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

Stunning

I had to lock myself in my bedroom and turn on music to drown my sobs while reading the last third of the book. This is the best book I’ve read in a very long time.

wow

This story starts out a little slow, a little too boring, but give it just a little time. It sucks you in and you can't stop until you have heard the story of this strong womans life.

Extremely slow start

Struggled to get through well over the 1st half of this book. Didn't get interesting until chapter 11. The older sister Meredith was very unlikable and whiny. After Chapter 11, it got a little more interesting but not sure I would recommend.

Never have I cried about a story

Very enjoyable and well read. I’ve never gotten emotional about a book like this one. Happy and sad at the same time. I love this book.

OUTSTANDING!

The story was outstanding! It made me want to visit St Petersburg to learn more. I’ve found a new genre - historical fiction. The reader was excellent and truly defined the characters to the point I could visualize the people, the settings, the emotions. WELL DONE!

A most beautifully written novel!

I truly enjoyed this book. I did not find it cheesy, predictable or sappy. One woman’s story of her life’s journey through times and events I hope none of us have to experience. I would recommend this book as a very good and worthwhile read.

heart wrenching 💔

it caught me from the beginning. I needed to know. it was frustrating at first. but I ending up loving it. ❤

Winter Garden

This book was very enlightening.
So sad to hear what the people had to go thru.

Memorable

Loved this book! It's been about a month since I finished it, but I find myself still thinking about it. It was so moving.

My favorite book of the year..

Oh how I loved this book. Unlike some others have said, this book pulled me in from the very beginning. I was completely pulled in when the mother was telling her story and I now have a desire to learn more about Russia's past that I never had before. For those interested in content as far as language/sex, it does have the f word a few times in the beginning and a few roll my eyes cheesy sexual encounters but no details/descriptions.