Winter Garden

By: Kristin Hannah

Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 14 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Can a woman ever really know herself if she doesn't know her mother?

From the author of the smash-hit bestseller Firefly Lane and True Colors comes Kristin Hannah's powerful, heartbreaking novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between the present and the past.

Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time - and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya's life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother's life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.

©2010 by Kristin Hannah. (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“It's a tearjerker, but the journey is as lovely - and haunting - as a snow filled winter's night.” --People Magazine

“This tearjerker weaves a convincing historical novel and contemporary family drama.” --Library Journal

“Readers will find it hard not to laugh a little and cry a little more as mother and daughters reach out to each other just in the nick of time.” --Publishers Weekly

Heart-wrenching

It was kind to get into the story at the beginning, but once I got over it I didn't want to stop. my heart ache 💔 but at the same time is happy 😊

Loved it!

I am a big Kristin Hannah fan. I think I've read almost all her work. At first, I didn't think I was going to like this one that much. But then it hooked me, and I couldn't stop being sucked in and feeling every high and low moment. So powerful. Grab the kleenex and enjoy the ride!

Love this book!

I love this book! I love all the Kristin Hannah books I’ve read but this is my favorite. I’ve read or listened to it multiple times and each time is better because you catch the little things you missed before. I’m not sure who narrates this book but she is FANTASTIC. The emotion in her voice really gets the waterworks flowing. I think any age from teenagers to any aged adult would enjoy this book. Of course this is a fiction book but it sets the stage on how real life people got through WW2. Surprisingly enough it doesn’t take place in nazi Germany or under the Nazi regime. I personally never thought much about the lives in Russia and how they were impacted, I never learned about it in (American) school. It’s a real eye opener, a beautiful story with one of my most favorite endings in a book.

Wow, just wow

What a touching story
I laughed and cried throughout the book
Would absolutely recommend this book.
Thank you Kristin

Beautiful!

This book moved me to tears (not an easy feat!). It reminds us to take the time to really get to know someone before we pass judgment. Everyone has a story.

Amazing

I can’t figure out why this book had so many bad reviews it is one of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read don’t listen to the negative and don’t wait read this book

Powerful story of the power of love and the human spirit!

Thank you Kristin Hannah for this remarkably powerful story of love and the unbreakable human spirit with it’s ability to withstand unimaginable pain, yet survive and live to love again. This one will stay with me for a long time.

A great historical story

What an amazing tale of tragedy, love, & family. Learning of the personal struggles & will to survive after such tragic loss is so heartbreaking. This story will have you feeling all kinds of emotions then the ending brings it full circle with a heart full of love & family.

It's Great Story!

The Winter Garden has a lot of truths about life. This is a book that touched my heart. Be patient when you listen. It takes a little long to understand but Everything will make sense soon. The narration is superb!

Absolutely Magnificent!

I actually loved the entire book. Even the beginning where a lot of reviews were disparaging. I feel it showed the level of pain (felt in many dysfunctional families). It enhanced the degrees of maturing, as understanding of their mother grew and dissolved away the years of hurt and disappointment as her story unfolded. It was a wonderful story and I highly recommend it.