Forty-two and divorced, Holli Templeton has just begun to realize the pleasures of owning her life for the first time. But the experience is short-lived. Her son Conner has unexpectedly fled college in Rhode Island and moved to Texas with his troubled girlfriend, Kilian. This alone is difficult to handle, but as Holli begins to understand the depth of the girl's problems, concern turns to crisis. Conner's situation is worsening, and as if that's not enough, Holli notices signs of serious decline in the beloved Texas grandmother who raised her. She has no choice but to leave the comfort zone of life in New York and return to her hometown in Texas to care for the people she loves. In the tight space between these two generations, Holli initially feels lost. The journey back stirs so many unresolved hurts from her childhood. But something else happens in this uneasy homecoming. Comfort arrives in the ethereal presence of the mother long lost to her, and Holli is surprised to find that as she struggles to help her son and grandmother, the wounds of her own past begin to heal. The space between before and after--easily the most challenging place she has ever known--begins to reveal an unanticipated hope for what the future might hold.
I really enjoyed this book. I've already recommended it and passed it on to friends...
A Wonderful Read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I happened to pick up this book at a half-off sale and enjoyed it immensely. I tend to read the same authors or recommendations from friends who are avid readers. I had never read anything by this author but I would gladly pick up anything she writes. Her characterizations are excellent and the story line was one that kept you interested from start to finish. I highly recommend reading this book. Maybe someone should recommend it to Oprah so that this author gets her due.
The Space Between Before and After
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I really enjoyed this book. I read a lot of historical fiction and felt the urge to read something contempory and this "hit the spot". The way the perspective changed with each chapter kept the book feeling fresh. The book also makes for great discussion on several levels for instance, tragety, loss, blame, perseverance and mortality just to name a few. I am having my book club read in next month and look forward to reading more from this author
LIFE IN TEXAS WITH A TWIST
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
I really liked this book. I like how the author wrote each chapter from the perspective of one of the characters in the book. I also like how she wrote it from a young Hollyanne or an older Holli. The story has many twists to it and I won't give any away, but it will keep your interest till the very end. The story is about the day a young girl named Hollyanne's (called Holli as an adult) mother dies while she is pregnant with her sister, and what happens to her life after that event. The events that happen change many things in her life forever. The story is also about Holli's son, Conner dropping out of college and living with his girlfriend that has Cystic Fibrosis. Another story line is the story of Holli's grandmother named Raine and how she is starting to have Alzheimer's disease and how the family reacts to it. There are many things that happen in this book that I think most people will be able to find a person they can relate to, either because they are divorced, child of a divorce, stepchild, stepparent, Generation X, Baby Boomer or Senior Citizen. This book dealt with death, illness, senior citizen issues and many other poignant issues of the time. I found it a very interesting read, and I think the author is a very talented writer. The story was a little depressing at times, but I do recommend it.
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