Gardenias for Breakfast: A Women of Faith Novel (Paperback)

by Robin Jones Gunn (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The versatile Gunn, the bestselling author of more than 53 books (Sister Chicks Do the Hula, etc.), offers readers of inspirational fiction an entertaining foray into the South and an intriguing look at the intergenerational relationships of women. Hannah has just turned 12 when her mother, Abby, takes her from their home in Maui to be blessed by her 92-year-old "Grand Lady"—Hannah's great-grandmother—in Louisiana. As they travel across the United States, they connect with various relatives, including Abby's estranged mother. Abby longs for her grandmother and Hannah to bond with each other, discovering that she herself is desperate for Grand Lady's approval. "It's funny whom we end up choosing to love and who ends up choosing to love us. It's rarely the people we think it should be," says Su Ling, Hannah's aunt. Although occasionally the descriptions falter ("Hannah was the dew-kissed rosebud about to curl back her first tender petals"), rich regional details spice up the story, and Gunn does a fine job fleshing out her characters. Faith fiction readers will especially enjoy the flitting appearances of an angel, who takes bodily form as a large black man carrying two white chickens, and also as a janitor. The ending is anticlimactic, given the prologue's promise, but still satisfying. This is one of Gunn's best offerings to date.
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Review
"Robin Gunn's storytelling is a breath of fresh air."
- Karen Kingsbury --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 14, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849944473
• ISBN-13: 978-0849944475
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #384,819 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Robin Gunn's best!, August 17, 2005

By	T. Smith "LovesToRead" (NC USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Gardenias for Breakfast" is one of Robin Jones Gunn's best! As a middle age woman I related to the importance of female relationships in the family. "Gardenias" reenforces the importance of mending tears in family relations as well as opening our eyes to the fact that our perceptions of situations change at different stages and ages of our life.
Abby, the main character, is on the trip of a lifetime due to her brother's need for a favor. Throughout this trip, Abby becomes aware of how God is working in the life of others and how He changes people. She is made aware of how He is working in her life and protecting her and her family. She realizes how insightful her teenage daughter has become. She also realizes the need for change and a different perspective on situations she may have believed were one way, yet were more likely another.
This book made me rethink my family female relationships and how I "see" them. Maybe I need to look deeper and at a different side.
Robin Jones Gunn's "Sisterchick" series is still my favorite.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful mother/daughter tale, April 4, 2005

By	Janet H. McHenry "Author/Speaker" (Loyalton, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've read all of Robin's women's novels and found this to be my favorite. Her beautifully metaphorical writing about mother/daughter relationships in four generations of one family just struck chord after chord with me. In fact, I've been inspired to take a road trip with my daughters to create our own memories. I highly recommend this book!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ultimate in Mother/Daughter Story, April 1, 2005

By	LuvsBooksNMusic (Fort Smith, AR United States) - See all my reviews

What a marvelous tale of the journey of a mother, Abby, and her daughter, Hannah, across mainland USA--and a journey to a healing of relationships for all the women in the family! Abby gets island fever living in Hawaii and dreams of taking her 12-year-old daughter, Hannah to the mainland. Specifically, she wants to take her to Louisiana to bond with Grand Lady, Abby's grandmother. Abby's brother calls her with an offer that makes her dream come true. He wants her to drive his SUV from his home in Washington to Atlanta--and pay all her expenses. Abby's husband and son elect to stay in Hawaii and run the family business while Abby and Hannah take off for the adventure of their lives. I loved this book so much! I would rate it with more than 5 stars if I could. This book is exceptional. Every woman is a daughter even if she isn't a mother..and every woman should read this book. The Mother/Daughter relationship is very complex and we see how complex it is with 4 living generations of women (and Grand Lady talks about her relationship with her long-dead mother, so that makes 5).