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Clare Burke's life took a devastating turn when she tried to protect her sister, Anne, from an abusive and controlling husband and ended up serving prison time for assault. The verdict largely hinged on Anne's defense of her spouse, all lies, and the sisters have been estranged ever since. Nearly twenty years later, Claire is living a quiet life in Manhattan as an urban birder and nature blogger, when her niece, Grit, turns up on her doorstep. The two long for a relationship with each other, but they'll have to dig deep into their family's difficult past in order to build one. Together, they face the wounds inflicted by Anne and her husband and find in their new connection a place of healing. When Clare begins to suspect her sister might have followed Grit to New York, she and her niece hold out hope for a long-awaited reunion with her...but will it be the joyous occasion they dream of? And will Clare and her longtime partner, Paul, whose complicated relationship has been sorely tested through the years, find a way back to love and to each other, again?--From inside front flap of book jacket.… (more)
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Anne, once a vibrant and strong woman,
This book was about Clare and Grit's new bond, and also about forgiving Anne or at least understanding her behavior. The first part worked very well for me. Grit (short for Margarita) was my favorite character. She was brave and smart, and it's hard to believe how level-headed she was considering her childhood with a psychotic monster of a father. Grit and Clare found in each other what had been missing in their lives for nearly two decades.
I liked Clare, but I think her character could have been more developed. Her two-year prison term supposedly had a detrimental effect on her life even years later, but I never felt it. She's also had an on again, off again relationship with a man named Paul since they were teenagers, and, again, being in prison ruined that too, even though Paul supported her 100%. That didn't make sense to me. They still loved each other, so what's the problem?
The other part of the book - empathizing with Anne - was where I had great difficulty. I didn't like her. Did she even have a heart? We know Frederick didn't. Maybe the problem was that Frederick was simply too evil. He had no redeeming qualities whatsoever, and Anne had the opportunity to escape him early on. Why would she choose an abuser over her sister, over her children's welfare, over herself? We never learn why she fell under his spell so easily in the first place.
This was a sad and depressing story, and it certainly stirred up a lot of emotion in me, unfortunately it was mostly anger. I'm glad I read the book, even though I had trouble with a lot of the story. I do like it when books make me emotional, even if that emotion is negative. This is the first book by Luanne Rice I've read, so I don't know if this is her typical style or not. She has a short story called "Paul and Clare" which is about how they met, and I'd actually like to read it, so I guess all is not lost. ;)
It's hard to say I enjoyed it, but I couldn't put it down . It's about a family torn apart by lies, estrangement, and violence. But it also is a story of nature, fascinating birds,
Thank you Ms. Rice for this extraordinary story of unconditional love, and families.
Published By: Pamela Dorman Books
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Book Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5
Review:
"Little Night" by Luanne Rice was a intriguing family drama read in that it was a little different from my normal reads that this read simply blow me away. It was not
The characters were all very well developed with such emotions that really made this a very realistic story and "Little Night" will give you a very sensitive heartbreaking read.
I think this author did a wonderful job as "she weaves, pain, death, sorrow, betrayal, abandonment, forgiveness and love all in a well written story" that has been well delivered to the reader and yes, I would definitely recommend "Little Night" as a excellent read.
ISBN: 9780670023561
Book starts out with Clare attacking her sisters husband because of what he's done to them all. She ends up in prison and her sister Anne and the kids, gilly and grit are still left behind to endure his torture.
While in prison she's had a lot of time to
After Clare gets out she does seek out Paul again and they resume their bird watches and rescues in the hopes of seeing an extinct laughing owl.
Grit comes to live with Clare and the truth comes out as to why she is there.
The symbolism of the bog, the accident and how it brings them closer makes all that's happened come together as one.
Just when you think you've learned all you can about a topic: snowy owls, Central Park, variety of birds, rather than shoving it down your throats like other authors might do, Luanne knows exactly when to move onto other things. It's just a super blend, seamless.
Like that Grit knows how to cook elegantly from scratch and can do wonders with barely anything.
What happened at the bog landed Grit in the hospital. While there she knows her mother stood over her bed. She's seen other signs of her mother being in town, and so has Clare.
Love the mystery as to why Anne couldn't contact them in the city.
I like a book that takes me places and learn new things. I am really into this book: the ferry to the statue of liberty-never knew about the rooms at the bottom; the glassblowing; all the birds and facts; the scenery, different named areas, and atmosphere of ny central park, very detailed architecture and the cooking.
Countries overseas have an appeal all their own.
Like how when the book has stated a Danish remark the translation is the next line-won't leave you guessing or have to look it up on the pc.
Love the idea of the special picnic and how the book got its title from it and opened the web page.
Learned so much in this book, as I do follow our local snowy owl and have seen one in Oregon at a refuge for birds.
Clare compares her life with some of the extinct owls.
Love the ending and how things have gone full circle.
TITLE: Little Night
Date Read: 12/14/13
RATING: 4/B
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Fiction/2012/Viking/321 pgs
SERIES/STAND ALONE: SA
TIME/PLACE: Present/NYC
CHARACTERS: Claire Burke/urban birder, blogger ; Grit/ her niece
FIRST LINES: The letter arrived the 2nd Tuesday in
COMMENTS: Tragic, sad story about the close relationship between 2 sisters that is destroyed when the older sister marries an abusive controlling man. The sadness was overcome by the hope that Claire had for her sister Anne, despite all that had happened in the past and the lack of communication in the present. What made the story for me was the zest Claire had for nature, particularly the urban birding and blogging. I loved this part of the story and it offset all the somber emotions.