This is my book review of Heart Spring Mountain by Robin MacArthur.
In this evocative first novel, a young woman returns to her rural Vermont hometown in the wake of a devastating storm. She searches for her missing mother and attempts to unravel a powerful family secret.
Book Summary:
In August 2011 Tropical Storm Irene hit Vermont, flooding rivers and destroying homes.
Vale is 1000 miles away tending bar in New Orleans when she receives a call that her mother Bonnie has disappeared during the storm.
Though they have been estranged for years, Vale goes home to look for her. It has been 8 years since Vale left her hometown.
This book is told from the viewpoint of the family members, three generations of women. There is the farming widow, a dreamer and an owl-loving hermit. The plot moves back and forth from the fifties to 2011.
This book is about going home. It’s about strong women and survival. And ultimately connecting with family no matter how long you’ve been away from them. Blending back in and taking your rightful place. And most importantly it’s about learning to forgive.
I loved reading Heart Spring Mountain. But I felt there was a lot of crudeness in the text that was unnecessary. This type of thing usually doesn’t bother me, but just so you know, there was a lot of it.
About The Author:
Robin MacArthur lives on the hillside farm where she was born in Marlboro, Vermont. Her debut collection of short stories, HALF WILD, won the 2017 PEN New England award for fiction, and was a finalist for both the New England Book Award and the Vermont Book Award.
She has taught in many non-traditional settings throughout the US.
When not writing, Robin spends her time prying rocks out of unruly garden soil. Picking blackberries and raspberries outside her back door, and traipsing through the woods with her children.
This book sounds really interesting and a great read, will keep eye out for it. Have been trying to broaden my kind of books to read. Glad you shared this book with us..
Happy Sunday
Hi Brenda,
I remember that awful storm. Sounds like a good read. I am re-reading Secret Lives of Bees. My son had to read if for school. I love it so much and I feel like it has a whole different meaning today than it did the first time I read it.
Thanks for the review and I hope you are doing great!