Mary McCurry

I have read a few Kristin Hannah books and have enjoyed them, The Nightingale lives freely in my mind as one of the best books I have ever read, The Winter Garden not so much. When the mother begins her story about Leningrad is when the book comes alive. The first half was a tough slog, the daughters Nina and Meredith are soooo annoying and Meredith just keeps making the same mistakes even when she realizes they are mistakes!!!! The first half could have been edited to make those characters less annoying! Yes, I do understand why they had to be like that but come on!!! Also, it is kind of unbelievable that the mother would be sooooo cold and mean to her children throughout their childhood when she so thoroughly loved and adored her children from Leningrad. Also, the pre-ending (not the epilogue) was a bit much like come on really???!!!!!! This woman who has gone through hell, you have that added on to her burden!!!