Author: Louise Miller
Publication Information: Pamela Dorman Books. 2018. 336 pages.
ISBN: 1101981237 / 978-1101981238
Book Source: I received this book through the Penguin First to Read program free of cost in exchange for an honest review.
Opening Sentence: "Freckles would have smelled the change in Peggy Johnson, but the window on his side had been rolled all the way down and the air out on Pudding Hill Road was thick with the scent of the fresh cow manure the farmer had spread over his kale field just that morning."
Favorite Quote: "I'm more interested in what a person thinks and feels anyways, but if we have to look like something, which we do, I'd rather look at someone whose face shows they've lived a little. That they've struggled a little."
This book in its setup reminds me of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. There is a small town and a close-knit community. There is a big business looking to take over and change. There are two siblings, one who flies and seeks the world and one who stays and keeps alive the parents' vision. Both siblings feels like the other is the strong one. A crisis precipitates a reckoning. The love and bond of this small community comes together. Admittedly, this book has no angel showing what life would have been like if... However, other things manage to convey the community impact of one person.
At the heart of this story is Nora, the owner and operator of Miss Guthrie's Diner in the small town of Guthrie, Vermont. She and her sister Kit grew up in Guthrie and the diner. Nora kept it going after the death of her mother and her father's decline. Kit left to pursue other dreams. Part of a close-knit community, Nora nevertheless feels alone, particularly after her divorce.
The plot of the book is simple. A town resident passes away, and for reasons unknown leaves her rather large property to Nora and Kit. So, there is the question of why would a relative stranger leave the sisters this legacy? A big business wants to purchase the property to build a large store. A handsome, eligible, and sympathetic representative from this business arrives to survey the potential of the store. The town is divided between the jobs the store may bring to the local economy and the way it will forever alter the small town. Sisters Nora and Kit are divided between the windfall the sale of the property will bring them and the desire to protect this special property and the town. Added in for good measure is the story of a lost dog that brings an entire community together.
Nora, in this case, is the late bloomer. In that respect, many readers may find her a relatable character. Her story of putting, what she feels may have been, her goals on hold for family obligations is a story that frequently occurs in real life. It is the longing for the path not taken even if you eventually discover is that the path you are on is the one you wanted all along. Sometimes, it takes a crisis to remind us of that.
One of the best parts of this book is the relationship between the two sisters. It feels real. There is sibling rivalry, disagreements, at times distance, but ultimately a basis of strong love and respect. This and the lovely small town feel of Guthrie gives this book a nostalgic feel.
Louise Miller's The City Baker's Guide to Country Living is also set in the town of Guthrie. Both books are simple, sweet stories. No shocking twists, no unpredictable turns. Just feel good books perfect for a cozy afternoon. This book, like the first one, also contains a few recipes for cakes which sound delicious. Do not read when hungry.
This book in its setup reminds me of the movie It's a Wonderful Life. There is a small town and a close-knit community. There is a big business looking to take over and change. There are two siblings, one who flies and seeks the world and one who stays and keeps alive the parents' vision. Both siblings feels like the other is the strong one. A crisis precipitates a reckoning. The love and bond of this small community comes together. Admittedly, this book has no angel showing what life would have been like if... However, other things manage to convey the community impact of one person.
At the heart of this story is Nora, the owner and operator of Miss Guthrie's Diner in the small town of Guthrie, Vermont. She and her sister Kit grew up in Guthrie and the diner. Nora kept it going after the death of her mother and her father's decline. Kit left to pursue other dreams. Part of a close-knit community, Nora nevertheless feels alone, particularly after her divorce.
The plot of the book is simple. A town resident passes away, and for reasons unknown leaves her rather large property to Nora and Kit. So, there is the question of why would a relative stranger leave the sisters this legacy? A big business wants to purchase the property to build a large store. A handsome, eligible, and sympathetic representative from this business arrives to survey the potential of the store. The town is divided between the jobs the store may bring to the local economy and the way it will forever alter the small town. Sisters Nora and Kit are divided between the windfall the sale of the property will bring them and the desire to protect this special property and the town. Added in for good measure is the story of a lost dog that brings an entire community together.
Nora, in this case, is the late bloomer. In that respect, many readers may find her a relatable character. Her story of putting, what she feels may have been, her goals on hold for family obligations is a story that frequently occurs in real life. It is the longing for the path not taken even if you eventually discover is that the path you are on is the one you wanted all along. Sometimes, it takes a crisis to remind us of that.
One of the best parts of this book is the relationship between the two sisters. It feels real. There is sibling rivalry, disagreements, at times distance, but ultimately a basis of strong love and respect. This and the lovely small town feel of Guthrie gives this book a nostalgic feel.
Louise Miller's The City Baker's Guide to Country Living is also set in the town of Guthrie. Both books are simple, sweet stories. No shocking twists, no unpredictable turns. Just feel good books perfect for a cozy afternoon. This book, like the first one, also contains a few recipes for cakes which sound delicious. Do not read when hungry.
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