“A summer she’ll never forget”
- Book: The Lily Garden
- Location: Adirondacks, Chicago
- Author: Barbara Josselsohn
Lovely cover art, for a beautiful story, wonderfully told!
An opening which sets the scene; leading to a storyline which is continually blossoming and evolving; and concluding with an ending which holds the promise of renewed hope going forwards, for those who dare to dream!
I read for four main reasons; enjoyment, entertainment, escapism and emotion. The Lily Garden definitely shines brightly in all of my ‘e’ ratings, despite women’s contemporary fiction being a genre I have only relatively recently reacquainted myself with, following a rather lengthy lapse in my engagement.
Part love story, part journey of self-actualization, and part unlocking and re-building of complex family dynamics; this multi-layered storyline is one which is immersive, indulgent and pure escapism. A lovely blended mix of storyline and characters make this the complete package.
When, in an effort to repair fractured relations with her daughter Lee, who she secretly wishes would re-consider her future education plans, Caroline decides to change their upcoming holiday itinerary and after what seems like a lifetimes lapse, to return to the small mountain town of her own early youth, in the hope that Lee can connect with her true roots, the consequences and reverberations are many, with the real potential to inflict more harm than healing.
Caroline hasn’t taken into account that the events and conversations she remembers from so long ago, would have been seen and heard through the rather rose-tinted perspective of a small child, complete with all the fairy-tale embellishments of a young and fertile imagination. Despite the warm welcome from those in the community who remember Caroline and had helped to raise her as one of their own, following the premature deaths of both her parents, long nurtured and deeply entrenched grudges against those she thought had betrayed her, inexorably bubble to the surface and threaten the long awaited reunion. Home truths however, will generally out, one way or another and once the emotional turmoil inflicted is overcome and the reality checks of the situation kick in, Caroline can at last begin to repair her shattered memories and to begin making new and much stronger connections for the future.
As well as opening the floodgates of emotion, the realization that much of what she had assumed about her family history hadn’t quite been as black and white as she had thought, also completely changes the perspective of Caroline’s relationship with her own daughter, as she soon realizes that Lee is a very well adjusted and mature young lady, who despite having felt the need to somewhat humour her mother, already has her future mapped out and a plan in place, without the coercion from her great-aunt, which Caroline had assumed was happening. When the honesty of their individual situations are brought to the surface, aired and dusted off, mother and daughter re-connect with an entirely new and much stronger bond than before, although Caroline realises that she has a very large portion of humble pie to eat, in front of her aunt Risa and uncle Rich, who it transpires, now she has had her heart and mind opened, have only ever had her best interests at heart and love both she and Lee equally, although they may not always be the best at outward displays of affection.
Talking about affection and exploring relationships – It seems as though Caroline herself might well be contemplating a permanent change in her personal emotional status, pace of life and choice of career, after meeting Aaron, a visiting college lecturer who is new to the area of Lake Summers. Their new and tentative beginnings as a couple, almost stall at the first hurdle though, when it transpires that Aaron has been keeping as many secrets and carrying around as much excess emotional baggage, as Caroline herself. However, when they both decide to face the future with a new found sense of purpose and maturity – well who knows what might happen in the fullness of time!
Written with total authority, consummate ease and complete confidence, by a born storyteller, this well structured, multi-genre, multi-layered story, is beautifully textured, at times desperately intense, yet has genuine heart and compassion, balanced with some real moments of ‘made me smile’ humour. Rich in detail, with some assured, observational and descriptive narrative, together with excellent conversational dialogue, the writing offers a tangible sense of time and place, making the dual location settings very much a part of the action.
An authentic and well developed cast of wonderfully defined and drawn characters, beautifully filled the pages with some larger than life actions, amusing anecdotes and complex dynamics. I found myself relating and investing in each and every one of them, despite, or maybe because of, their many raw and passionate vulnerabilities, which only added to their genuine and believable interactions, as they each explore the ever-evolving power, intimacy and responsibility of family, in all its many guises!
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