Thank You for All Things

Book Review: Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring Thank You For All Things by Sandra Kring Bantam Discovery, October 2008 Reviewed by Kathryn Magendie Sandra Kring's third novel, "Thank You For All Things," holds within its pages themes and voices I love to read about: family, sacrifice, love, surprise, forgiveness, home, belonging, and relationships--particularly between mothers and daughters and fathers and daughters. Kring's newest novel also has themes that are painful: family violence, human death and death of a dream, and betrayal. Kring doesn't whitewash the secret dark side of family; however, she doesn't grab readers by the throat with it, screaming at them to Listen! I have a point to make here. The focus of Kring's novel more heavily relies on the characters and their quirks, their hopes, fears, and ideals, and the power of Family to shape who and what we become--whether it is to embrace, deny, or accept our pasts. With humor and love, even in the dark places, Kring doesn't exhaust the reader, but instead delights. A "character-driven" novel must deliver and indeed Kring does a beautiful job of bringing her characters to life, especially Lucy McGowan, the eleven-year-old narrator of "Thank You For All Things." Although, despite Lucy's intellect, at times I questioned the sophistication of her language and her views of the world around her, things that life and time usually bring instead of intelligence. That said, I went along for the ride, and as good writers will do, and Kring did, I mostly accepted Lucy's voice and musings as Truth, and I owe this to Kring also allowing Lucy her child-side, that innocence that only a young girl who hasn't fully lived her life, or born all life's surprises (both good and bad), will possess. More than anything, Lucy wants to find her father (since Lucy's mother will not give up her secret, Lucy must create fathers from her imagination--maybe skater Scott Hamilton is her father, maybe her father donated sperm to a sperm bank, maybe...); alternatively, she longs for her mother to find happiness with family friend Peter, whom Lucy hopes will become her Father Figure--but only if she can find her real father's identity first and ask his permission to love Peter. It doesn't help matters that Lucy's mother is not only silent about Lucy's father, but she will not speak of her own father. The secrets are slowly revealed when idealistic Lucy, her pessimistic mother, her quirky new-age grandmother, and Lucy's super-gifted twin brother are forced to leave their apartment in the city to temporarily live in Lucy's mother's childhood home in a small town. There, Lucy's grandfather lies dying, and long buried secrets bubble under the surface. As these secrets are discovered, they shatter Lucy's dreams of not only what her Family is and was, but her dreams of what kind of men her father, and the grandfather she begins to love and accept, are. As the story and the secrets build, build, and then finally erup

Sandra Kring seems to improve and grab more of my attention with each new novel she gives us. Her characters are so real and believable that you wonder at times if her material is based on specific people & events that she has experienced. Not that it matters, for it is so entertaining, this reader, didn't want it to end. As with The Book of Bright Ideas and Carry Me Home I felt every emotion stir in me at one point or another throughout the story. In Thank You For All Things my heart was actually racing when Lucy's character "borrows" something of her Mother's that she shouldn't as if I were standing right next to her. Ms. Kring has an amazing talent as a storyteller and her stories "through the eyes of a child" have this reader definitely wanting more!

Sandra Kring is gifted with an ability to create characters that remain in your psyche long after the story is read. Through them you are able to grasp concepts and understand behaviors of those damaged by a harmful past. Lucy, Milo and Tess are no exception to these rules. Tess, mother of the genius children, Lucy and Milo, was deeply damaged by a father who refused to show affection, concern or consideration of his intelligent, independent daughter. Thus, Tess, discontinues contact with him until he is dying and she is forced to return with her the children and her mother to the small home town she detests. Her intuitive, people smart daughter, Lucy, hopes to uncover secrets and aid in the healing of this dysfunctional family. Many avenues lead to the road of redemption and Lucy walks them with spunk and determination. She is witty, winsome, wise, and worldly beyond her years. Working like a detective she unearths clues, dissecting the past so that the present can be salved with the help of a new-aged grandmother, a Native American friend, and a cast of unruly characters. The pages seemingly turn themselves as the reader is so engrossed in the discoveries and solutions Lucy renders. If this is your first time with Sandra Kring you are in for a treat. May I also recommend "The Book of Bright Ideas" and "Carry Me Home." Soon you will be like me.....eagerly anticipating the next novel from this witty and wise writer.

I loved this book. The characters are a bit dysfunctional but truely enjoyable.

As a die-hard crime fiction writer/reader, I resisted ingesting Ms. Kring's first books -- previously (and strongly) receommended by a friend. In time, I read them and was impacted at how effortlessly her style and honest characters pulled me into the stories. I believe Ms. Kring's ability to create good, believable and likeable characters (and sometimes necessarily unlikeable foils, too) is one of her strongest points as a writer. Yes, she can turn a phrase, jack the tension and lead us down paths of hope and pain and discovery, but it is our affection for the characters that keeps us turning the pages. In time, I had the rare and privileged opportunity to interview the author. She is an honorable and sensitive writer, one who cares about people as much as she cares about her art, A QUALITY REFLECTED IN HER BOOKS AND CHARACTERS. She IS also a rare writer who cares more about writing GOOD BOOKS rather than just producing books that will sell well (although she has succeeded there, too). NEVER MORE HAS THIS QUALITY BEEN REFLECTED THAN IN THANK YOU FOR ALL THINGS. It is well worth your time and hard earned money. Enjoy it.