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Solomon's Oak #1
Solomon's Oak
Solomon's Oak is the story of three people who have suffered losses that changed their lives forever.
Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her Central California farm. She makes ends meet by hosting weddings in the chapel her husband had built under their two-hundred-year-old white oak tree, known locally as Solomon's Oak. Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep, pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband Dan was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone. Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.
In Jo-Ann Mapson's deeply felt, wise, and gritty novel, these three broken souls will find in each other an unexpected comfort, the bond of friendship, and a second chance to see the miracles of everyday life.
Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her Central California farm. She makes ends meet by hosting weddings in the chapel her husband had built under their two-hundred-year-old white oak tree, known locally as Solomon's Oak. Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep, pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband Dan was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone. Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.
In Jo-Ann Mapson's deeply felt, wise, and gritty novel, these three broken souls will find in each other an unexpected comfort, the bond of friendship, and a second chance to see the miracles of everyday life.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
98 people are currently reading
1643 people want to read
About the author
Jo-Ann Mapson
32 books180 followersJo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odd jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed novels Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe."The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has said. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a California canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's landscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Southwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; after growing up in California and living for a time in Arizona and NewMexico, Mapson lives today in Costa Mesa, California. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence of Wallace Stegner.Like many of her characters, Mapson has ridden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Appaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "that the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the same thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding there is a term called `the moment of suspension,' when you're over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myself up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that right, everything fell into place."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 419 reviews
October 27, 2012
It was an enjoyable book, except for the lame use of Spanish all over the book. The Spanish that many of the characters used in between their sentences was wrong. I don't mean that it wasn't proper Spanish, I mean that it was painfully obvious that the author AND the editors had no knowledge whatsoever of Spanish. This made the reading very annoying for me, being bilingual.
February 22, 2024
Glory Solomon's life turned upside sown when her husband Dan died, almost a year earlier.
She is trying to stay out of debt, when a call came in to keep a foster child when she was cooking a Thanksgiving dinner and getting ready to host a Pirate style wedding in her yard, near the Giant Oak tree that stood on her property for well over 200 years.
Through trial and error and many heartaches Glory was happy with her foster daughter Juniper and the photographer Joseph Vigil.
Their lives were changed forever.
She is trying to stay out of debt, when a call came in to keep a foster child when she was cooking a Thanksgiving dinner and getting ready to host a Pirate style wedding in her yard, near the Giant Oak tree that stood on her property for well over 200 years.
Through trial and error and many heartaches Glory was happy with her foster daughter Juniper and the photographer Joseph Vigil.
Their lives were changed forever.
Read
May 5, 2023"The chapel had been Dan's final project. One summer morning over his oatmeal he'd said, "I've got a bug to build myself a chapel. Nothing fancy, just a place to worship out of the rain." Page 9
Thanksgiving day, the oldest white oak tree on the Solomon property, a chapel built by Dan Solomon, a wedding, and now a foster child dealing with grief just like Glory Solomon.
Glory had to do something since Dan died...her savings was gone, and her part-time job didn't really pay the bills.
One day she was asked/begged if a wedding and a reception could be held in the chapel that Dan had built. Glory hesitated and then decided the $3,000 she would get would definitely help pay the bills that were mounting. The wedding party wanted a Thanksgiving dinner and also a reception with a pirate theme and a sword fight.
The wedding was a huge success and brought a few surprises as well.....a former policeman who happened to be photographing the oak tree and a new foster child that unknown to Glory had some connection to her family dog. The connection was too close to home, and Juniper wasn't going to be too bad to have around or so she thought, so Glory told Caroline she would keep the new foster child.
Joseph the policeman was also pretty interesting...his grandmother had lived a few miles down the road from Glory when Joseph was a child, and he remembered the oak trees of California and especially the one on the Solomon property.
Solomon's Oak told the life stories of the three main characters who definitely fit and worked well together even though the connection was through their misfortunes. The book was a cozy read for me...family life, real-life situations, talents we all have hiding inside and waiting to emerge, and just plain heartfelt warmth in the book.
You will fall in love with Glory, Juniper will drive you crazy, and Joseph's patience will amaze you.
Enjoy the book....I definitely did. Solomon’s Oak was very touching….it will make you smile, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will restore your faith in mankind’s goodness.
5/5
Thanksgiving day, the oldest white oak tree on the Solomon property, a chapel built by Dan Solomon, a wedding, and now a foster child dealing with grief just like Glory Solomon.
Glory had to do something since Dan died...her savings was gone, and her part-time job didn't really pay the bills.
One day she was asked/begged if a wedding and a reception could be held in the chapel that Dan had built. Glory hesitated and then decided the $3,000 she would get would definitely help pay the bills that were mounting. The wedding party wanted a Thanksgiving dinner and also a reception with a pirate theme and a sword fight.
The wedding was a huge success and brought a few surprises as well.....a former policeman who happened to be photographing the oak tree and a new foster child that unknown to Glory had some connection to her family dog. The connection was too close to home, and Juniper wasn't going to be too bad to have around or so she thought, so Glory told Caroline she would keep the new foster child.
Joseph the policeman was also pretty interesting...his grandmother had lived a few miles down the road from Glory when Joseph was a child, and he remembered the oak trees of California and especially the one on the Solomon property.
Solomon's Oak told the life stories of the three main characters who definitely fit and worked well together even though the connection was through their misfortunes. The book was a cozy read for me...family life, real-life situations, talents we all have hiding inside and waiting to emerge, and just plain heartfelt warmth in the book.
You will fall in love with Glory, Juniper will drive you crazy, and Joseph's patience will amaze you.
Enjoy the book....I definitely did. Solomon’s Oak was very touching….it will make you smile, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will restore your faith in mankind’s goodness.
5/5
December 2, 2010
Against the backdrop of a gorgeous Central California Coastal town, this story begins with an historic moment in the past: a man, his wife, and his daughter are set to partake of the golden riches of the new land when tragedy strikes in the form of a swollen Nacimiento River.
From there we open on another world, in another century, and a woman named Glory Solomon, whose life and joy have centered on this land and near this huge white oak tree named Solomon's Oak. Here she had shared a wonderful time with her husband Dan—until he abruptly and unexpectedly died.
Putting her life and her finances back together in the year afterwards comes to be her biggest challenge yet. But near the old oak tree is a small chapel her husband built. And an unconventional couple pleads with Glory to allow them to have their "pirates wedding" there. From this beginning, a new business of hosting weddings for unconventional couples is born.
And on that first day, she meets two other damaged souls: Juniper McGuire, a broken teen, abandoned by her family and the plight that took them under; and ex-cop Joseph Vigil, wounded and still in critical pain, who drops onto the scene unexpectedly to photograph the oak tree.
Juniper is Glory's latest foster child (and first girl), and even though they almost immediately connect, there is so much trouble on the horizon. Will Glory be able to improve this girl's life without taking herself down too? And what will the newly developing bond between her and Joseph bring into their lives? And how will Glory's rescue dogs and horses add or subtract from the scene?
Watching Glory's struggles with Juniper was the most enjoyable part of the story to me. And while the somewhat predictable romance brewing between Glory and Joseph felt like something that could and even should happen, I didn't really "feel" any chemistry between them. To me, it just seemed like one of those plot points that was tossed in there to give Glory something to help her move on. Which is why I deducted one star.
What I loved most about "Solomon's Oak: A Novel" was the descriptive language that brought the oak tree alive until I could almost see it bending over the people in its wake, as if it were some kind of warm, embracing, and spiritual presence.
A four star read that is sure to captivate many, "Solomon's Oak: A Novel" was definitely an unforgettable read.
From there we open on another world, in another century, and a woman named Glory Solomon, whose life and joy have centered on this land and near this huge white oak tree named Solomon's Oak. Here she had shared a wonderful time with her husband Dan—until he abruptly and unexpectedly died.
Putting her life and her finances back together in the year afterwards comes to be her biggest challenge yet. But near the old oak tree is a small chapel her husband built. And an unconventional couple pleads with Glory to allow them to have their "pirates wedding" there. From this beginning, a new business of hosting weddings for unconventional couples is born.
And on that first day, she meets two other damaged souls: Juniper McGuire, a broken teen, abandoned by her family and the plight that took them under; and ex-cop Joseph Vigil, wounded and still in critical pain, who drops onto the scene unexpectedly to photograph the oak tree.
Juniper is Glory's latest foster child (and first girl), and even though they almost immediately connect, there is so much trouble on the horizon. Will Glory be able to improve this girl's life without taking herself down too? And what will the newly developing bond between her and Joseph bring into their lives? And how will Glory's rescue dogs and horses add or subtract from the scene?
Watching Glory's struggles with Juniper was the most enjoyable part of the story to me. And while the somewhat predictable romance brewing between Glory and Joseph felt like something that could and even should happen, I didn't really "feel" any chemistry between them. To me, it just seemed like one of those plot points that was tossed in there to give Glory something to help her move on. Which is why I deducted one star.
What I loved most about "Solomon's Oak: A Novel" was the descriptive language that brought the oak tree alive until I could almost see it bending over the people in its wake, as if it were some kind of warm, embracing, and spiritual presence.
A four star read that is sure to captivate many, "Solomon's Oak: A Novel" was definitely an unforgettable read.
October 24, 2014
Original review found at: http://awesomebooknuts.blogspot.com/
SPOILERS
I enjoyed reading this book, but I thought I would enjoy it more. It is an easy, well written novel that follows the lives of three individuals whose lives intertwine in interesting ways.
Glory Solomon is a widow coming up on the first anniversary of her late husband’s death. She is asked by a couple if they can have their wedding at the chapel that her husband finished building shortly before his death. She accepts after she discovers the reason that the couple has been turned down by every other church is that they want a pirate themed ceremony.
Meanwhile, Glory is asked by social worker/friend Caroline (whose motives become known later in the book) if she can host a troubled 14 year old named Juniper for the night until she can find a “forever home” for the girl. Glory hesitantly agrees.
During the aforementioned pirate nuptials, former forensic lab worker Joseph Vigil is taking pictures of the famed Solomon’s Oak when he sees a duel during the ceremony and his police instinct kicks in. He crashes the wedding and draws his gun, demanding that the dueling swordsmen drop their weapons. Glory quickly cuts in and explains that it is all part of the ceremony and calms the situation. Joseph, now embarrassed, holsters his gun and apologizes for his instinct overtaking him. Fortunately for Glory, whose camera isn’t working, Joseph agrees to take pictures of the ceremony in exchange for a plate of leftovers to take home.
From there, Glory, Juniper, and Joseph’s lives are brought together in interesting ways. Glory struggles to form a relationship with Juniper, whom she truly believes in and wants to help, but can't seem to get a grasp on it. Joseph becomes an unlikely hero, if you will, in the situation and helps bring Juniper and Glory together and closer than they would've imagined.
As I said, I thought this book would be better. Don’t get me wrong, it is good, just not as good as I was expecting. The historical tidbits are accurate, the writing is great, and the ending is very fitting and a great conclusion, but my expectations were higher.
SPOILERS
I enjoyed reading this book, but I thought I would enjoy it more. It is an easy, well written novel that follows the lives of three individuals whose lives intertwine in interesting ways.
Glory Solomon is a widow coming up on the first anniversary of her late husband’s death. She is asked by a couple if they can have their wedding at the chapel that her husband finished building shortly before his death. She accepts after she discovers the reason that the couple has been turned down by every other church is that they want a pirate themed ceremony.
Meanwhile, Glory is asked by social worker/friend Caroline (whose motives become known later in the book) if she can host a troubled 14 year old named Juniper for the night until she can find a “forever home” for the girl. Glory hesitantly agrees.
During the aforementioned pirate nuptials, former forensic lab worker Joseph Vigil is taking pictures of the famed Solomon’s Oak when he sees a duel during the ceremony and his police instinct kicks in. He crashes the wedding and draws his gun, demanding that the dueling swordsmen drop their weapons. Glory quickly cuts in and explains that it is all part of the ceremony and calms the situation. Joseph, now embarrassed, holsters his gun and apologizes for his instinct overtaking him. Fortunately for Glory, whose camera isn’t working, Joseph agrees to take pictures of the ceremony in exchange for a plate of leftovers to take home.
From there, Glory, Juniper, and Joseph’s lives are brought together in interesting ways. Glory struggles to form a relationship with Juniper, whom she truly believes in and wants to help, but can't seem to get a grasp on it. Joseph becomes an unlikely hero, if you will, in the situation and helps bring Juniper and Glory together and closer than they would've imagined.
As I said, I thought this book would be better. Don’t get me wrong, it is good, just not as good as I was expecting. The historical tidbits are accurate, the writing is great, and the ending is very fitting and a great conclusion, but my expectations were higher.
October 22, 2010
Another beautiful book from Jo-Ann Mapson! Solomon's Oak is an ancient white oak, growing in California, where no white oak should be able to grow. When Glory Solomon is widowed at an early age she unwittingly becomes its caretaker. Her new foster daughter, Juniper, arrives just as Glory is hosting her first wedding in the chapel her husband built under its branches. Close on Juniper's heels comes Joesph, an injured cop who is there to photograph the famous tree. Together, the three of them will weave a story of healing under the patient gaze of the ancient tree.
I absolutely fell in love with this book from the very beginning! The background is laid with rich California history, it is fleshed out with flawed, realistic, deeply felt characters, and finished off with a perfectly paced plot. I was especially impressed with the rendering of Juniper, a deeply troubled teenage girl. Jo-Ann Mapson gets just right the fierce emotions, hot and cold temper, striking intelligence and complete lack of common sense that is a teenage girl. Everything that is infuriating and lovable is there. She also perfectly captured how three emotionally wounded people can together pull each other out of the pain and find the way back into life. Sorry if I'm gushing, but I loved this book! Arguably one of Jo-Ann Mapson's best!
I absolutely fell in love with this book from the very beginning! The background is laid with rich California history, it is fleshed out with flawed, realistic, deeply felt characters, and finished off with a perfectly paced plot. I was especially impressed with the rendering of Juniper, a deeply troubled teenage girl. Jo-Ann Mapson gets just right the fierce emotions, hot and cold temper, striking intelligence and complete lack of common sense that is a teenage girl. Everything that is infuriating and lovable is there. She also perfectly captured how three emotionally wounded people can together pull each other out of the pain and find the way back into life. Sorry if I'm gushing, but I loved this book! Arguably one of Jo-Ann Mapson's best!
August 23, 2011
Mapson is an author I turn to like comfort food when I get tired of rich fare. Her chaaracters are real people with flaws, ones you can love and appreciate.
In Solomon's Oak, Glory is a grieving widow whose's part-time job at Target might provide just enough money to get by--if she didn't take in strays. Glory and her husband of ten years had fostered teenaged boys, whome they loved and sent on their way better prepared for life. She also fosters dogs, that she loves and trains for a permanent home. Why not? The dogs don't eat as much as her horses, they have space to run, and they help take Glory's mind off her loss.
Glory's already short of time, money, and energy, when she agrees to foster a teenage girl--a troubled vulnerable girl who lies--but Glory won't say no. She starts a wedding business to help with the bills; she can cook and organize but she's no good with a camera.
Luckily for all involved, Joseph, an amateur photographer, is visiting from Albuquerque to take ictures of California trees, one of which, the Solomon oak is on Glory's property. But Joseph is also an injured cop, slowly recuperating, and planning to leave soon. Is he the man for Glory or is Joseph another stray?
Maspson has an excellent back list too; all are recommended for readers who want a well-written, intelligent, cointemporary romance and friendship story.
In Solomon's Oak, Glory is a grieving widow whose's part-time job at Target might provide just enough money to get by--if she didn't take in strays. Glory and her husband of ten years had fostered teenaged boys, whome they loved and sent on their way better prepared for life. She also fosters dogs, that she loves and trains for a permanent home. Why not? The dogs don't eat as much as her horses, they have space to run, and they help take Glory's mind off her loss.
Glory's already short of time, money, and energy, when she agrees to foster a teenage girl--a troubled vulnerable girl who lies--but Glory won't say no. She starts a wedding business to help with the bills; she can cook and organize but she's no good with a camera.
Luckily for all involved, Joseph, an amateur photographer, is visiting from Albuquerque to take ictures of California trees, one of which, the Solomon oak is on Glory's property. But Joseph is also an injured cop, slowly recuperating, and planning to leave soon. Is he the man for Glory or is Joseph another stray?
Maspson has an excellent back list too; all are recommended for readers who want a well-written, intelligent, cointemporary romance and friendship story.
May 10, 2020
A decent read but not particularly enthralling. Ending sort of fell off a cliff. First 1/3rd of the book was such a long progression of character develooment and backstory and then last third saw much of the story happen with little depth of emotional insightto those characters. Not a book I would suggest to a friend
...but will read sequel of its at my library for more closure.
...but will read sequel of its at my library for more closure.
February 17, 2012
A book about famliy dynamics and the forming of new relationships. The theme of abuse and abduction of children nearly hit the limit of my comfort level, but I did manage to finish the book.
Also need the authors recipe for twice-baked potato casserole!
Also need the authors recipe for twice-baked potato casserole!
July 29, 2012
loved this book. I couldn't put it down ..well written, realistic ending, very engaging. I stayed up late to read it and got ul early to read it. looking forward to reading more from this author
June 30, 2021
This was an awesome book that I could not put down. It was an engrossing story. The three main characters were very well developed and the many animals were also described with each having their own distant personality. Three "broken" people are intertwined and most of the animals were rescues. You can't help but cheer them on!
November 4, 2019
I really loved this quiet little book about three broken people who find each other in exactly the right moment. It's beautifully written and I felt fully immersed in this world. The characters are three dimensional and fully realized, and it all felt very believable and real.
March 13, 2019
This is a nice easy book to read and I enjoyed it.
September 1, 2020
Great read. Really liked all of the characters. They felt very real and relatable. Looking forward to reading another Jo-Ann Mapson novel.
October 18, 2022
It started well but meandered and seemed to be lacking key details at points.
November 9, 2011
Solomon's Oak - the words alone invoke strength and character...photographers come from miles away to capture the beauty of the lovely, huge White oak that sits on Solomon's farm in California, where White Oaks should never grow. Glory Solomon, now a widow, owns the farm where once her and her beloved husband took in foster boys and taught them to be kind, responsible men. Now alone with only her horses and dogs, Glory is faced with the dilemma of possibly losing the farm. On top of all this worry and grief, she is ask to foster a teenage girl, angry, broken 14 year old Juniper McGuire with her own passel of problems and Glory has trouble, even under the circumstances, saying no. When a couple approaches her with a crazy idea of hosting a pirate wedding under the famous oak, Glory runs with it - baking, preparing food, and decorating the small chapel her husband had built - all with a pirate theme. Unlucky for a her, a former policeman (with a body and a mind full of pain), Joseph happens to arrive when the "pirates" are at their worst - with guns and swords drawn! On the other hand, lucky for Glory, he also has his camera and is willing to take photos for Glory of the fun, wild wedding. Will Solomon's Oak shelter and mend all three heartbroken souls?
Real life characters with real, gritty life problems. You will cry with Glory, Juniper, and Joseph, but laugh with Glory's zany friend, store owner Lorna.
You may wonder at the beginning to this novel, but loose threads will be tied in the end.
Real life characters with real, gritty life problems. You will cry with Glory, Juniper, and Joseph, but laugh with Glory's zany friend, store owner Lorna.
You may wonder at the beginning to this novel, but loose threads will be tied in the end.
March 23, 2011
Liked the characters - a new widow, a foster child, a retired policeman - great relationships.
Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her Central California farm. Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep, pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband Dan was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone. Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.
In Jo-Ann Mapson's deeply felt, wise, and gritty novel, these three broken souls will find in each other an unexpected comfort, the bond of friendship, and a second chance to see the miracles of everyday life.
Glory Solomon, a young widow, holds tight to her memories while she struggles to hold on to her Central California farm. Fourteen-year-old Juniper McGuire is the lone survivor of a family decimated by her sister's disappearance. She arrives on Glory's doorstep, pierced, tattooed, angry, and homeless. When Glory's husband Dan was alive, they took in foster children, but Juniper may be more than she can handle alone. Joseph Vigil is a former Albuquerque police officer and crime lab photographer who was shot during a meth lab bust that took the life of his best friend. Now disabled and in constant pain, he arrives in California to fulfill his dream of photographing the state's giant trees, including Solomon's Oak.
In Jo-Ann Mapson's deeply felt, wise, and gritty novel, these three broken souls will find in each other an unexpected comfort, the bond of friendship, and a second chance to see the miracles of everyday life.
June 5, 2012
I really found Jo-Ann Mapson's book Solomon's Oak to be a great read. The characters are wonderfully developed and the struggles rang true. Glory is struggling through her first year as a widow and adjusting to her new realities and trying to start a new business. She becomes a sole foster mother, a role she has extensive experience in while she was married but this time the child is a girl and she is going it alone. Juniper, the foster child has a voice that rings true for children who have seen too much sorrow and abandonment. Joseph is recovering from a police shooting and from losing his long time best friend. He is in California to spend some time in his grandmother's cabin to reconnect before it is demolished to make way for a new development. These three characters are able to connect after significant effort and mis-steps. I was happy to spend some time with them and see the connections grow. I am not much of dog person but this book would certainly appeal to someone who loves animals as they play a supporting role that shapes the novel.
March 25, 2011
The characters were wonderful--almost too good to be true. And the plot was compelling, though there were probably too many coincidences, such as the fact that the heroine becomes the foster mother to the sister of a missing person whose dog lives at Solomon's Oak. And how did she become a foster mother without going through months of red tape, especially in California?
I have enjoyed other books by this author, but somehow the writing wasn't quite good enough to rate 4 stars. It had a thrown-together quality. Nevertheless, it certainly qualifies as a good read, especially for "chick lit" fans. I liked it much better than Michael Cunningham's "By Nightfall," a highly acclaimed novel, which I read last week. That book was beautifully written, but populated by self-absorbed people about whom it was hard to care.
I have enjoyed other books by this author, but somehow the writing wasn't quite good enough to rate 4 stars. It had a thrown-together quality. Nevertheless, it certainly qualifies as a good read, especially for "chick lit" fans. I liked it much better than Michael Cunningham's "By Nightfall," a highly acclaimed novel, which I read last week. That book was beautifully written, but populated by self-absorbed people about whom it was hard to care.
July 25, 2012
I finished reading Solomon's Oak this evening, and on the whole I did enjoy the story. The story is pretty slow to start, with a gentle introduction to each character, and although the pace never becomes particularly fast, the characters develop wonderfully.
Although recommended by Jodi Picoult, Jo-Ann Mapson's writing and style is really not similar to Picoult at all. This didn't put me off, but some readers may be looking for a similar genre and be disappointed.
The three main characters; Glory, Juniper and Joseph take turns to narrate the story, which is basically a small-town tale about three people who are very different, but have sadness and loss in common. Throw in some rescue dogs with gigantic characters of their own and a cast of supporting characters, a wedding chapel and some tasty sounding food and you are left with a heart-warming, well written story.
Although recommended by Jodi Picoult, Jo-Ann Mapson's writing and style is really not similar to Picoult at all. This didn't put me off, but some readers may be looking for a similar genre and be disappointed.
The three main characters; Glory, Juniper and Joseph take turns to narrate the story, which is basically a small-town tale about three people who are very different, but have sadness and loss in common. Throw in some rescue dogs with gigantic characters of their own and a cast of supporting characters, a wedding chapel and some tasty sounding food and you are left with a heart-warming, well written story.
August 26, 2014
Jo-Ann Mapson is one of my favorite authors.
The plot of this book was slow to develop, but once it got started it was another great story.
Glory Solomon is a recent widow. She and her husband had ran a small farm and raised foster boys, among other things. In one of their meadows is a big, old, beautiful oak tre...Solomon's oak. Glory's husband had built a small chapel before he died. Someone asks if they have their wedding there and thus begins a new business for Glory. During the first wedding at the chapel, a man is taking picture of Solomon's Oak. Glory's camera fails and the man helps takes wedding pictures. Also on this day, social services calls and asks Glory to take 14 year old girl,who has many issues. Juniper brings joy but great challenges. Glory doesn't know if she is up to raising this girl.
The plot of this book was slow to develop, but once it got started it was another great story.
Glory Solomon is a recent widow. She and her husband had ran a small farm and raised foster boys, among other things. In one of their meadows is a big, old, beautiful oak tre...Solomon's oak. Glory's husband had built a small chapel before he died. Someone asks if they have their wedding there and thus begins a new business for Glory. During the first wedding at the chapel, a man is taking picture of Solomon's Oak. Glory's camera fails and the man helps takes wedding pictures. Also on this day, social services calls and asks Glory to take 14 year old girl,who has many issues. Juniper brings joy but great challenges. Glory doesn't know if she is up to raising this girl.
February 21, 2013
A Hallmark-ish book with few surprises and unexciting writing. I was tempted to quit, but there was a cattle dog in it and I'm a cattle dog fan. A 15-y-o girl whose sister disappeared (while with said dog) some years ago is placed with a widow (of 8-9 months) who fostered boys while her husband was living.
She herself has an antagonistic relationship with her own sister and I was constantly annoyed that, although she kept the needy girl, she was terribly inept handling her. She never once agreed with the poor girl ("School sucks" "Well, you have to have an education to get ahead in life.")
A man enters the scene and, surprise!, the widow and the man spar and feint before.....
Plot steps telegraphed. Things tidied up. Happy ending all around.
As I said, very Hallmarkish.
She herself has an antagonistic relationship with her own sister and I was constantly annoyed that, although she kept the needy girl, she was terribly inept handling her. She never once agreed with the poor girl ("School sucks" "Well, you have to have an education to get ahead in life.")
A man enters the scene and, surprise!, the widow and the man spar and feint before.....
Plot steps telegraphed. Things tidied up. Happy ending all around.
As I said, very Hallmarkish.
March 29, 2014
Solomon's Oak in three lines. Jo-Ann Mapson beautifully, if slowly and often predictably, maps the spaces between Glory, a recent, struggling widow, and Juniper, her happenstance foster daughter, as deftly as she fills out their piecemeal lives on a California ranch. The titular tree, which shouldn't even grow in that part of the country, never mind for over two hundred years, anchors the story that undulates around it, collecting oddball and stalwart characters as treasures and trash catch in its branches. Some of my favorite interactions in the book took place between human and animal--dogs, horses, goats, birds, and slugs, to name a few, and I'll seek out Mapson's other books for more of the same.
September 7, 2013
2.5 stars
A struggling young widow, an abandoned and angry teenager, and a former police officer who is losing his battle with his physical and emotional pain find that their lives have become entwined as each seeks to heal themselves and find some peace.
This story had a great premise and a lot of potential, but it was mostly unmet. The plot seemed a little disjointed, the narrative often seemed stilted and characters not fully realized. There was just something missing, and I found myself turning the last page with a feeling of disappointment that the story wasn't better.
A struggling young widow, an abandoned and angry teenager, and a former police officer who is losing his battle with his physical and emotional pain find that their lives have become entwined as each seeks to heal themselves and find some peace.
This story had a great premise and a lot of potential, but it was mostly unmet. The plot seemed a little disjointed, the narrative often seemed stilted and characters not fully realized. There was just something missing, and I found myself turning the last page with a feeling of disappointment that the story wasn't better.
April 1, 2018
I really enjoy this author typically but this book was a bit of a mess. It read like an early draft. The perspectives shifted rapidly and randomly, with no over-all consistency (example, the "reports" and the final few interjections from Juniper). I'm also not a huge fan of characters from other books making very forced and unnatural cameos. It had a lot of potential, as the story itself was solid and interesting, but it just wasn't quite there.
July 15, 2013
I enjoyed this book told from three varying perspectives, a young widow, and ex-cop photographer, and an abandoned teenager. It's a touching, but not sappy, story of how their lives became intertwined and move toward healing. I'd give it 4 1/2 stars if I could.
September 9, 2013
The story and writing are deep, true, and beautiful--moving at a glacial pace. An excellent read for the savoring reader. Juniper as the broken teen especially shines.
August 5, 2015
Well worth the read. I've had this for a long time, don't know why it took me so long to read it!
April 21, 2016
Most excellent book. Good character portrayal. I would rate this a 6 out of 5 if that was possible.
August 19, 2023
Solomon's Oak is a tree that grew where it was not supposed to be. It's also the setting for the story of Glory and her animal rescues. Glory is trying to come to terms with being alone after her husband's unexpected death. She takes care of her horses and the rescued dogs but still she needs more than just her job at Target, so she says yes when a couple comes to her with a wedding request.
Just as the Pirate wedding is set to begin, Glory gets a phone call from her friend Caroline. She has a young girl that needs a temporary home. The last thing Glory needs right at that moment is a teenage girl in the mix, but in all the chaos, Caroline brings Juniper by.
Juniper is snarky, and doesn't trust anyone, especially men. But she accepts the temporary placement and even helps out as a server at the wedding. Juniper is a handful tho as she tells little lies, steals little things and gets suspended from school three times for fighting. This teenage character was particularly well done.
It's a lot for Glory to take on because she's often unsure of herself in anything but her ordinary routine. These characters grow on you, so it's good there's a sequel to this heartwarming story.
Just as the Pirate wedding is set to begin, Glory gets a phone call from her friend Caroline. She has a young girl that needs a temporary home. The last thing Glory needs right at that moment is a teenage girl in the mix, but in all the chaos, Caroline brings Juniper by.
Juniper is snarky, and doesn't trust anyone, especially men. But she accepts the temporary placement and even helps out as a server at the wedding. Juniper is a handful tho as she tells little lies, steals little things and gets suspended from school three times for fighting. This teenage character was particularly well done.
It's a lot for Glory to take on because she's often unsure of herself in anything but her ordinary routine. These characters grow on you, so it's good there's a sequel to this heartwarming story.
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