In this novel, Delp returns to her favorite subject of family dynamics and rural life. The characters are part of a complex family history that on the surface appears to be very ordinary. But as the layers are peeled back, the reader enters into the hearts and minds of the characters, including their secrets and their regrets. From a Norwegian grandma, to the younger generation, you experience the heart aches and pleasures of everyday living.
Nature plays its part in this story as the craft of gardening and the love of the soil reach out and touch and transform the lives of the characters. The characters are recognizable across generations and reveal the warmth of family love as well as the pain of those connections. Misunderstanding and suffering from a homophobic environment plagues Simon, the son. Meeting the expectations of parents who want different things from you, is Laurel's crossroad. Their Aunt plays a significant role in their lives and that of their mother, but not without suffering and sacrifice.
This is an easy read and will leave you thinking about the families you know and are a part of.
