I had the hard covered copy of Between Sisters on my bookshelf since it had first been published. Knowing I couldn't carry a book of that weight back and forth on the train every day, I recently ordered a paperback in hopes that it would entice me to finally read this book. After all, I hadn't read a Kristin Hannah novel in a long time and I had once considered her to be one of my absolute favorite authors.
Apparently it was about time! Immediately I felt swept up into the world of the Pacific Northwest, as so often happens when I read Hannah's novels. The cabins and camp ground, despite the fact that I practically hate the outdoors, seemed so inviting, and the way in which Hannah describes the setting, you can almost imagine wanting to visit. The setting, which takes on such a prominent role in the beginning of the book, fades as other characters and more serious issues come to be in the story. But what always drew me to Hannah's novels, and this one is no different, is the element of reality. The settings are so simple and inviting, the characters are flawed in such ways that make them feel real to the reader. The characters have flaws, but the flaws are created in a way that makes you feel sympathy for or appreciation of the character, not in a way that would make you hate the character for being so incredibly obnoxious. Trust me; I've seen so many authors try to do this and they end up stepping over the line and the character suffers. Hannah though, yet again, creates characters that are likable, and even more so, respectable.
I also love how Hannah's novels flow. I've done my fair share of heavy reading in my life, but while the hardcover of Between Sisters seemed so daunting, I breezed through the paperback in just over a week. And as I read, I remembered how much I appreciated her use of language and her simplicity. It is much appreciated in a time when the plots of so many other books seem incredibly over-dramatized and their characters fake and uninspired.
Between Sisters, while definitely a very worthwhile read, is not my favorite book by Kristen Hannah, for I still love and remember On Mystic Lake like no other. I have also read Angel Falls, which I loved, and Summer Island, Distant Shores and Comfort and Joy, which were good, but not nearly as great as the others. Between Sisters, however, has definitely gotten me excited to read what novels of hers that I've missed over the years.
Dallas coffin
Joseph J. Truncale