Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009

Book Review: A Field Guide To Burying Your Parents by Liza Palmer

Author: Liza Palmer

Publisher: 5 Spot/Hachette

ISBN #:   978-0-446-69838-2

 Type:  Fiction:Womens/General

Pages: 320 Trade Paperback

Published:  October 29, 2009

Website:  http://lizapalmer.com/

Purchase:  $9.44 (HERE) 

The Publisher’s Summary

“Grace Hawkes has not spoken to her previously tight-knit family since her monther’s sudden death five years ago.  Well, most of the family was tight-knit – her father walked out on them when she was thirteen and she and her two brothers and sister bonded more closely with their mother as a result.

Grace is doing her best to live her new life apart from them, but when their estranged father has a stroke and summons them, she suddenly realizes she’s done the same thing he had done – abandoned those who need her the most.

Inside the hospital’s walls, tensions run high as Grace reconnects with her family and they all meet their father’s pseudo-kindly second wife.  But the more the original Hawkes clan discovers about this manipulative woman, the more their family threatens to break apart once again.  After finally realizing how much her family means to her, can Grace stand up for those she loves and keep them together?”     

(Excerpt is from the book cover of A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents.) 

My Thoughts & A Review

I understand Grace.  I know how separating yourself from your family affects you.  For many reasons, I have a very limited relationship with my family members.  Some times, families fall apart.  It could be do to divorce, death, or other tragedies.  Whatever the cause, once a family is splintered into pieces, it is nearly impossible to mend back into the family before the split.

Grace faces her fears and her siblings when she arrives at the hospital to see her dying father.  What she discovers there is that their family has a real chance at mending.  She also comes face to face with the great love of her life.  He works with her brother and is involved with her father’s living trust and legal affairs.  I also understand Grace’s heart.  She’s never gotten over the great love of her life and is powerless over the intense feelings she is having for John.  Yet, she is in a relationship.  Grace is forced to re-evaluate her life… work, love, and family.  What matters most to her?  And, what is she willing to do to attain the life she was destined for?

 I enjoyed reading this book.  Palmer did a nice job in providing a story which kept me engaged, attached, and wanting to watch Grace’s progression through her fear, loss and reclamation of love.  The book had an ease and familiarity to it.  The book is one that you read with ease and as if you are the fly on the wall in this family’s reconciliation.  Although, I found that Grace’s reconciliation with John came sooner than I had expected, as did her ability to regain her position back into the family dynamic.  A few additional layers in these major changes to our heroine’s life would have enriched the book, significantly.  

 The Rating

On Sher’s “Out of Ten Scale,” I am giving A Field Guide to Burying Your Parents  a rating of 7 out of 10.  Like many other “ChickLit” or Women’s Fiction reads that I devour, I was content while I read this story.  I’d like read more of Palmer’s works to see if another story would be a better fit for me.  Overall, I think Women’s Fiction readers will enjoy this book.  The story was well developed and I liked the ending.

Giving Thanks

I wanted to thank Hachette Book Group for providing me with a review copy of this book.

5 Comments