What do you think?
Rate this book
The Laws of Harmony
Sunny Cooper has been running since she was eighteen—from the New Mexican commune where she grew up . . . and from the haunting memory of the freak accident that took the life of her younger sister. Now, at thirty-two, Sunny voices radio spots in Albuquerque while struggling to hold on to a floundering relationship. But when a second tragic accident—and the devastating truths that come to light in its aftermath—turns her world upside down, Sunny runs again. In the town of Harmony on San Miguel Island, she takes a new job, learns to ride a motorcycle, and makes some surprising new friends. But the past is never far behind. A startling discovery—along with an emotional and revelatory reunion with her estranged mother—is forcing Sunny to step out from the shadows of yesterday to embrace an uncertain future.
480 pages, Paperback
First published February 10, 2009
About the author
Judi Hendricks
14 books221 followersJudith Ryan Hendricks was born in San Jose, California, when Silicon Valley was the Santa Clara Valley, better known for orchards than for computer chips.
Armed with a degree in journalism, she worked as a journalist, copywriter, computer instructor, travel agent, waitress and baker before turning to fiction writing. Her experiences at the McGraw Street Bakery in Seattle led to her first novel, Bread Alone and the sequel, The Baker’s Apprentice. The third book in the series, Baker’s Blues, will be published in August 2015.
A life-long infatuation with the Southwest provided inspiration for Isabel’s Daughter and her fourth book, The Laws of Harmony. Hendricks’ fiction has been translated into 12 languages and distributed in more than 16 countries worldwide.
Her nonfiction has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle and Tiny Lights, A Journal of Personal Essay, Grand Gourmet in Italy and The London Sunday Express. Her short fiction has appeared in Woman’s Weekly in Britain and AMERICAN GIRLS ON THE TOWN, an anthology, in the U.S. and U.K.
She lives in New Mexico with husband Geoff and dog Blue.
Armed with a degree in journalism, she worked as a journalist, copywriter, computer instructor, travel agent, waitress and baker before turning to fiction writing. Her experiences at the McGraw Street Bakery in Seattle led to her first novel, Bread Alone and the sequel, The Baker’s Apprentice. The third book in the series, Baker’s Blues, will be published in August 2015.
A life-long infatuation with the Southwest provided inspiration for Isabel’s Daughter and her fourth book, The Laws of Harmony. Hendricks’ fiction has been translated into 12 languages and distributed in more than 16 countries worldwide.
Her nonfiction has appeared in The San Francisco Chronicle and Tiny Lights, A Journal of Personal Essay, Grand Gourmet in Italy and The London Sunday Express. Her short fiction has appeared in Woman’s Weekly in Britain and AMERICAN GIRLS ON THE TOWN, an anthology, in the U.S. and U.K.
She lives in New Mexico with husband Geoff and dog Blue.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
March 24, 2010
As a fan of Judith R Hendricks, I immediately loved The Laws of Harmony. However, as it ended, I felt deflated, sad that I couldn't continue on the character's journey... and that made think about the story itself and I discovered that there were a
lot
of unfinished aspects to this book. Is it just me, or isn't that out of character of the author?
The Laws of Harmony is ultimately a story about reconciliation between a woman and her avant-garde mother. But there are major underlying themes throughout the book that could be their own stories entirely. The death of a fiancé, the betrayal of a best friend, a continental move, the hesitant reformation of friendships, a possible romance, etc. etc, etc.... What we get are flashbacks of a repressed childhood (though these snippets are beautifully told, IMO. I just wish it were THAT easy to come to terms with all the baggage in life.), a surprise and then a bigger surprise, and a too-shortly concluded The End. Will this keep me from reading more of Hendricks? The answer is a defiant "NO!" I felt that she decided the plot of The Laws of Harmony as she wrote, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It gave the story flavor...
...and speaking of flavor... as a native of New Mexico myself, I could literally TASTE the food in the book. I love this about Hendricks’ work. I salivated so much that I found myself reading at my local Mexican restaurant - pining for homegrown chilies. Waaaahhhh!
**EDIT** After reviewing the other three JRH books, I've decided that Sunny (the main character in The Laws of Harmony) is by far my favorite character. And I love her mother even more! So... I'm giving this book another star based on that alone.
The Laws of Harmony is ultimately a story about reconciliation between a woman and her avant-garde mother. But there are major underlying themes throughout the book that could be their own stories entirely. The death of a fiancé, the betrayal of a best friend, a continental move, the hesitant reformation of friendships, a possible romance, etc. etc, etc.... What we get are flashbacks of a repressed childhood (though these snippets are beautifully told, IMO. I just wish it were THAT easy to come to terms with all the baggage in life.), a surprise and then a bigger surprise, and a too-shortly concluded The End. Will this keep me from reading more of Hendricks? The answer is a defiant "NO!" I felt that she decided the plot of The Laws of Harmony as she wrote, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. It gave the story flavor...
...and speaking of flavor... as a native of New Mexico myself, I could literally TASTE the food in the book. I love this about Hendricks’ work. I salivated so much that I found myself reading at my local Mexican restaurant - pining for homegrown chilies. Waaaahhhh!
**EDIT** After reviewing the other three JRH books, I've decided that Sunny (the main character in The Laws of Harmony) is by far my favorite character. And I love her mother even more! So... I'm giving this book another star based on that alone.
December 7, 2014
Judi Hendricks is an author I discovered only recently. I must say I do love her writing style and the depth she brings to her characters. I enjoyed the story of Sunny (birth name “Soleil”) who was born on a New Mexico commune and lived there with her parents and brother and little sister. Sunny never took to commune life and she decides to go college in Alburquerque, cutting most of her ties with her family for long periods of time.
Sunny’s story is rather captivating especially her flash blacks to life in the commune, where little sister Mari lost her life in a stupid accident, a loss that has marked Sunny and her entire family forever in a very painful way.
In the present time, at the age of 31, Sunny discovers that the man she has lived with for the past three years is not the man she thought he was (no spoilers, but it’s good!), and so she decides to leave Albuquerque, and tries to put as much distance between herself and her recent past. She lands on the Island of San Miguel, in the town of Harmony; so different from what she has known so far and tries to make sense of all what has happened, not only recently, but also during her childhood and adolescence on the commune.
This is a compelling read that teaches the strength of reconciliation, and growing up and of knowing where you belong. Nothing is ever black and white. There were so many elements (nature, family, food, friends, ...) that make this read work for me. Love the story telling abilities of this author.
Sunny’s story is rather captivating especially her flash blacks to life in the commune, where little sister Mari lost her life in a stupid accident, a loss that has marked Sunny and her entire family forever in a very painful way.
In the present time, at the age of 31, Sunny discovers that the man she has lived with for the past three years is not the man she thought he was (no spoilers, but it’s good!), and so she decides to leave Albuquerque, and tries to put as much distance between herself and her recent past. She lands on the Island of San Miguel, in the town of Harmony; so different from what she has known so far and tries to make sense of all what has happened, not only recently, but also during her childhood and adolescence on the commune.
This is a compelling read that teaches the strength of reconciliation, and growing up and of knowing where you belong. Nothing is ever black and white. There were so many elements (nature, family, food, friends, ...) that make this read work for me. Love the story telling abilities of this author.
August 31, 2020
Reviewed on my blog in 2009:
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Mary Doria Russell. Marisa de los Santos. Jeanne Ray. Rosamunde Pilcher. Barbara Kingsolver. Patricia Gaffney. Elizabeth Berg. Lorna Landvik. Jodi Picoult. What do these authors have in common with Judith Ryan Hendricks? Well, they're my favorite female authors and I've read nearly every single book they've written, most of which line the bookcases in my home. I've met a couple in person, have a few signed copies of their early novels, and have recently received ARCs of their latest works, accompanied by warm and chatty emails. These are the authors that bring great pleasure to my reading experience; the ones who thrill me when I learn they've written a new book; the ones I rave about to friends and customers; the ones who don't seem to write fast enough for me! ;)
I discovered Judith Ryan Hendricks several years ago when I happened upon her debut novel, Bread Alone. I don't recall anyone recommending the book to me, so I must've fallen for the cover art and blurb. I thoroughly enjoyed the book—so much so that I re-read it prior to reading the sequel (The Baker's Apprentice). I also loved Hendricks' stand-alone, Isabel's Daughter, and was absolutely thrilled to learn she had written a fourth book.
Hendricks sets her stories in some of my favorite locations (the Pacific Northwest) and places I'd love to visit (Santa Fe). She has also made mention of two small beach communities in Southern California (Del Mar and Leucadia), both of which are towns I've lived in. In addition to the great settings, Hendricks' culinary details are also of great appeal to this reader. I discovered and sampled a wonderful recipe for homemade bread in Bread Alone and found my mouth watering as I read the description of several baked items in The Laws of Harmony. Oh, how I wish she had included a recipe for her blackberry brownies!
After spending a couple of weeks cruising the San Juan Islands, I find myself drawn to books describing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Bread Alone and The Baker's Apprentice take place in Seattle, but this latest novel takes the reader out of the city and into a friendly community very much like those I encountered in the summer of 2007. I was immediately drawn into Sunny's life, eager to see what awaits her in Harmony on San Miguel Island. This location reminded me so strongly of Friday Harbor, that I found myself wondering if it was the basis for Hendricks' fictional community. Could her Ale House be the same as the similarly-named pub on the corner of Front Street (same street name!) in Friday Harbor? It really doesn't matter one way or another; I loved living vicariously through the characters' lives, reminded of my own experiences in the years I've visited that particular area. I could easily envision Sunny catching a ferry out of Seattle, serving customers an icy cold beer in the Ale House, hanging out with friends in a small independent bookstore, buying fresh seafood at the local fish market, and learning to ride a motorcycle on the windy country roads outside of town. At times, I found myself wishing to trade places with Sunny!
On ferry travel...
Everybody else rushes ahead, apparently knowing exactly where they want to sit. I follow the smell to the cafe, get myself a greasy bacon-and-egg sandwich and take it to an empty seat up front. The boat shudders with the exertions of the big engines as the pilings on either side of us begin to slide away and the window in front of me becomes a giant movie screen of water and sky.
All around me people eat and talk, read newspapers and kiss, play cards and pound on their laptops, oblivious to the gentle pitch of the boat and to the fantasy world just outside the windows—rippling blue-green water, rocky islands upholstered in conifers, shreds of mist. Each time I start to eat, there's something that distracts me, makes me pause with the sandwich halfway to my mouth—a perfect, toylike red lighthouse or a log cabin tucked into a secluded cove, or the white ellipse of a boat lying at anchor on a glassy bay. I star transfixed, finally forgetting about the sandwich.
I loved reading the detailed passage in which Sunny learns how to ride a small motorcycle for the very first time. My husband has come to own a few motorcycles in recent years and I only just recently rode as a passenger for the first time a little over a year ago. I have my own helmet and Kevlar-padded jacket, but I don't own a bike, nor have I ever ridden alone. And I wouldn't say that after reading the half dozen pages describing how to ride a motorcycle, I'm capable of hopping on a bike and riding off into the sunset. However, I do feel like I have a better understanding of how the clutch, throttle, shifter and brakes work on a motorcycle. As Sunny says, it's so illogical!
On riding a motorcycle - alone - for the first time...
"Feet up!" he yells, and the bike magically balances itself. It feels like flying. I hear myself laughing inside the helmet, like a little kid with the training wheels off for the first time. Suddenly I understand the thrill of this, and then almost as suddenly I see the driveway fast approaching. Shit! How do I brake? My mind's gone blank.
I love discovering new music, so I'm especially happy when an author incorporates real music into a narrative. Hendricks' main character listens to a CD entitled Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories), a Charlie Haden/Pat Metheny collaboration. It's a simple arrangement combining the music of an accoustic guitar and bass into soothing pieces. I've listened to the sample tracks and have decided I need to own this album.
After all this gushing, I do have one complaint. Even with 478 pages, this book simply wasn't long enough! As I turned that final page, I was sorry to see Sunny's story come to an end. While there weren't any holes in the plot, I felt there was more to reveal and I hope we haven't read the last of Sunny and her life on San Miguel Island. Either way, you can bet that The Laws of Harmony will be one of my favorite recommendations and that I'll eagerly await any news of a fifth book in the coming years!
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
Mary Doria Russell. Marisa de los Santos. Jeanne Ray. Rosamunde Pilcher. Barbara Kingsolver. Patricia Gaffney. Elizabeth Berg. Lorna Landvik. Jodi Picoult. What do these authors have in common with Judith Ryan Hendricks? Well, they're my favorite female authors and I've read nearly every single book they've written, most of which line the bookcases in my home. I've met a couple in person, have a few signed copies of their early novels, and have recently received ARCs of their latest works, accompanied by warm and chatty emails. These are the authors that bring great pleasure to my reading experience; the ones who thrill me when I learn they've written a new book; the ones I rave about to friends and customers; the ones who don't seem to write fast enough for me! ;)
I discovered Judith Ryan Hendricks several years ago when I happened upon her debut novel, Bread Alone. I don't recall anyone recommending the book to me, so I must've fallen for the cover art and blurb. I thoroughly enjoyed the book—so much so that I re-read it prior to reading the sequel (The Baker's Apprentice). I also loved Hendricks' stand-alone, Isabel's Daughter, and was absolutely thrilled to learn she had written a fourth book.
Hendricks sets her stories in some of my favorite locations (the Pacific Northwest) and places I'd love to visit (Santa Fe). She has also made mention of two small beach communities in Southern California (Del Mar and Leucadia), both of which are towns I've lived in. In addition to the great settings, Hendricks' culinary details are also of great appeal to this reader. I discovered and sampled a wonderful recipe for homemade bread in Bread Alone and found my mouth watering as I read the description of several baked items in The Laws of Harmony. Oh, how I wish she had included a recipe for her blackberry brownies!
After spending a couple of weeks cruising the San Juan Islands, I find myself drawn to books describing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Bread Alone and The Baker's Apprentice take place in Seattle, but this latest novel takes the reader out of the city and into a friendly community very much like those I encountered in the summer of 2007. I was immediately drawn into Sunny's life, eager to see what awaits her in Harmony on San Miguel Island. This location reminded me so strongly of Friday Harbor, that I found myself wondering if it was the basis for Hendricks' fictional community. Could her Ale House be the same as the similarly-named pub on the corner of Front Street (same street name!) in Friday Harbor? It really doesn't matter one way or another; I loved living vicariously through the characters' lives, reminded of my own experiences in the years I've visited that particular area. I could easily envision Sunny catching a ferry out of Seattle, serving customers an icy cold beer in the Ale House, hanging out with friends in a small independent bookstore, buying fresh seafood at the local fish market, and learning to ride a motorcycle on the windy country roads outside of town. At times, I found myself wishing to trade places with Sunny!
On ferry travel...
Everybody else rushes ahead, apparently knowing exactly where they want to sit. I follow the smell to the cafe, get myself a greasy bacon-and-egg sandwich and take it to an empty seat up front. The boat shudders with the exertions of the big engines as the pilings on either side of us begin to slide away and the window in front of me becomes a giant movie screen of water and sky.
All around me people eat and talk, read newspapers and kiss, play cards and pound on their laptops, oblivious to the gentle pitch of the boat and to the fantasy world just outside the windows—rippling blue-green water, rocky islands upholstered in conifers, shreds of mist. Each time I start to eat, there's something that distracts me, makes me pause with the sandwich halfway to my mouth—a perfect, toylike red lighthouse or a log cabin tucked into a secluded cove, or the white ellipse of a boat lying at anchor on a glassy bay. I star transfixed, finally forgetting about the sandwich.
I loved reading the detailed passage in which Sunny learns how to ride a small motorcycle for the very first time. My husband has come to own a few motorcycles in recent years and I only just recently rode as a passenger for the first time a little over a year ago. I have my own helmet and Kevlar-padded jacket, but I don't own a bike, nor have I ever ridden alone. And I wouldn't say that after reading the half dozen pages describing how to ride a motorcycle, I'm capable of hopping on a bike and riding off into the sunset. However, I do feel like I have a better understanding of how the clutch, throttle, shifter and brakes work on a motorcycle. As Sunny says, it's so illogical!
On riding a motorcycle - alone - for the first time...
"Feet up!" he yells, and the bike magically balances itself. It feels like flying. I hear myself laughing inside the helmet, like a little kid with the training wheels off for the first time. Suddenly I understand the thrill of this, and then almost as suddenly I see the driveway fast approaching. Shit! How do I brake? My mind's gone blank.
I love discovering new music, so I'm especially happy when an author incorporates real music into a narrative. Hendricks' main character listens to a CD entitled Beyond the Missouri Sky (Short Stories), a Charlie Haden/Pat Metheny collaboration. It's a simple arrangement combining the music of an accoustic guitar and bass into soothing pieces. I've listened to the sample tracks and have decided I need to own this album.
After all this gushing, I do have one complaint. Even with 478 pages, this book simply wasn't long enough! As I turned that final page, I was sorry to see Sunny's story come to an end. While there weren't any holes in the plot, I felt there was more to reveal and I hope we haven't read the last of Sunny and her life on San Miguel Island. Either way, you can bet that The Laws of Harmony will be one of my favorite recommendations and that I'll eagerly await any news of a fifth book in the coming years!
April 23, 2009
A patient at my work recommended this book to me. She had lots of good things to say- Said she writes like Barbara Kingsolver and you know I luv me some Barbara so I'm givin it a go.
This was a nice cozy read. She writes in a way that is easy and... comfortable. So easy to just get absorbed in a well told story; although I really didn't see a Kingsolver resemblance. Maybe because the main character is a strong independent woman??
The format was fresh- It had a strong mystery theme but somehow that came off secondary to the character's attempt to reconstruct her life in a new place. There were a few unexpected twists... It definitely was not predictable which I liked a lot. Also it was set on an island in the Pacific North West which is close to my heart.
I liked this one a lot and am looking forward to reading some of her other books
This was a nice cozy read. She writes in a way that is easy and... comfortable. So easy to just get absorbed in a well told story; although I really didn't see a Kingsolver resemblance. Maybe because the main character is a strong independent woman??
The format was fresh- It had a strong mystery theme but somehow that came off secondary to the character's attempt to reconstruct her life in a new place. There were a few unexpected twists... It definitely was not predictable which I liked a lot. Also it was set on an island in the Pacific North West which is close to my heart.
I liked this one a lot and am looking forward to reading some of her other books
Want to Read
March 15, 2009I have loved this author's books and am thrilled to get an advance reading copy of this. The book is due out in January. If you haven't read this author, try BREAD ALONE, a terrific relationship story set in a Seattle bakery.
June 2, 2018
I didn’t want this book to end.
November 20, 2023
Sweet storyline. A sequel perhaps? I want to know where their relationship ended with Sunny and her mother. Sunny was cheated of making lots of memories with her grandmother. Her relationship with her mom who seemed selfish all those years now enters her life and maybe could have turned a new leaf, but never got the chance to know. Leaves the reader wanting more.
February 12, 2018
Really enjoyed this book. Read it in two days.
May 16, 2021
It is a lovely book.. really but i wish there were more to conclude it.
July 15, 2023
I love this kind of “betrayed grief stricken woman must flee somewhere new to find herself” type of shit.
August 4, 2009
Sunny Cooper is a middle aged woman who does voice-over work and lives with her boyfriend, Michael, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Her relationship with Michael has been strained since she refused to marry him, but though they’re unhappy at least they have each other. Then Michael is killed in a mysterious auto accident and strangers start showing up at Sunny’s door, claiming that Michael was involved in a business scheme that cheated them out of money. Reeling with grief and unsure how to respond to these accusations, Sunny heads back to the New Mexico commune where she was raised. There she soon butts heads with her hippy mother and flees once again, ending up on San Miguel island in a little town called Harmony. Here she learns to live again and begins building friendships in unexpected places.
The title of this book comes from the townspeople of Harmony, who like to share “laws” with Sunny in an effort to help her adjust to her new home. Law # 1: Harmony is a town that’s hard to get to, even harder to leave, and everyone stays longer than they plan to. Law #2: When you need something, you just have to ask. The residents of Harmony are a mixed cast of warm and eccentric characters with an overbearing landlord and drunken fishmonger thrown in for good measure. Sunny has a hard time fitting in with the townspeople’s laid back, optimistic attitude, having spent the first eighteen years of her life on a commune surrounded by an ever-changing group of people. “Group work, group play, group meals… group sex, on occasion,” she tells one person, “Even our outhouse was a five-seater… It made me into the kind of person who thinks three people is a mob.” Little by little though, Sunny finds herself in Harmony.
“The Laws of Harmony” isn’t the sort of book I usually read and perhaps it’s for the reason I had a difficult time getting into the story. I loved Sunny, but at times there was so much going on that it was tough to keep track of what was a flashback and what was taking place in the present, who was a significant character and who wasn’t. That being said, Hendricks has a marvelous way with words. Sunny is the sort of woman who enjoys her food and cooks as a form of therapy, When she’s sad she stands “at the sink absently picking pieces of cold pasta out of a congealed Alfredo sauce and washing them down with room temperature white wine,” when she’s hopeful she works with pie dough, spreading sugared nuts over it, slashing steam vents in the top crust and brushing the whole thing with egg wash. Hendricks has an intuitive understanding of the connection between food and emotion, a talent that helped me connect with Sunny and often left my mouth watering.
Hendricks also has a knack for describing characters in a way that makes you see deeper into their nature For instance, she described the elusive Michael as a man “with an aura about him – daring, adventurous, carefree, almost joyful – but with darkness just under the surface. Like you could scratch him with your fingernail and fight something you might not really want to see.” For descriptions like this, I’ll definitely be checking out Hendricks’ other books.
The title of this book comes from the townspeople of Harmony, who like to share “laws” with Sunny in an effort to help her adjust to her new home. Law # 1: Harmony is a town that’s hard to get to, even harder to leave, and everyone stays longer than they plan to. Law #2: When you need something, you just have to ask. The residents of Harmony are a mixed cast of warm and eccentric characters with an overbearing landlord and drunken fishmonger thrown in for good measure. Sunny has a hard time fitting in with the townspeople’s laid back, optimistic attitude, having spent the first eighteen years of her life on a commune surrounded by an ever-changing group of people. “Group work, group play, group meals… group sex, on occasion,” she tells one person, “Even our outhouse was a five-seater… It made me into the kind of person who thinks three people is a mob.” Little by little though, Sunny finds herself in Harmony.
“The Laws of Harmony” isn’t the sort of book I usually read and perhaps it’s for the reason I had a difficult time getting into the story. I loved Sunny, but at times there was so much going on that it was tough to keep track of what was a flashback and what was taking place in the present, who was a significant character and who wasn’t. That being said, Hendricks has a marvelous way with words. Sunny is the sort of woman who enjoys her food and cooks as a form of therapy, When she’s sad she stands “at the sink absently picking pieces of cold pasta out of a congealed Alfredo sauce and washing them down with room temperature white wine,” when she’s hopeful she works with pie dough, spreading sugared nuts over it, slashing steam vents in the top crust and brushing the whole thing with egg wash. Hendricks has an intuitive understanding of the connection between food and emotion, a talent that helped me connect with Sunny and often left my mouth watering.
Hendricks also has a knack for describing characters in a way that makes you see deeper into their nature For instance, she described the elusive Michael as a man “with an aura about him – daring, adventurous, carefree, almost joyful – but with darkness just under the surface. Like you could scratch him with your fingernail and fight something you might not really want to see.” For descriptions like this, I’ll definitely be checking out Hendricks’ other books.
April 30, 2009
This is the story of Sunny Cooper who grew up in New Mexico on a commune. Her life was affected in many ways as she grew up in this environment both in positive and negative ways. A tragic event made a great impact on her life and as a reader you learn what this event is as Sunny confronts and faces this as an adult. As an adult, in her 30's, she is living in Albuquerque, and finds herself in a relationship with Michael and a best friend Betsy who both betray her in many different ways. Sunny makes a choice to pick up and start over somewhere else and ends up in the town of Harmony on San Miguel Island. She ends up with a new job, makes some wonderful new friends and even learns to ride a motorcycle. She learns she must confront her past to move forward and has an unexpected reunion with her estranged mother.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Laws of Harmony. I liked seeing how Sunny changes and grows as a character and reading about the details of her life growing up on a commune was very interesting. My favorite part of the book was Sunny's life in Harmony which sounds like a charming town with wonderful characters. Sunny made many friends that appear to be true and strong friends that truly care about her. Her mother, Gwen, is another interesting character and I liked how Ms. Hendricks explained why she chose to live her life and raise her family on a commune. It was very fascinating to read about this lifestyle and how it affected the whole family in many positive and negative ways. As a reader, it made me think about what a "normal" family is and that there really is not a "normal". It is different for everyone based on our experiences and what our family of origin and environment is like. I believe that it is what we make of those experiences that effect us as adults and how we choose to learn from them.
Read more of my review on my blog HERE.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Laws of Harmony. I liked seeing how Sunny changes and grows as a character and reading about the details of her life growing up on a commune was very interesting. My favorite part of the book was Sunny's life in Harmony which sounds like a charming town with wonderful characters. Sunny made many friends that appear to be true and strong friends that truly care about her. Her mother, Gwen, is another interesting character and I liked how Ms. Hendricks explained why she chose to live her life and raise her family on a commune. It was very fascinating to read about this lifestyle and how it affected the whole family in many positive and negative ways. As a reader, it made me think about what a "normal" family is and that there really is not a "normal". It is different for everyone based on our experiences and what our family of origin and environment is like. I believe that it is what we make of those experiences that effect us as adults and how we choose to learn from them.
Read more of my review on my blog HERE.
February 20, 2025
2 stars
First, I have to tell you that Isabelle's Daughter by the same author is one of my most favorite books. I've reread it several times. So I was really excited when I saw she had written another book. Hmmmm.... Basically it was a bummer. If you haven't read and loved her other books, this might just be an OK - it was goodish - kind of a read. But, I came to it with pretty high expectations.
spoiler alert
There was really nothing "wrong" with The Laws of Harmony. It just didn't grab me. I found the basic plot line implausible. Man fakes his own death, is a big crook, lover never knew a thing. I thought the narrator was likeable, but not loveable. And, I really didn't like the lack of resolution between she and her best friend. Worse, where's my happy ending!?!?!?!? Life it hard enough - books need a happy ending!
2/7/25 - knocking it down to one star
Well, if I had read this review, I wouldn't have reread this boring book. It's plotless, with no likeable character. Actually, I hated it. Bummer
First, I have to tell you that Isabelle's Daughter by the same author is one of my most favorite books. I've reread it several times. So I was really excited when I saw she had written another book. Hmmmm.... Basically it was a bummer. If you haven't read and loved her other books, this might just be an OK - it was goodish - kind of a read. But, I came to it with pretty high expectations.
spoiler alert
There was really nothing "wrong" with The Laws of Harmony. It just didn't grab me. I found the basic plot line implausible. Man fakes his own death, is a big crook, lover never knew a thing. I thought the narrator was likeable, but not loveable. And, I really didn't like the lack of resolution between she and her best friend. Worse, where's my happy ending!?!?!?!? Life it hard enough - books need a happy ending!
2/7/25 - knocking it down to one star
Well, if I had read this review, I wouldn't have reread this boring book. It's plotless, with no likeable character. Actually, I hated it. Bummer
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2010
For the most part I really enjoyed this book. Being from NM, I really enjoyed the NM references, especially being away from home is was like a nice little visit back to the state for me. Quite frankly, I wouldn't mind living on the NWestern island Sunny ends up on either. Hendricks' writing style is easy to read and follow. The book was rating a possible 4 stars for me but after a while I got a little weary of her reminiscing, although I still see where it was valuable to understand Sunny's character. Unfortunately, I think the background to Sunny's character ecentricites came a little too late in the book. By that time, I was getting annoyed and frustrated with her. If the events of Sunny's childhood had come out earlier in the book, I probably wouldn't have felt that annoyance. Also, I doubt if I would have resorted to skimming to many of her reminscences in the end. Despite that, I would still recommend this as a good beach read and look forward to a sequel. I think the author set the story up nicely for one.
September 27, 2011
A tale of a free spirited upbringing in a commune which Sunny leaves as soon as she is able. She believes she is happy and that her life is good and then things begin to spin out of control, her finance is killed in an automobile accident, after burying his charred remains Sunny discovers he had been having an affair, with her best friend, that he was a gambler who was deeply in debt and that he cheated investors out of thousands of dollars by laundering money through his start-up companies. Sunny sells everything she owns and essentially runs away from it all...just like she did the commune. Throughout her journey she makes many changes to her life ranging from her new job to learning to ride a motorcycle and accepting help from others. There are many other twists and turns that include reuniting with her estranged mother to help her figure out her past has impacted her present and where the future is leading.
This was a great story of love, family, relationships with a healthy dose of life tossed in.
This was a great story of love, family, relationships with a healthy dose of life tossed in.
July 8, 2009
I met the author of this book along with a couple of other female authors at an event at the Denver Public Library a couple of years ago (several years ago?). I bought one of her books there and ended up buying the other two shortly thereafter. Then this one around Christmastime. Her novels are easy to read, thoughtful, poetic, and best of all full of good food. I love when novels have food in them. Makes me think I need to add food to MY novel, but you know the whole "fat girl gets skinny" theme doesn't really gibe with a lot of food imagery. Except at the beginning, when she's chugging chocolate milk and eating Cheetos on the way to D.C. But enough about me--this Laws of Harmony is a good book. And I love the cover. That's the kind of outfit _I_ want to be wearing all the time, though I think I'd have to stop dying my hair for it really to look Authentic and Organic.
May 14, 2009
I really enjoyed this book .It was the first one I have read by this author and I love the way she incorporates food into the story seamlessly. I also feel that she creates her characters in such a way that you really like them even with all their flaws.
I also feel that she has a gift for crafting setting. the first part of the book takes place in the Southwest and the other part in the Northwest and in her desriptions of both places she captures them so well.
I want to try to make her prize winning brownies in the story.
This one I am sending along to Pamela and then on to Qult Granny if she would like.
I thank the publisher for letting me have an ARC of this book . I truly enjoyed it.
I also feel that she has a gift for crafting setting. the first part of the book takes place in the Southwest and the other part in the Northwest and in her desriptions of both places she captures them so well.
I want to try to make her prize winning brownies in the story.
This one I am sending along to Pamela and then on to Qult Granny if she would like.
I thank the publisher for letting me have an ARC of this book . I truly enjoyed it.
January 20, 2013
As always, Judi Hendricks excels at evoking setting and mood with sensory details--food, plants, landscape, music, humble dwellings. Both sun-baked New Mexico and the moss-drenched Puget Sound island seemed totally real and were thus lovely to read about. Though I zipped along through the book with interest to see what happened with many of the various twists and turns, I felt ultimately a bit frustrated by the ending. I guess I'm more of a romance-novel fan after all, and had higher hopes for some of the men in her life, but they largely turned out unreliable and problematic. Realistic, perhaps--and perhaps what makes it a work of "women's fiction" instead of romance. For the lovely writing and the occasional bursts of humor, though, I'll be happy to keep reading Hendricks in future.
September 14, 2012
This is the kind of book that makes me hate my Nook. After I finished the e-book, I thought it was so good that I had to buy the paper copy, a habit I can’t afford to keep up! Hendricks is my favorite kind of writer – she effortlessly combines the humorous and the, well I wouldn’t use the word dark, but the serious anyway. I truly loved following Sunny, the protagonist, as she pieced her life back together with no small amount of sass. I particularly liked that the characters’ growth was relatively subtle and organic and that they changed without losing any part of themselves. (I’m intentionally being vague so I don’t spoil anything.) Go read the first chapter online and just try not to get sucked in.
November 6, 2009
When I got to the last page I said to myself "This a great book." It is a truly human story and it gave me some major insights into my own life. I can't wait to go back through it and underline some key quotes and lines. I love a book that reminds me that life is good and that I am good too even if both of us have our flaws, ups and downs and unresolved issues.
February 14, 2018
I had read Judi's 'Bread Alone' series and loved it therefore, I was looking forward to reading more of her work. I found that from the start, this book was quite vague in describing the events that Soleil, or Sunny as she liked to be called, had gone through, or was going through in the present-day. The death of her sister, Mari, is only mentioned at times, with hardly any attention to how it had affected her in the present time. I also didn't like to hear about Sunny's life on the commune, it seemed mundane, and had no attachment to the present-day plot. Also, I wasn't too keen on the storyline with Michael and his debts, I found that it caused too much confusion, and also couldn't keep me entertained with the plot. When Sunny moved to Harmony, I would have hoped for her to form a bond with one or two of the residents there. However, I felt that each chapter found Sunny with someone new, not giving us the chance to see any depth in the friendships that she made. I also found that when Sunny met JT, there was absolutely no chemistry there, the story fell flat whenever he came into the picture. The ending was just awful, with no foreseeable future as to what happened to Sunny. Definitely not one of Judi's best works; hoping that her other books will be just as good as 'Bread Alone'.
July 3, 2024
I liked this book. I've never read this author before, but I like her style. The characters were well thought out and, for the most part, seemed believable. I had to fact check some of the details about living on a mesa in New Mexico and most of the things mentioned in the book seem to be plausible. Their were a few discrepancies -- it seems that an apple orchard is not realistic on top of a mesa -- and maybe it is that easy to track someone down using the internet? She didn't change bank information because of what she thought about Michael, so law enforcement, journalists, and everyone else was able to find her even though she moved as far from Albeqerque as she could.
I was a young adult in the 1970s and remember hearing about the communes in New Mexico. Most petered out fairly rapidly for lack of money and people wanting the drugs and sex but not the work required to keep the place running and everyone fed.
I may try another book by Judith Hendricks.
I was a young adult in the 1970s and remember hearing about the communes in New Mexico. Most petered out fairly rapidly for lack of money and people wanting the drugs and sex but not the work required to keep the place running and everyone fed.
I may try another book by Judith Hendricks.
November 1, 2021
I'm so picky about books & more so with audiobooks, I must borrow & discard 6 per week. As a first time with author, I stayed up reading this my eyes scratched & finished it in 24 hours. Yes, a good read, solid believable characters - not a 'chick lit' label I so dislike & only pickup by error.
This young woman is not middle aged, unless she only lives to 50 might one refer to Sunny in such a manner. She's had enough good sense to get an education, is struggling with relationships and sadly deceived by both the men & women in this tale of courage. Many people have uni degree, still struggle with life choices, sometimes into their 'later years'. Her struggles are just beginning.
The thoughts of warm New Mexican sun, hearing the wind in the pinons made me envious.
This young woman is not middle aged, unless she only lives to 50 might one refer to Sunny in such a manner. She's had enough good sense to get an education, is struggling with relationships and sadly deceived by both the men & women in this tale of courage. Many people have uni degree, still struggle with life choices, sometimes into their 'later years'. Her struggles are just beginning.
The thoughts of warm New Mexican sun, hearing the wind in the pinons made me envious.
October 16, 2018
I have read four of the five Judith Hendricks books...this is my second favorite behind Bread Alone.
Sunny is an insecure woman who makes mistakes, has a difficult relationship with her mother, and was in love with a man who turns out to not be the knight in shining armor. She picks up from her home after his disappearance and restarts life in a completely different place than the New Mexico Mesa. Interesting to watch her grow up and figure out what is important to her and I can imagine her clearly fighting to make ends meet.
I love the writing and I find it so relaxing to read Hendrick’s books. I can only hope to read more!
Sunny is an insecure woman who makes mistakes, has a difficult relationship with her mother, and was in love with a man who turns out to not be the knight in shining armor. She picks up from her home after his disappearance and restarts life in a completely different place than the New Mexico Mesa. Interesting to watch her grow up and figure out what is important to her and I can imagine her clearly fighting to make ends meet.
I love the writing and I find it so relaxing to read Hendrick’s books. I can only hope to read more!
January 14, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It was easy to feel for Sunny as nothing in her life was easy or even remotely normal. It really speaks to how damaging the hippie commune lifestyle could be to the innocent children. If only the grandparents could have raised the children, they might have had a future but the selfishness of the hippie parents instead of providing a utopian experience, exposed the children to immorality and lawlessness. The reader has to cheer for Sunny as she keeps persevering despite the setbacks and stands strong to fight another day.
August 27, 2019
A wonderful, rich, multifaceted read! This is my favorite kind of novel -- a woman leaves her unworkable situation and begins a new life in an interesting, atmospheric place we'd all enjoy getting to know better through the story. She discovers reservoirs of inner strength she didn't know she had, makes new friends, and has at least some romantic possibilities.
October 14, 2020
This book was such a wonderful surprise. I've had it for about 6 years in my tbr pile (I know, I didn't have much time to read for a bit) I think it's the first time that I've squealed out load reading a book! I identify so much with Sunny. I wish there was a second part to this... like another reviewer mentioned, some storyline were unfinished so it'd be great to delve deeper into those.
December 9, 2020
An easy, enjoyable read, except for 2 instances of blatant partisanship (the horror that her unborn child would grow up to be either a terrorist or a Republican, and 'the woman's right to choose' regarding abortion. Other than that, Ms. Hendricks writes well. Her sense of place was a nice escapist journey.
October 2, 2023
What can I say - I love all of Judi Hedrick's books, and have read this one at least 3 times, because I just love the story, and want to be Sunny. I had the paperback once, and gave it away to a charity shop. Within a year I had to buy one online as I missed having it on my bookshelf. It's like a big hug to read, and I can lose myself in the story and forget about the world for a while.
March 25, 2024
Every once in a while life hands you a gift when you need it the most. This book was a very unexpected surprise for me - and a much needed one. A book about acceptance, forgiveness (especially to yourself) and a look into the beauty of life and friendship. This book has given me some new perspectives and also just the simple pleasure of reading a very good book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews