Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sister Loyalty, October 3, 2008
This review is from: My Sister Dilly (Paperback)
Maureen Lang is rapidly becoming a favorite in women's fiction. She tackles difficult family situations, childhood illnesses and disabilities with honesty and grace. My Sister Dilly is a beautiful book that touches your heart with peace like walking down a country lane on a summer day.
Hannah and Dilly Williams grew up on a hog farm with strict parents. Hannah couldn't wait to leave and did as soon as she graduated. Years later when her sister Dilly is starting over again after some difficult circumstances, Hannah takes it upon herself to come and care for Dilly. Guilt over not being there for her little sister years earlier drives Hannah's life. She leaves behind a career and the only man she's ever loved to go back to a town she hates and people she is sure don't care. Hannah's journey to care for Dilly becomes a personal quest for peace and contentment. Dilly and her daughter Sierra teach Hannah more about herself than she ever knew. Will Hannah find the way to unravel the guilt that tangles her heart and make room for perfect love to heal the wounds?
Maureen Lang has written a surprising story that waves grace on every page. She gives the reader and honest look into the lives of people who face daily struggles, sometimes make wrong choices, and find their way through mistakes to second chances. Her characters are believable and endearing. I highly recommend My Sister Dilly. And if this is your first Maureen Lang book, be sure to check her others also; Pieces of Silver, Remember Me, Oak Leaves, and On Sparrow Hill.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book will change the way you view life, January 30, 2009
This review is from: My Sister Dilly (Paperback)
While Hannah was living out her dream on the California coast and away from her small town home life, her sister Dilly was serving time in prison. While Hannah ran away from her past, Dilly had to stay and remember day after day of the crime she had committed. When Dilly is set free from prison, Hannah returns to take care of her sister and intends make up for not being there all those years. However Dilly has changed and is intent on righting her wrongs, while Hannah doesn't agree with what she's doing. Will Dilly stand up to her sister or will Hannah be forced to give in?
While I was reading this story, all I could keep thinking in my head was "Wow." This is a story you would normally not think of when you think about Christian fiction. This is not your happily ever after,everyone's all lovey-dovey , everything always works out Christian fiction. This book is ripped from the headlines, make yourself really think, in your face fiction. Usually when you hear in the news about mothers who intentionally hurt their kids, your first thought it to condemn the mother. You cannot believe that anyone would want to purposely murder their children and that they must insane to do it. This novel shows the other side to that story and what could possibly make a mother even consider doing that to her child. As a reader, it took me by surprise that I actually felt sympathy towards a mother who did this and anger over the grandmother who wants to protect her grandchild. The story really blew me away by how much I invested into the characters. Dilly's sister, Hannah also touched my heart as well. She wants to protect her sister and is willing to sacrifice her own life to do so. However her reasons behind that are not as "Good Samaritan" as they sound. It's a wonderful character study between the two of them. My only qualm with the book was that it takes a while before the reader is finally told what exactly happened to put Dilly in jail. It's merely hinted at for about 3/4 of the book. It wasn't a problem but it made me feel like I had missed it somewhere because it kept being subtly mentioned at through most of the book. Otherwise, you will be enthralled by this book. The book is perfect is you're in the mood for something that is not fluffy and really makes you think afterwards. It's a story that stays with you and has you looking twice at everything you've always believed in. One of the most thought-provoking reads of the year. HIGHLY recommended.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Forgiveness, January 28, 2009
This review is from: My Sister Dilly (Paperback)
This story tells of two sweet sisters, Hannah and Dilly Williams. They grow up as daughters of hog farmers in Ill. Their parents are strict in their beliefs, yet consistent and as they mature, the girls learn to appreciate the way they were raised.
Hannah leaves small town life for big city lights while the younger Dilly marries a man who likes to leave a free life, including being with other women. They have a disabled child,Sierra who requires 24/7 care. Dilly believes that no one can care for her better than herself and she will not ask for help from anyone, Nick, her husband doesn't seem to notice that Dilly is becoming exhausted. No one in her life knows the trouble.
Out of desperation and exhaustion, Dilly does the unthinkable and attempts to kill herself and the child. She is jailed and her mother-in-law takes over care of the little girl. She is determined that under no circumstances will Dilly ever see her again.
Hannah is feeling guilty that she never saw, noticed or bothered to help Dilly and she returns home from California to help care for her sister when her prison sentence is up. She is having a great deal of trouble forgiving herself and cannot understand Dilly's new found hope in Christ.
With the help of her friend, Mac, she begins to find herself and forgive the past, including her parents.
Maureen Lang does well at explaining what many children have as they grow up and are influenced by the world around them, and that is confusion about who and what they are. She shows a raw side that many are afraid to look deep into and that would be a disdain for their parents and the way they believe and also how they make their living.
She also touched my heart to be more sensitive to those around me who might need help and not know how to ask.
As the story continues, the author does a beautiful job of showing Hannah come to terms with her upbringing. I loved this book.
Paulette Harris
www.pauletteharris.biz
comeandsitawhile.blogspot
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
