6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!, August 12, 2007
I was suprised at the low rating by others of this book. It's one of the best books I've read in a long time. I plan to pass it on to several people. It was so moving. I love the characters and the descriptive setting. I was disappointed when I was finished reading it because I know it will be awhile before I find another book that I enjoy so much.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Sweet, Lyrical, 'War-Ravaged' Story, May 19, 2007
Luanne Rice's latest novel, The Edge of Winter, was a delight to read. It is not a fast-paced novel filled with mega-action or explosions. There is no big chase scene or hold your breath pivotal moment. What it does have is a slow, steady buildup of plot and an intense look at the lives of numerous scarred characters and how they are intertwined, brought together by old wars, new wars, love, family ties, death, secrets and forgiveness. If you're patient with this book, you'll come to know these characters and care for them...and miss them when you're done.
The Edge of Winter is a journey, rich with details of the land and nature--of snowy owls, windswept beaches and watery graves. It is the story of Mickey and her mom, Neve. A story of sweet, innocent first love and cautious, suspicious second love. Mickey is a teenager with a soft spot for all things wounded, including an injured owl and Shane, a lonely teenaged boy with a passion for surfing. Neve, frustrated with her `deadbeat' ex-husband, is drawn to Tim O'Casey, the ranger from Refuge Beach, where a German submarine had sank off the coast after being bombed in World War II.
When a rich and powerful man decides to raise the submarine and turn it into a museum, Mickey and Shane are spurred on to save the submarine's resting place and a piece of their history. But there are secrets that haunt the waters. Perhaps, the lost souls don't want to be raised. In this story, there are many lost souls who need saving, and that may be its only down side. It may be unrealistic to wrap up every character in a 'happily ever after' theme, but I know (as an author myself) it is so very tempting.
The Edge of Winter is a tribute to Luanne's father, a navigator-bombardier who flew in World War II, and to all the men and women fighting wars, then and now, on both sides. The author writes about the far-reaching and ravaging effects of war that carry on for generations. We are shown how forgiveness and understanding can set free even the most crippling guilt. The last few chapters are very emotional and really bring forth the author's message: "It was war."
A simple but heartfelt summer read with unforgettable characters, perfect for reading while at the cottage or relaxing on a beach. I gave this novel 4.5 stars mainly because my favorite Luanne Rice novel is still Beach Girls.
~ Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Author of Divine Intervention
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely, October 28, 2007
I, too, was surprised by the negative reviews of this book. What was the point? asked one reviewer. The long-reaching effects of war, of course! And the book made me research WWII U-Boats off our eastern coast, which I was never aware of; guess I missed that in history class! I think the alcoholic father's character was handled realistically. I loved the beach scenes and the snowy owl story line (if you like to read about the raptors, as the background in a novel, I recommend
Skyward by Mary Alice Monroe). Luanne Rice always works something ethereal into her plots, which brings another dimension to the story. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because of some nit-picks. At one point, Mickey, the teenage protagonist, recalls her father "try to explain to her how when he was a little boy the war had come to his own backyard". Her father is said to be in his early 40s, so unless the story took place 20 years ago (it didn't; the characters have cell phones), her dad was not born then. Also at one point she quotes "an old James Taylor song", which in fact is an Eagles song. The style of writing that's more and more popular with this sort of author, is kind of annoying as well: "they came out behind St. George's School. Passed the road leading to Purgatory Chasm, down the hill past Second Beach, round the bend by Third Beach". I'm sure she's disabled the grammar feature on her Word program HA! But, all in all, a very nice read.
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