Everyone finds themselves in a tumultous relationship at some point in their life…whether with friend, family or spouse.  However, not feeling love from a parent has to top the list of most painful.  A child is constantly trying to gain affection from a parent…sometimes even when they themselves are now an adult.  Dive into this book review of Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah to see how this evolves.

The Characters ~

• Meredith Whitson – mother; daughter to Anya & Evan; sister to Nina, wife to Jeff
• Nina Whitson – photojournalist; daughter to Anya & Evan; sister to Meredith
• Evan Whitson – husband & father
• Anya Whitson – Russian mother and wife
• Dora – Evan’s only living relative
• Jeff – husband of Meredith
• Jillian & Maddy – daughters of Meredith & Jeff
• Mrs. Sylvie Porter – Nina’s editor
• Danny Flynn – war correspondent
• Vera – poor peasant girl in fairy tale
• Olga – younger sister of Vera
• Sasha – Vera’s love
• Anastasia – daughter to Vera & Sasha
• Leo – son to Vera & Sasha
• Phillip Kiselev – researcher/writer about survivors of Leningrad
• Gerald Koontz – Phillip’s cousin, continues Leningrad research
• Stacey – waitress at Russian restaurant

The Plot ~

Meredith and Nina grow up constantly trying to understand what they have done to make their mother not love them.  The only closeness they feel is the rare times that their mother shares a fairy tale with them.  Their father, Evan, provides the love they miss while also trying to nurture the relationship between a mother and her daughters.  Ony Evan understands the full story and begs his daughters to get their mother to tell the whole fairy tale.  He feels this is the only thing that will help mend the brokeness between Meredith, Nina and Anya.

Winter Garden begins in Belye Nochi Orchard, an apple orchard owned by the family.  Meredith grows up and continues on in the family business while Nina heads out into the world as a well known photo journalist.  Over time they discover that the lack of a loving relationship with their mother has a profound effect on other relationships in their lives.

This historical fiction takes you deep into family relationships as you find yourself in different eras, from the apple orchard in Washington, to the seige of Leningrad to present day Alaska.  We learn that history can have a grave impact on those we love and why this can cause them to act the way they do.  It’s a story that has you angry at times and weeping at others.

Discussion Questions for The Winter Garden ~

1. How did you feel when Anya reacted the way she did to Meredith’s play?
2. We quickly see the love Anya has for the husband.  In the beginning of the book why did you think Anya couldn’t share that same love with her children?
3. In the beginning of the book, what were your thoughts on why Anya spent so much time in the garden during the winter?
4. Do you think the risks Nina took as a photojournalist had anything to do with her relationship with her mother?
5. In the fairy tale, Vera had to make a lot of decisions with her children.  What would you have done when given the option to flee or stay with your ill child?
6. Jeff told Meredith that she is a lot like her mother…how do you feel this felt to Meredith when he first said this?  How do you feel this felt to her after she learned her mother’s entire story?
7. The girls saw the love between their mother and father….knowing this, why do you think Nina couldn’t accept Danny’s proposal?
8. Both girls were successful in a way with their chosen paths.  How do you think they felt about each other?
9. What significance did Fontanka Bridge have to the story?
10. The black vans were characterized as who from the war?
11. Nina stated, “I wanted your story.  I never once worried about how much it could hurt you.”  How do you think Anya felt about this statement.
12. Meredith was asked, “If you had it do do over again, would you still choose Jeff, event with all that has happened?  What would be your answer if you were in her shoes?
13. Why do you feel Stacey took a quick liking to Nina, Meredith and Anya at the restaurant?
14. Did you predict the ending of the story?
15. “Sometimes when you open the door to your mother’s past, you find your own future.”  What are your thoughts?

A List of Kritin Hannah Books ~

Kristin Hannah started as a romance novelist but now writes both romance and historical novels.  Below is a list of her novels.  How many have you read?  What is your favorite to date?  Did you know she has a new book coming out in February 2024….eek!  I can’t wait….preorder yours here…

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1. A Handful of Heaven (1991)
2. The Enchantment (1992)
3. Once In Every Life (1992)
4. If You Believe (1993)
5. When Lightning Strikes (1994)
6. Waiting For The Moon (1995)
7. Home Again (1996)
8. On Mystic Lake (1999)
9. Angel Falls (2000)
10. Summer Island (2001)
11. Distant Shores (2002)
12. Between Sisters (2003)
13. The Things We Do For Love (2004)
14. Comfort & Joy (2005)
15. Magic Hour (2006)
16. Firefly Lane (2008)
17. True Colors (2009)
18. Winter Garden (2010)
19. Night Road (2011)
20. Home Front (2012)
21. Fly Away (2013)
22. The Nightingale (2015)
23. The Great Alone (2017)
24. The Four Winds (2021)

Other Great Books I’ve Read Recently ~

Here are some other titles that I have enjoyed quite a bit:

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

The Last Flight by Julie Clark

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Have you read any of these?  I would love to discuss them with you…..drop a comment and let’s chat!

Happy Reading~

Mimi

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