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Those We Leave Behind: The Cruelest Crop
Set in the depression era rural mid-south, Those We Leave Behind is the story of a man and his family, struggling to hold on to the past while dealing with the present.
When Ellie Felts dies suddenly during childbirth, her husband Harley and their children are faced with trying to keep their family alive after losing the heart of it.
The story follows the Felts clan through their long period of grief and mourning, through their agonizing recovery, to their eventual healing, with the unexpected help of a stranger, as they discover that love can never be lost, it can only change form.“A well-paced, cleverly plotted novel. Particularly impressive is the way Winters fully portrays even supporting characters. A finely crafted story that offers numerous rewards; from its authentic portrait of time and place to its realistic look at how members of one family struggle to integrate a troubled past into a hopeful future. Readers will savor the journey.”
BlueInk Starred Review
“Winters is an eloquent storyteller and skilled at drawing out suspense and adding twists just when readers think that know what will happen next. A captivating mix of heartbreak, high action, and hope, with memorable characters.”
Kirkus Reviews
“In John Scott Winters’s poignant novel Those We Leave Behind, a farmer and his children try to find meaning in their lives after a sudden loss. The opening chapters set a poetic tone, following Harley as he digs a hole near a tree on his property. Those We Leave Behind is a moving novel in which a grieving family pursues healing, love, and joy.”
John M. Murray, Clarion Review
When Ellie Felts dies suddenly during childbirth, her husband Harley and their children are faced with trying to keep their family alive after losing the heart of it.
The story follows the Felts clan through their long period of grief and mourning, through their agonizing recovery, to their eventual healing, with the unexpected help of a stranger, as they discover that love can never be lost, it can only change form.“A well-paced, cleverly plotted novel. Particularly impressive is the way Winters fully portrays even supporting characters. A finely crafted story that offers numerous rewards; from its authentic portrait of time and place to its realistic look at how members of one family struggle to integrate a troubled past into a hopeful future. Readers will savor the journey.”
BlueInk Starred Review
“Winters is an eloquent storyteller and skilled at drawing out suspense and adding twists just when readers think that know what will happen next. A captivating mix of heartbreak, high action, and hope, with memorable characters.”
Kirkus Reviews
“In John Scott Winters’s poignant novel Those We Leave Behind, a farmer and his children try to find meaning in their lives after a sudden loss. The opening chapters set a poetic tone, following Harley as he digs a hole near a tree on his property. Those We Leave Behind is a moving novel in which a grieving family pursues healing, love, and joy.”
John M. Murray, Clarion Review
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 19, 2022
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 8, 2023
Good story, but end dragged and there was so much overuse of the word "wink" that I was surprised that the water moccasin didn't wink at Harley.
Displaying 1 of 1 review