Customer Reviews

The Edge of Winter

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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

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.

I was shocked to read negative reviews here. I really enjoyed this novel, probably one of my favorites written by Luanne Rice. Predictability seems to be an issue for other reviewers...to that, I say read a mystery if you want less predictability. But for those who want to read a novel that explores the human heart's ability to forgive not only others but oneself as well, this is a story that will keep you interested and inspired.

I have to say I think the good reviews override the cynical reviews here, thank goodness. I too don't understand some of the reviewers of this book because I thought it was lovely. It's about a girl whose friends are changing while her views stay the same. She meets a young man who has similar views as she does. The same happens for her mother and both characters find how important it is to open up to new (and familiar) people. In fact, many of the characters in this book learn that lesson. This world is filled with people who are in a constant rush. This book showed me that there are still people who care about preserving things, and enjoying nature. If you're ready to sit down and take time to read a wonderfully written book, pick this one up.

I am now a fan of Luanne Rice.

Though at the beginning of the story, I was inclined to believe it was written more towards a younger audience, I plunged ahead and was surprised to see myself speeding along. Luanne Rice does a brilliant job of making the main characters believable. I love the relationships that form between the young teenagers, their parents and the other influential adults- though I still believe 14 is too young to have a romantic relationship.
I had trouble understanding why the snowy owl was so important to the characters, but believe it was due to "everything falling apart" in their lives that they just wanted "one thing" to go right. The snowy owl parts were a bit too detailed and I found myself skimming over them- which I never do in books.
Also, though it was essential to the plot of the story, I still failed to grasp just how important the U boat was- it became aggravating to read so much commotion about it, when I just couldn't see what the big issue was- it turns out the U boat important information was as the near END of the book. It took a little too long to get to it, I think.

Overall, I was hooked on the story. It has written toward a younger audience, I think, but overall it was a good and easy read.

This was a nice little story but slow. No real climax and though it was uneventful it wasn't bad. It was kind of refreshing to read something that wasn't trying to shock you each page. Although, I will say that Rice's writing style leaves something to be desired. This book is a must read if you are into war history and/or birds.

I have chosen this book for my book club to read. It will be interesting to see if the reviews are as varied as here. I loved the story and the characters, and still think about them. I read alot of books, and this one really stuck with me.

Like a beautifully woven tapestry, The Edge of Winter brings together a multitude of disparate strands to produce a deeply satisfying finished product that glows with warmth and meaning. Any of these strands would lmake a good story in itself - the gorgeous, threatened snowy owl, the gifted artist destroyed by memories of wartime cruielties, the coming of age of two sensitive kids wrestling with misunderstanding and life-changing dedication, the loss and discovery of love, the putting to rest of old wartime hatreds, the battle between greed and environmental preservation- what a rich, evocative range of tapestry threads! Even at their most stubborn, Rice's characters are likeable, and we want them to succeed, both in the larger drama that involves them, and in the personal rekindling of faith and passion. One of my favorite books of the year!

This was an awesome book! I am not usually interested in historical fiction but this one really kept my attention. Rice makes you fall in love with the characters and gets you worried about their problems so much that you just want to fix it for them. I reccommend this book to anyone.