Synopsis: Olivia Dunne, a studious minister's daughter who dreams of
becoming an archaeologist, never thought that the drama of World War II would
affect her quiet life in Denver. But when an exhilarating flirtation reshapes
her life, she finds herself in a rural Colorado outpost, married to a man she
hardly knows. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia tentatively tries to establish
a new life, finding muchneeded friendship and solace in two Japanese American
sisters who are living at a nearby internment camp. When Olivia unwittingly
becomes an accomplice to a crime and is faced with betrayal, she finally
confronts her own yearnings and comes to understand what she truly believes
about the nature of trust and love.
(from the back of the book)
Review: I stumbled upon the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie of this book
and was smitten with the story. The movie, as it turns out, deviates from the
book, most noticeably in the ending. The book's ending is not pretty and happy,
as the movie. And, while I enjoyed the happy ending of the movie, the book's
ending means more. With depth and complexity, Creel tells a story of
loneliness, redemption, betrayal, and what makes a heart and home.
Her prose is surprisingly descriptive, but
without being flowery - somewhat like the desolate beauty Olivia finds in the
country. With deft language, Creel sets us in rural America during WWII, and
shows us what it was like to be behind the scenes, to farm, to live, to work,
to exist, when all the world was focus so far away.
Watching Olivia change into who she didn’t know she wanted to be, was magnificent.
I enjoyed the subtle growth in her character. Told in first person, Creel
really lets us see the turmoil inside this girl. As for the secondary characters,
each was complex, distinct, and well-written.
There is a bite to this romance that comes from the true-to-life mistakes and
frailness of the human condition. I highly recommend this work. It was a
fantastic read.
Bookmarks: 8 of 10
Awards: None
ISBN: 0-14-200090-6
Year Published: 2001
Date Finished: 6-30-2016
Pages: 274
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