Simple Gifts

by Joanne Greenberg

Trade Size Hardcover with Dustjacket. 198 pages. A Novel about the misadventures of the Fleuris, a Family of Poor but engaging Misfits who live on a remote Colorado Ranch. Jacket Cover Painting by Richard Mantel.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Joanne Greenberg, also known as Hannah Green, is a writer whose style lends itself to the mature reader yet simultaneously presents themes suitable for all ages. Greenberg addresses the persistent doubts that plague all of us by relating stories of others in need. Though the scenarios in which her characters find themselves may be unfamiliar to the average reader, the emotions they feel while enmeshed in the plotlines are universal in appeal and scope. Her works include magazine publications, short stories, novels, and a movie adaptation of her book, I Never Promised You a Rose Garden.

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely read, funny and sad and realistic. The Flueris are taken in by a government program which they hope will solve their financial problems. The very name - SCELP, Social, Cultural and Ethnic Life Placement Program - should have made them suspicious but they had no previous experience with this sort of thing.

The head of the family, Akin Fleuri has narcolepsy. I had never heard of it before and no one in the family was aware that it is a medical condition so they were embarrassed by it and tried to hide it.

This is not a happy-ever-after story nor a sad-and-devastating-ending story, but it is a kind and loving story of a family doing the best they can and taking care of each other. (less)

[Cat. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the back mountains of Colorado, although it could have been placed anywhere scenic. About a new government program that pays people to regress into an interesting time period and serve as hosts to paying visitors who what to see what life was really like "back then."

This particular family needs the money, but they also have a secret (i.e. illegal) herd of Texas longhorns and a still. These have been their sole sources of income heretofore, and they are loathe to give them up.

Funny, and sad: about lack of communication and how self-esteem can change your life even as an adult.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I opted to save it by checking it out from the library's "last chance" shelf, and I chose it because it was based in Colorado and the narrative was written from the perspective of multiple characters. It was a nice little read during a long, long drive to northern Minnesota.

[Cws]

F Gre

[Marcie]

Nor rated because I can't remember if I read this and I have no record of when or where in the 98-99 schoolyear we discussed it.