Customer Reviews

Mother Country

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This is a novel of place and time and stories, lots of stories. The 'black clad widows', immigrants from Eastern Europe, tell stories; the fictitious town of Taylor, NV, is rife with stories about past events and about its many (well developed) characters. As Leon weaves her tale and vividly evokes a place for our mind's eye, the reader is introduced to lives, terrain and people unknown to most of us. The community of miners who live 'south of Main Street' protects its eccentrics, its young people and its secrets. And the stories of the grandmothers are like the stories of all grandmothers: they keep alive the traditions and provide a continuity, in this case, from the Old World to the Nevada of the 1950's.

Peggy is my cousin, and I bought this book at my mothers request. It resonated with my mother and her family history in the area, even though Peggy is a cousin on my dad's side, writing about a time period and a people and geographic area unknowingly populated by my mom's side.

I really enjoyed the story and Peggy's style of writing. You go Peggy! Write more!

Totally absorbing lyrical, evocative tales of immigrant families, richly endowed characters, & coming of age. Told in a heartbroken, dreamy teenager's voice w/giggling & trenchant asides from all the ghosts, this is a charming, poignant requiem for a grandmother, a place & a time. Exquisitely written rare gem & a keeper.