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Thank You for All Things: A Novel
At twelve, Lucy Marie McGowan already knows she’ll be a psychologist when she grows up. And her quirky and conflicted family provides plenty of opportunity for her to practice her calling. Now Lucy, her “profoundly gifted” twin brother, Milo, her commitment-phobic mother, and her New Age grandmother are leaving Chicago for Timber Falls, Wisconsin, to care for her dying grandfather—a complex and difficult man whose failure as a husband and father still painfully echoes down through the years.
Lucy believes her time in the rural town where the McGowan story began will provide a key piece to the puzzle of her family’s broken past, and perhaps even reveal the truth about her own missing father. But what she discovers is so much more—a lesson about the paradoxes of love and the grace of forgiveness that the adults around her will need help in remembering if their family is ever to find peace and embrace the future.
By turns heart-wrenching and heart-mending, Thank You for All Things is a powerful and poignant novel by a brilliant storyteller who illustrates that when it comes to matters of family and love, often it is the innocent who force others to confront their darkest secrets.
Lucy believes her time in the rural town where the McGowan story began will provide a key piece to the puzzle of her family’s broken past, and perhaps even reveal the truth about her own missing father. But what she discovers is so much more—a lesson about the paradoxes of love and the grace of forgiveness that the adults around her will need help in remembering if their family is ever to find peace and embrace the future.
By turns heart-wrenching and heart-mending, Thank You for All Things is a powerful and poignant novel by a brilliant storyteller who illustrates that when it comes to matters of family and love, often it is the innocent who force others to confront their darkest secrets.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
May 18, 2009
Sandra Kring’s third novel, “Thank You For All Things,” holds within its pages themes and voices I love to read about: family, sacrifice, love, surprise, forgiveness, home, belonging, and relationships—particularly between mothers and daughters and fathers and daughters. Kring’s newest novel also has themes that are painful: family violence, human death and death of a dream, and betrayal. Kring doesn’t whitewash the secret dark side of family; however, she doesn’t grab readers by the throat with it, screaming at them to Listen! I have a point to make here. The focus of Kring’s novel more heavily relies on the characters and their quirks, their hopes, fears, and ideals, and the power of Family to shape who and what we become—whether it is to embrace, deny, or accept our pasts. With humor and love, even in the dark places, Kring doesn’t exhaust the reader, but instead delights.
A "character-driven" novel must deliver and indeed Kring does a beautiful job of bringing her characters to life, especially Lucy McGowan, the eleven-year-old narrator of “Thank You For All Things.” Although, despite Lucy’s intellect, at times I questioned the sophistication of her language and her views of the world around her, things that life and time usually bring instead of intelligence. That said, I went along for the ride, and as good writers will do, and Kring did, I mostly accepted Lucy’s voice and musings as Truth, and I owe this to Kring also allowing Lucy her child-side, that innocence that only a young girl who hasn’t fully lived her life, or born all life’s surprises (both good and bad), will possess.
More than anything, Lucy wants to find her father (since Lucy’s mother will not give up her secret, Lucy must create fathers from her imagination—maybe skater Scott Hamilton is her father, maybe her father donated sperm to a sperm bank, maybe…); alternatively, she longs for her mother to find happiness with family friend Peter, whom Lucy hopes will become her Father Figure—but only if she can find her real father’s identity first and ask his permission to love Peter. It doesn’t help matters that Lucy’s mother is not only silent about Lucy’s father, but she will not speak of her own father.
The secrets are slowly revealed when idealistic Lucy, her pessimistic mother, her quirky new-age grandmother, and Lucy’s super-gifted twin brother are forced to leave their apartment in the city to temporarily live in Lucy’s mother’s childhood home in a small town. There, Lucy’s grandfather lies dying, and long buried secrets bubble under the surface. As these secrets are discovered, they shatter Lucy’s dreams of not only what her Family is and was, but her dreams of what kind of men her father, and the grandfather she begins to love and accept, are. As the story and the secrets build, build, and then finally erupt, Lucy and her family are sucked into the vortex of a violent past; where one generation often follows another—unless the chains are broken and new choices are made.
Kring’s solid character development and storytelling all more than made up for any “editor’s musings” I had. I was engaged with her characters, in love with Peter, rooted for Lucy’s mother to let loose her anxiety, ached with Lucy as she discovered her grandmother’s and then her mother’s secret pasts, laughed at Lucy’s funny little brother and her eccentric Ommmm grandmother, felt all the hopes, dreams, disappointments, and at last, finally, the satisfying ending that I always love comes—one where I sigh with a smile and close the book, glad the author did not cheat me at the end. (review from R&T)
A "character-driven" novel must deliver and indeed Kring does a beautiful job of bringing her characters to life, especially Lucy McGowan, the eleven-year-old narrator of “Thank You For All Things.” Although, despite Lucy’s intellect, at times I questioned the sophistication of her language and her views of the world around her, things that life and time usually bring instead of intelligence. That said, I went along for the ride, and as good writers will do, and Kring did, I mostly accepted Lucy’s voice and musings as Truth, and I owe this to Kring also allowing Lucy her child-side, that innocence that only a young girl who hasn’t fully lived her life, or born all life’s surprises (both good and bad), will possess.
More than anything, Lucy wants to find her father (since Lucy’s mother will not give up her secret, Lucy must create fathers from her imagination—maybe skater Scott Hamilton is her father, maybe her father donated sperm to a sperm bank, maybe…); alternatively, she longs for her mother to find happiness with family friend Peter, whom Lucy hopes will become her Father Figure—but only if she can find her real father’s identity first and ask his permission to love Peter. It doesn’t help matters that Lucy’s mother is not only silent about Lucy’s father, but she will not speak of her own father.
The secrets are slowly revealed when idealistic Lucy, her pessimistic mother, her quirky new-age grandmother, and Lucy’s super-gifted twin brother are forced to leave their apartment in the city to temporarily live in Lucy’s mother’s childhood home in a small town. There, Lucy’s grandfather lies dying, and long buried secrets bubble under the surface. As these secrets are discovered, they shatter Lucy’s dreams of not only what her Family is and was, but her dreams of what kind of men her father, and the grandfather she begins to love and accept, are. As the story and the secrets build, build, and then finally erupt, Lucy and her family are sucked into the vortex of a violent past; where one generation often follows another—unless the chains are broken and new choices are made.
Kring’s solid character development and storytelling all more than made up for any “editor’s musings” I had. I was engaged with her characters, in love with Peter, rooted for Lucy’s mother to let loose her anxiety, ached with Lucy as she discovered her grandmother’s and then her mother’s secret pasts, laughed at Lucy’s funny little brother and her eccentric Ommmm grandmother, felt all the hopes, dreams, disappointments, and at last, finally, the satisfying ending that I always love comes—one where I sigh with a smile and close the book, glad the author did not cheat me at the end. (review from R&T)
November 3, 2008
I really like this author. Each of her books is told from the vantage point of a child who is real and wise and innocent and suffering because of choices those who love her have made. Lucy is the main character in this one and the thing I love about her the most is that she isn't afraid to feel deeply both the high's and low's of life.
July 6, 2010
i LOVE sandra kring. i LOVE this book. oh my... what a great read! i tho't her other books were good, well this one does NOT disappoint! go get it RIGHT NOW and read it! i love lucy. if nothing else it teaches you a lesson, you might want to know something in the worst way and then when you find it out.. well you just might wonder why.
oh a great read
(kindle'd- for 4.99)
oh a great read
(kindle'd- for 4.99)
August 10, 2009
The only negative I can say....is that I didn't read this book sooner.
My friend brought me her copy. I took it home and it got lost in the shuffle. In fact, months later, she asked if I'd read it and I said I did't have it. lol Whilst cleaning out dust bunnies under my bed...I found it. From there, it sat on my nighstand for a few months. I just had a feeling it was going to be sappy and light.
I was wrong.
Sandra Kring is a writer! She writes in a way that captures you immediately and refuses to let go...even after you've finished and closed the book. Her portrayal of the charactors makes you swear you know each and everyone personally. You can almost smell them.
This is a story that will make you laugh. It will also maybe make your eyes brim with tears. It will make you feel anger and angst. It will roll you up in a ball so tight you can't breathe. It might make you take a look at your own situation. It's a story about love through the wisdom and eyes of a child. It will teach you what is important and how forgiveness can help you to move forward in life.
Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.
My friend brought me her copy. I took it home and it got lost in the shuffle. In fact, months later, she asked if I'd read it and I said I did't have it. lol Whilst cleaning out dust bunnies under my bed...I found it. From there, it sat on my nighstand for a few months. I just had a feeling it was going to be sappy and light.
I was wrong.
Sandra Kring is a writer! She writes in a way that captures you immediately and refuses to let go...even after you've finished and closed the book. Her portrayal of the charactors makes you swear you know each and everyone personally. You can almost smell them.
This is a story that will make you laugh. It will also maybe make your eyes brim with tears. It will make you feel anger and angst. It will roll you up in a ball so tight you can't breathe. It might make you take a look at your own situation. It's a story about love through the wisdom and eyes of a child. It will teach you what is important and how forgiveness can help you to move forward in life.
Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.
March 20, 2010
I just can't get into it. I sorta kinds maybe like it...the characters seem interesting..but the dialogue is way too unreal for me and I can't get over it. I just keep reading these long paragraphs when they talk to each other and thinking "no one talks like that...too wordy...too descriptive...no one talks like they are a novel." Its just weird.
BUT, I may come back to this one again. it could be my mood. Any thoughts? Is it worth re-visiting?
BUT, I may come back to this one again. it could be my mood. Any thoughts? Is it worth re-visiting?
March 10, 2017
Family dynamics are the main theme of this book. A young mother with twins and no husband. Her father dying i another town. Her mother helping care for the husband.
The children had so many questions about their missing father. Lucy is the most inquisitive, asking the towns folks what they knew . She finally got her answers, not happy ones. Lucy was able to get to know her grandfather in the short time they had together. She also relaid his messages to the whole family
The children had so many questions about their missing father. Lucy is the most inquisitive, asking the towns folks what they knew . She finally got her answers, not happy ones. Lucy was able to get to know her grandfather in the short time they had together. She also relaid his messages to the whole family
February 18, 2013
I loved this book, even though I'd read it years before. The people in the book are explored in such a way that you come to love and understand them all. I would recommend all books by this author. I've read them all!
July 19, 2020
4.5!!
SECOND book read by Sandra Kring in 30 days, and I really can't say enough about her writing of this book!
It’s a story about family, and it’s a story about secrets, lies, betrayals and cycles of grief. It’s also a story about change, giving oneself the permission to move on and regaining the ability to love and trust.
The narrator is Lucy, an 11year old with the “measly” IQ of 144 (the average American has an IQ of 98, according to Google). Her twin brother Milo is an absolute genius with an IQ of 180. Lucy, a “people reader” with a serious interest in psychology, lives in Chicago with her twin, her mother Tess (also a Twin) and Tess’s mother, who everyone affectively calls “Oma.” Oma (probably my favorite character) is a New Age guru who believes strongly in natural healing, patience and the spirits — and she will rely upon these strengths when the McGowan clan is called home to Timber Falls, Wisconsin to care for Sam, the dying father of Tess and her twin, Clay and ex-husband of Oma.
Wisconsin is where all secrets begin to unravel...Lucy and Milo have been raised by their mother with absolutely no knowledge of their father, his story or where he is now — only that he plays no role in their life. Lucy is far too bright to accept this as she secretly explores her mother’s childhood and teenage years through stolen glances at Tess’s old journals. Reading, Lucy finds out far more than she could have ever imagined about her grandfather.
Kring is a fantastic writer with an impeccable sense of detail, atmosphere and environment, and the shifts between “past” and “present” in this novel are seamless. One moment I was peering over Lucy’s head at her mother’s laptop, reading about all of the feelings Tess won’t acknowledge to anyone but herself. The next moment I was riding along on Milo’s bike, Feynman barking along next to me, pedaling as fast as I can to feel like I’m finally “normal” and a part of something that, for once, doesn’t make me a total outsider. Seconds later I’m watching a bloody fight between Sam and Oma that happened some 15 years earlier, my mouth open in silent rage and horror.
For as great as this book was — and it was great — don’t get me wrong: it was pretty disturbing. By the time I reached the final chapters, where so much of the past comes bubbling up and spills out all at once, my heart was pounding so hard, I had to actually get a bottle of water and put the book down for a few minutes. I felt incredibly sad for Oma, Tess, Milo and Lucy, and sad for Tess’s boyfriend Peter, too, that he wants so badly to love someone so closed off to love. The other characters in the story — Maude Tuttle, Marie, Mitzy — are all so loveable, too, even if not in a “conventional” way. To say you feel as though you know each of them is an understatement!
SECOND book read by Sandra Kring in 30 days, and I really can't say enough about her writing of this book!
It’s a story about family, and it’s a story about secrets, lies, betrayals and cycles of grief. It’s also a story about change, giving oneself the permission to move on and regaining the ability to love and trust.
The narrator is Lucy, an 11year old with the “measly” IQ of 144 (the average American has an IQ of 98, according to Google). Her twin brother Milo is an absolute genius with an IQ of 180. Lucy, a “people reader” with a serious interest in psychology, lives in Chicago with her twin, her mother Tess (also a Twin) and Tess’s mother, who everyone affectively calls “Oma.” Oma (probably my favorite character) is a New Age guru who believes strongly in natural healing, patience and the spirits — and she will rely upon these strengths when the McGowan clan is called home to Timber Falls, Wisconsin to care for Sam, the dying father of Tess and her twin, Clay and ex-husband of Oma.
Wisconsin is where all secrets begin to unravel...Lucy and Milo have been raised by their mother with absolutely no knowledge of their father, his story or where he is now — only that he plays no role in their life. Lucy is far too bright to accept this as she secretly explores her mother’s childhood and teenage years through stolen glances at Tess’s old journals. Reading, Lucy finds out far more than she could have ever imagined about her grandfather.
Kring is a fantastic writer with an impeccable sense of detail, atmosphere and environment, and the shifts between “past” and “present” in this novel are seamless. One moment I was peering over Lucy’s head at her mother’s laptop, reading about all of the feelings Tess won’t acknowledge to anyone but herself. The next moment I was riding along on Milo’s bike, Feynman barking along next to me, pedaling as fast as I can to feel like I’m finally “normal” and a part of something that, for once, doesn’t make me a total outsider. Seconds later I’m watching a bloody fight between Sam and Oma that happened some 15 years earlier, my mouth open in silent rage and horror.
For as great as this book was — and it was great — don’t get me wrong: it was pretty disturbing. By the time I reached the final chapters, where so much of the past comes bubbling up and spills out all at once, my heart was pounding so hard, I had to actually get a bottle of water and put the book down for a few minutes. I felt incredibly sad for Oma, Tess, Milo and Lucy, and sad for Tess’s boyfriend Peter, too, that he wants so badly to love someone so closed off to love. The other characters in the story — Maude Tuttle, Marie, Mitzy — are all so loveable, too, even if not in a “conventional” way. To say you feel as though you know each of them is an understatement!
March 28, 2017
A fun and heartwarming novel. Precocious 11-year-old Lucy wants to know the truth about her father and her mother's fears and anger. Lucy gets a chance to learn what's behind her mother's secrets when her family leaves Chicago for rural Wisconsin because her mother is called to help care for the grandfather Lucy never met. Family secrets are uncovered and Lucy learns some hard truths. Love, empathy, forgiveness are all themes in this very entertaining novel.
May 3, 2009
I was drawn deep into the detailed world that was evoked by the carefully voiced narratives that comprise this book. Lucy, the 11-year-old precocious budding psychologist with the eidetic book memory, narrates the tightly woven tale that begins with a sudden call that her grandfather that she never knew is dying, and she, her brilliant (and somewhat Asperger's) twin brother Milo, her mother, and her grandmother, are summoned away to deal with his impending passing.
The book unfolds as a suspense story, gradually unveiling the traumas that Lucy's mom and her grandmother have suffered over the years. Lucy's breathless adolescent impatience to uncover the truth is well-conveyed, particularly regarding the chilling wall of silence that all parties maintain regarding Lucy and Milo's absent father.
Several passages are written in Lucy's mother's voice, and her anxious, repressed mentality is also well-conveyed (I am reminded of Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter).
(SPOILERS BELOW)
The female characters are richly portrayed and their motivations and pains are clearly depicted; the male characters perhaps less so. The dying Grandpa Sam appears as an almost-ghost through the book and his deeds are revealed in writings and recollections of others. One part I thought was an interesting touch to counterpoint the potential one-dimensionality of Sam's brutality is the passage where it is related that he didn't try to really dedicate himself to the one mistress that he loved because he was afraid that if she realized who he really was, she would fall out of love with him. The relationship of Sam's sister to him and the rest of the family seems a bit neglected; perhaps she clung to her denial of what happened to Grandpa Sam as a child as well.
The horrors perpetrated on the women are gradually revealed, and I was gripped along with Lucy in the chase to uncover the truth. Most of it was as much a surprise to me as it was to her, though the final climax was a bit telegraphed (and the final description of it, under some scrutiny, became a bit puzzling to me). The denouement was a bit sudden, and while it evokes echoes of Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead, I found it a bit implausible that a girl in Lucy's situation, regardless of her precocity, would be capable of the kind of beatific forgiveness that she displayed.
All in all, a compelling tale of how people's behaviors are shaped by their traumas, told in a gripping fashion.
The book unfolds as a suspense story, gradually unveiling the traumas that Lucy's mom and her grandmother have suffered over the years. Lucy's breathless adolescent impatience to uncover the truth is well-conveyed, particularly regarding the chilling wall of silence that all parties maintain regarding Lucy and Milo's absent father.
Several passages are written in Lucy's mother's voice, and her anxious, repressed mentality is also well-conveyed (I am reminded of Amy Tan's The Bonesetter's Daughter).
(SPOILERS BELOW)
The female characters are richly portrayed and their motivations and pains are clearly depicted; the male characters perhaps less so. The dying Grandpa Sam appears as an almost-ghost through the book and his deeds are revealed in writings and recollections of others. One part I thought was an interesting touch to counterpoint the potential one-dimensionality of Sam's brutality is the passage where it is related that he didn't try to really dedicate himself to the one mistress that he loved because he was afraid that if she realized who he really was, she would fall out of love with him. The relationship of Sam's sister to him and the rest of the family seems a bit neglected; perhaps she clung to her denial of what happened to Grandpa Sam as a child as well.
The horrors perpetrated on the women are gradually revealed, and I was gripped along with Lucy in the chase to uncover the truth. Most of it was as much a surprise to me as it was to her, though the final climax was a bit telegraphed (and the final description of it, under some scrutiny, became a bit puzzling to me). The denouement was a bit sudden, and while it evokes echoes of Orson Scott Card's Speaker for the Dead, I found it a bit implausible that a girl in Lucy's situation, regardless of her precocity, would be capable of the kind of beatific forgiveness that she displayed.
All in all, a compelling tale of how people's behaviors are shaped by their traumas, told in a gripping fashion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2012
WHEW! This book sure has a lot to say about life, death, psychology, human nature, family dynamics....all kinds of deep junk for the mind to ponder. Being told in the first person by 11 year old Lucy, gives the book an innocence and fresh perspective. The author was brilliant in how she used techniques to let us into the intimate thoughts of the adult characters through journal entries, and overheard snips of conversations. It was also a good decision by the author to make her young characters of such high intelligence....Lucy aspires to be a psychologist and is well read on the subject, and her twin brother Milo has a high IQ that puts him in the genius realm. He is passionate about physics and science. Another important person in the book is Lucy's grandmother who is over the top into New Age and all things spiritual. In many ways they were like archetypes representing many profound aspects of the human experience. The material things in the world you can measure and study, the unseen spiritual world, and the final frontier-the human mind. The basic gist of the story is Lucy, Milo, the mother and grandma going back home to Wisconsin to care for Lucy's Grandpa who is dying. As we learn about the past, some of the things were hard for me to read, for instance how totally mean the grandfather was to his wife and kids. Yikes! Also there was attention to the subject of death which I will do just about anything NOT to think about...like watch Real Housewives behaving badly on Bravo, redecorate my living room or go into the vortex of the internet. I mean who wants to read about that? But there were many insights and much wisdom that was expressed through this part of the story. And it wasn't really sad, just kind of thought provoking. I know on some level I was supposed to understand or maybe forgive some of the grandfathers major malfunctions, but really I could not. He singlehandedly mentally screwed up so many people in the story. I really liked this book and think I picked up some real truths about life. It was a heavier read though, so I think I'll be reading something lighter now to give my mind a break, or maybe see what those Housewives are up to.......
June 1, 2010
Lucy McGowan is 11 years old and her mother is taking her, her “profoundly gifted” twin brother Milo and her maternal Grandmother to Timber Falls, Wisconsin to care for Lucy’s dying grandfather. A man she has never met because her mother has been estranged from him since before Lucy and her brother were born.
Her mother, Tess, doesn’t want to go. But events are working against her not going. Their Chicago apartment is about to go through a major bug fumigation so they have to vacate it for a few days. Then, while they are away, the apartment building burns down and they end up spending even more time in Timber Falls.
Her grandmother is the one who insists they need to go take care of her grandfather – her abusive ex-husband. His Alzheimer’s is worsening and his third wife is leaving him.
In Timber Falls, the family learns about love and forgiveness and Lucy learns the one thing that she’s always wanted know – who her father really is. (And it’s not a famous actor.)
I really enjoyed this book. The story is compelling and Tess’ refusal to tell Lucy and Milo about their father leads Lucy to obsess about who her father might be in a hilarious manner. Plus the influences that her New Age grandmother has on her cause her to do some fairly crazy things.
Her mother, Tess, doesn’t want to go. But events are working against her not going. Their Chicago apartment is about to go through a major bug fumigation so they have to vacate it for a few days. Then, while they are away, the apartment building burns down and they end up spending even more time in Timber Falls.
Her grandmother is the one who insists they need to go take care of her grandfather – her abusive ex-husband. His Alzheimer’s is worsening and his third wife is leaving him.
In Timber Falls, the family learns about love and forgiveness and Lucy learns the one thing that she’s always wanted know – who her father really is. (And it’s not a famous actor.)
I really enjoyed this book. The story is compelling and Tess’ refusal to tell Lucy and Milo about their father leads Lucy to obsess about who her father might be in a hilarious manner. Plus the influences that her New Age grandmother has on her cause her to do some fairly crazy things.
April 24, 2009
I found myself LOL throughout the book right down to the last few chapters and pages of the book. From the minute I began to read I was hooked trying to figure out how the title related with the story line. As the story continued and as I continued to read, I soon forgot about figuring out the title and then focused my thoughts on figuring out the ultimate quest of the main character--Lucy who strived to find the answer to the ultimate question: "Whose my father?"
As Lucy searches to find out who her father is, she not only eventually finds out who he is, but along the way she discovers hidden family secrets that were buried with the hopes of never resurfacing. And wishing she had never set the quest out to find her father.
What I learned from this book tied into the title: "Thank You for All Things". This novel was a constant reminder to be thankful for all things no matter how hard or bad things are in your life. Or how hard life has treated you. We should all be thankful for all things good or bad.
As Lucy searches to find out who her father is, she not only eventually finds out who he is, but along the way she discovers hidden family secrets that were buried with the hopes of never resurfacing. And wishing she had never set the quest out to find her father.
What I learned from this book tied into the title: "Thank You for All Things". This novel was a constant reminder to be thankful for all things no matter how hard or bad things are in your life. Or how hard life has treated you. We should all be thankful for all things good or bad.
May 20, 2014
WOW - this book is going to make you think about life and perspectives and family and history. It is going to make you believe that people will never change and then it is going to make you believe that people can change. It is going to restore your faith in true love and belonging. It is going to be completely worth your time, because Sandra Kring is an amazing author! And, young Lucy is the perfect person to carry this story to us. She is plenty book smart and also wise beyond her years and in the end you will cry and maybe wish you had that kind of wisdom when you were 12. Loved it!!!!!!
December 31, 2008
Kind of an Oprah book - incredibly bright kids and depressed mother find love & redemption while watching over dying asshole grandpa. But the narrator was fresh & funny and I did stick with it. A bit too longwinded, and I don't think anyone names anyone Mitzi anymore - even in Wisconsin.
August 9, 2012
I thought this was a sequel to Book of Bright Ideas, but apparently I was mistaken- I kept waiting for characters to appear that never did! Good story though- loved the little girl and her desperate search to figure out the identity of her father.
May 15, 2017
This is my third Sandra Kring book (I have also read the Book of Bright Ideas and Carry Me Home, both of which were spectacular) and although she is a wonderful writer, this one fell a bit short for me (I think I just had such high expectations based on her other works). The grandfather character is excellently written and developed and the Lucy character is as well, but the others seem kind of contrived - the hippy dippy grandmother with her burning sage, whole grain cereal and essential oils; the meddling aunt with the old lap dog; the town tarte with the red hair, big diamond rings and potty mouth, etc. The parts that needed to be explained in order to make the story work were initially cleverly done, so I thought, in that the Lucy character snooped on her mother's computer in order to learn about her heritage but then the whole book seemed to be swallowed by and hinged on those details and I wished time and time again for the mother in the book to just sit with her kids and answer their very valid questions about their father. I look forward to reading more of Sandra Kring's works.
January 5, 2021
A wonderful "coming home" novel about a subject everyone can relate to. How do you deal with the ghosts in your closet, and accept the family that you may love, but you don't like or have any conceivable connection with other than the blood that runs through your veins.
Sandra Kring to a phenomenal job of creating characters with depth and relationships with webs intertwining. I am particularly fond of the setting in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where I have vacationed with my husband's family for over 25 years.
Sandra Kring to a phenomenal job of creating characters with depth and relationships with webs intertwining. I am particularly fond of the setting in the Northwoods of Wisconsin where I have vacationed with my husband's family for over 25 years.
March 10, 2025
A story of generational pain and familial tension as observed by the innocent and blunt perspective of a child. Shows the value of forgiveness and power of vulnerability that people seem to shy away from as they get older. I liked how beautifully this book was written to show the individual challenges faced by each character so you can understand their actions and the way they react to conflict. Loved this story and its almost silly and unique way of approaching such a hard topic.
June 29, 2017
I read this for book club and really liked it. This is one messed up family! It kept me guessing until the end. I enjoyed the fact that it was told by an eleven year old girl, who happens to be the voice of reason in this family. I thought the book was well written and it kept me interested enough that I read it in three days.
February 9, 2021
This is a good comfort read. If you’re in a book slump, this is a solid choice to restart your drive. The story and all of its intricacies keep you invested all the way thru til the end.
I really love books from the perspective of children. It brings a lighthearted (and usually optimistic) outlook on harsh events.
This one also got me to tear up a few times.
I really love books from the perspective of children. It brings a lighthearted (and usually optimistic) outlook on harsh events.
This one also got me to tear up a few times.
June 14, 2023
The cover caught my attention and thought it would be good. Sadly it was a disappointment to me. First book from this author I’ve read and definitely will not be searching to read more.
I did finish it but it was not easy to get through by any means. It was long and drawn out and not uplifting as the cover suggested to me.
I did finish it but it was not easy to get through by any means. It was long and drawn out and not uplifting as the cover suggested to me.
March 28, 2020
A heartwarming story
The story of 12 year old Lucy. Wanting to know, struggling to know where she comes from and who she is. Born into a family with many hidden secrets along lies. Secrets and lies Lucy wants to learn.
The story of 12 year old Lucy. Wanting to know, struggling to know where she comes from and who she is. Born into a family with many hidden secrets along lies. Secrets and lies Lucy wants to learn.
May 13, 2017
Phenomenal
It has been so long since I found a book written with depth and eloquence. My brain feels as if every emotion has been massaged back to life
Thank you Sandra Kring!
It has been so long since I found a book written with depth and eloquence. My brain feels as if every emotion has been massaged back to life
Thank you Sandra Kring!
June 19, 2017
Too slow moving for me!
April 16, 2018
This is the story of unraveling a mystery and finding truth.
July 29, 2018
This was fun.
I'm getting tired of seeing covers with the running girl. I think the first one was a Scottoline book. It's become a cliche.
I'm getting tired of seeing covers with the running girl. I think the first one was a Scottoline book. It's become a cliche.
January 16, 2020
I could not put this book down
I especially loved the Grandmother is this book!
I especially loved the Grandmother is this book!
July 13, 2020
This book touched me....I love the character Lucy & her relationship with Oma. This is a book I will save and reread. Thank you Sandra Kring.
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