On Mystic Lake [Hardcover]

Kristin; Crown Publishers Hannah (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Crown Publishers, New York, New York, U.S.A.; 1st Edition edition (1999)
• ISBN-10: 0739403230
• ISBN-13: 978-0739403235
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (137 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,999,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kristin Hannah was born in September 1960 in Southern California and grew up at the beach, making sand castles and playing in the surf. When she was eight years old, her father drove the family to Western Washington which they called home.

After working in a trendy advertising agency, Kristin decided to go to law school. "But you're going to be a writer" are the prophetic words she would never forget from her mother. Kristin was in her third-and final-year of law school and her mom was in the hospital, facing the end of her long battle with cancer. Kristin was shocked to discover that her mother believed she would become a writer. For the next few months, they collaborated on the worst, most clichéd historical romance ever written.

After her mom's death, she packed up all those bits and pieces of paper they'd collected and put them in a box in the back of her closet. Kristin got married and continued practicing law.

Then Kristin found out she was pregnant and was on bed rest for five months. By the time she'd read every book in the house and started asking her husband for cereal boxes to read, she knew she was a goner. That's when her husband reminded her of the book she'd started with her mom. Kristin pulled out the boxes of research material, dusted them off and began writing. By the time their son was born, she'd finished a first draft and found an obsession.

The rejections came, of course, and they stung for a while, but each one really just spurred her to try harder, work more. In 1990, Kristin got "the call," and in that moment, she went from a young mother with a cooler-than-average hobby to a professional writer, and has never looked back. In all the years between then and now, she have never lost her love of, or her enthusiasm for, telling stories. Kristin feels truly blessed to be a wife, a mother, and a writer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Story!, December 31, 2002

By 

TJ's Mommy (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Mystic Lake (Mass Market Paperback)

Kristin Hannah has done it again. She is a master of taking the reader to beautiful places with interesting and often complex characters. Annie returns home to Mystic Lake after her husband of 20 years tells her that he wants a divorce because he's in love with another woman. Annie is a nurturer and is always there to take care of others, but in the meantime she has lost herself. During her stay in Mystic Lake she comes to know true love, finds out about herself, and helps a little girl who has lost her mommy understand that "it's going to be okay." The little girl, Izzy, will capture your heart and make you laugh and cry. Hannah keeps you waiting until the bitter end...the last few pages...to see how things tie up and if the ending will be happy. This book will not disappoint you.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely terrific!, June 3, 2001

By 

Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: On Mystic Lake (Mass Market Paperback)

You don't know what you're missing if you've never read a book by Kristin Hannah, and _On Mystic Lake_ is one of the absolute best books ever written. The characters come alive and endear themselves to your heart. Annie is down to earth and easy to read about. Izzie, the little girl who needs to find her way into the world again is precious and Nick is the type of character whom you wish you could jump into the book and give a hug to. _On Mystic Lake_ is by no means "lite reading". The main character, Annie, is getting a divorce from her husband who claims to love another woman. Trying to come to grips with her failing marriage, Annie returns home to Mystic to spend some time with her father. There she meets up with her first love, Nick, who chose her best friend over her, breaking Annie's heart. It turns out that Nick's wife (Annie's old best friend) has died leaving Nick and his daughter Izzie devestated. When the three first get together, it's sort of like the blind leading the blind. They are all so hurt that it is hard to see who needs more help. But, Annie brings healing to Izzie's soul, the little girl mends Annie's heart, and a love rekindles between Nick and Annie. Still, things are not that easy, and a conflict makes the world harder in Mystic. Kristin Hannah is an amazingly gifted author and her talent shines in _On Mystic Lake_. Her descriptive writing will take you to another place- a little logging town in Washington where mist floats above the ground and life moves at a slower pace. This is a beautiful book about three healing souls who learn that bad things do happen but you can get around them. I'd recomend _On Mystic Lake_ to anyone who enjoys putting down a book with a sense that the world is a wonderful place and they can do something to make it better.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable book , that you will not want to put down!, May 12, 1999

By 

Allison R. King "Allisons Attic" (Hollister, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On Mystic Lake (Hardcover)

This is the first book of Kristin Hannah's that I've read and it won't be the last. Her story of Annie Colwater is so realistic in this day and age of the modern woman. After the initial heartbreak, she tries to find who she truly is after so many years of acting the part she thought she was suppose to be for her husband. I'm glad the book doesn't go to the extreme of 'blaming' the husband for the whole situation and instead has Annie discover for herself the direction she needs to take with her life. If you want an enjoyable reading with a little heartbreak, a few tears, and some strong emotions, you must read this book.