides the fine line between easy-to-read ‘popular’ fiction and technically-profound literary fiction, with many beautiful moments to underline.
“When he turns to face the room, I see his eyes are large, soft and dark like those of a sooty owl…” (Page 49)
Flocks of bird motifs flit across chapters, following the Ballantine family back in time to uncover secrets and long-lasting pain. The birds themselves are symbolic of freedom, something Margie and Stella have struggled to find in their lives.
Stella seems to have overcome her struggles (with her own mother) by writing a play, ‘I Did My Best’, which acts as metafiction for the relationship Margie has with her family.
Margie’s past and its impact on generations of her family makes up the majority of the novel’s main plot points, from domestic violence to grief and loss to lustful affairs. Like nursing a baby bird back to health, Stella nurses Margie with love and compassion, bringing her back into the Ballantine family.
Despite Stella and Margie being largely about Stella and Margie, I was also intrigued by the disconnect between Margie and her son, Ross. Ross’s contempt for his mother swoops into the plot, adding another element of tension.
The tension between parents and children circles the story like a bird of prey: the anger between Stella and her long-dead mother; the concern Stella has for her daughters; the discomfort between Margie and Ross (and the absent Caroline); the heartache Stella has for Mark; the responsibility and regret Ross (and his father) feel at taking over the Ballantine farm; and even the confronting farm life of impregnating heifers, or pulling a calf from a cow.
While Stella and Margie centers on the reconciliation of these two women, it is really about family. Sometimes the nest is bare and brittle, and sometimes it’s warm with downy feathers.
“I don’t think a child can fully relate to a mother as a regular person… She did her best, like all of us try and do. Anyway, here we are. Thanks to her.” (Page 267)
***
Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me a copy of Stella and Margie by Glenna Thomson in exchange for an honest review."
February 21, 2024
Stella and Margie is the second novel by Australian author, Glenna Thomson. The audio version is narrated by Brigid Lohrey and Nicolette McKenzie. Stella Adams has always known that she did not meet her mother-in-law’s approval: Margie Ballantine was never more than civil to her. But now Margie, turning eighty, is in hospital, recovering from a broken leg. Arriving with cake and cards, Stella, Ross and their daughters learn that the rehab has no vacancy. Stella, always generous to a fault, suggests Margie live with them on the family farm, Maryhill, until she can go home. Ross is less than happy, and Margie only grudgingly agrees.
While Ross busies himself with the farm, aspiring playwright Stella is frantically trying to get government funding for her amateur theatre group’s production of her first play. This, on top of the everyday chores of the farm wife and mother. Stella’s management style and her priorities are not Margie’s, who observes it all and generally disapproves: she’d curt, critical and cranky. And Margie so stubbornly refuses to articulate her own needs and wants that it is nothing short of a miracle that Stella is not more exasperated.
As the weeks progress, Margie’s behaviour causes friction between Ross and Stella, whose marriage is usually happy and content: Ross resents his mother’s lack of respect for Stella and thinks Stella is being far too kind; Stella believes Ross could show his mother more love and tenderness. Gradually, past events, long-buried, and secrets, long-guarded, are revealed. While it is true that Margie has not had an easy life, she seems intent on making herself difficult to like, let alone love, and stiffly resists attempts at affection.
Thomson gives the reader a plot that is realistic and not wholly predictable. Her characters are much more than one-dimensional and their dialogue is easily credible. The dual narrative works well, presenting incidents from two vastly different perspectives. The story touches on domestic violence, succession plans, and patriarchy; adultery, grief, and the conflict between doing one’s duty and following one’s aspirations, also feature. Thomson’s descriptive prose is quite evocative, and the birds are a delightful bonus. This is a heart-warming novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
While Ross busies himself with the farm, aspiring playwright Stella is frantically trying to get government funding for her amateur theatre group’s production of her first play. This, on top of the everyday chores of the farm wife and mother. Stella’s management style and her priorities are not Margie’s, who observes it all and generally disapproves: she’d curt, critical and cranky. And Margie so stubbornly refuses to articulate her own needs and wants that it is nothing short of a miracle that Stella is not more exasperated.
As the weeks progress, Margie’s behaviour causes friction between Ross and Stella, whose marriage is usually happy and content: Ross resents his mother’s lack of respect for Stella and thinks Stella is being far too kind; Stella believes Ross could show his mother more love and tenderness. Gradually, past events, long-buried, and secrets, long-guarded, are revealed. While it is true that Margie has not had an easy life, she seems intent on making herself difficult to like, let alone love, and stiffly resists attempts at affection.
Thomson gives the reader a plot that is realistic and not wholly predictable. Her characters are much more than one-dimensional and their dialogue is easily credible. The dual narrative works well, presenting incidents from two vastly different perspectives. The story touches on domestic violence, succession plans, and patriarchy; adultery, grief, and the conflict between doing one’s duty and following one’s aspirations, also feature. Thomson’s descriptive prose is quite evocative, and the birds are a delightful bonus. This is a heart-warming novel that will stay with the reader long after the last page is turned.
May 6, 2024
I enjoyed this book told alternatively from Stella (the daughter in law) and Margie's point of view. A good insight into family dynamics and weight put upon us by traditions and expectations of family.
Both my mum and sister read this book as well and enjoyed it.
I read Glenna Thomson newest book Gone first which is a rural thriller and now am going to try and find her first book Blueberry.
(this was actually a quick read it was just my lunchtime book)
Both my mum and sister read this book as well and enjoyed it.
I read Glenna Thomson newest book Gone first which is a rural thriller and now am going to try and find her first book Blueberry.
(this was actually a quick read it was just my lunchtime book)
May 23, 2021
3.5 ☆
Finished reading … Stella and Margie / Glenna Thomson ... 22 May 2021
ISBN: 9780143782056 … 292 pp.
This is another “dysfunctional family with its hidden secrets” story.
After an operation, eighty year old Margie comes to stay with son Ross, his wife Stella and their two daughters on the long-time family cattle property.
Ross leaves Stella to look after cantankerous old Margie.
Several trials and tribulations follow, along with revelations about secrets from the past.
Although frantically busy with her own interests, Stella rises above the negatives to be her best self and sort the family out.
They all live happily ever after.
If only life were so simple!
All the same, a not-bad, easy read.
Borrowed from my local library.
March 23, 2018
This book is all about characters and place. It is told from the point of view Stella and her mother in law Margie, who has had surrgery and comes to stay with Stella, her husband Ross and their two daughters Isolde and Jemima. We learn the story of Margie's life, which has not been full of joy, but has had its good moments. Stella is absorbed in applying for funding for her play, which leads to some tensions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is slowpaced, the characters are beautifully drawn, and the place is described so well for the reader that we can hear the birds singing and see the dry countryside. Very satisfying read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is slowpaced, the characters are beautifully drawn, and the place is described so well for the reader that we can hear the birds singing and see the dry countryside. Very satisfying read.
April 12, 2018
I adored this book! Thank you Glenna for writing a book that gives the view from both sides of a daughter-in-law/mother-in-law relationship.
I enjoyed, and sometimes related to, the times that Stella and Margie just weren't getting along and the gradual acceptance of both of the other person.
It was also good to know that life goes on for an older person as time passes by and all that changes from what it had been - sometimes for a better life.
A delightful book full of real life scenarios without covering up what could, at times, have been disastrous moves for all concerned.
Thank you, Glenna, for writing such a wonderful story with such preciseness and reality in it.
I enjoyed, and sometimes related to, the times that Stella and Margie just weren't getting along and the gradual acceptance of both of the other person.
It was also good to know that life goes on for an older person as time passes by and all that changes from what it had been - sometimes for a better life.
A delightful book full of real life scenarios without covering up what could, at times, have been disastrous moves for all concerned.
Thank you, Glenna, for writing such a wonderful story with such preciseness and reality in it.
April 17, 2018
Authentically written and beautifully crafted novel. Glenna Thomson captures the true essence of country life and brings it to the table with aplomb and grace. Her characters are well-developed and their interactions are indicative of their unique personalities that have been shaped through past experiences. Enjoyed seeing the relationship between Stella and Margie flourish as former misunderstandings and prejudices are restored. I could identify with the character of Stella and enjoyed her chaotic lifestyle and her ability to balance the needs of her family with her own desires and with the care of Margie on top of it all.
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