Evergreen by Rebecca Rasmussen
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Source: Knopf Doubleday

Description:

From the celebrated author of The Bird Sisters, a gorgeously rendered and emotionally charged novel that spans generations, telling the story of two siblings, raised apart, attempting to share a life.

It is 1938 when Eveline, a young bride, follows her husband into the wilderness of Minnesota. Though their cabin is rundown, they have a river full of fish, a garden out back, and a new baby boy named Hux. But when Emil leaves to take care of his sick father, the unthinkable happens: a stranger arrives, and Eveline becomes pregnant. She gives the child away, and while Hux grows up hunting and fishing in the woods with his parents, his sister, Naamah, is raised an orphan. Years later, haunted by the knowledge of this forsaken girl, Hux decides to find his sister and bring her home to the cabin. But Naamah, even wilder than the wilderness that surrounds them, may make it impossible for Hux to ever tame her, to ever make up for all that she, and they, have lost. Set before a backdrop of vanishing forest, this is a luminous novel of love, regret, and hope.

My Thoughts:

Character driven novels are my FAVE. If you feel the same then you need to run out and get a copy of Evergreen by Rebecca Rasmussen. (Right now! Go, I’ll wait.)

About the Author

Before I even cracked this open I had a good feeling. Maybe it was because I really enjoyed Rasmussen’s debut The Bird Sisters or perhaps it was because the cover of this one is fantastic. What I do know is that my instincts were right on.

Evergreen is a thoughtfully written tale that takes place between the 1930s and the 1970s. Emil, a German immigrant and his young bride Eveline settle into a rustic cabin in the woods of Minnesota. Their lives are cozy, but lonely. The choices they make reach into the future to affect their children in dramatic ways. The story is raw, bittersweet, and skillfully woven.

I mentioned that the characters were fab. The only problem with some of them was that they didn’t stay around as long as I wanted them to. But doesn’t a good book always leave you wanting more? I think so.

I am very much looking forward to whatever Rebecca Rasmussen writes next. I highly recommend the atmospheric and beautifully written Evergreen.

You don’t have to take my word for it! Please see these reviews from a few of my fellow bloggers:

The Gilmore Guide to Books

River City Reading

That’s What She Read

When Eli Burke dies, he leaves behind a mysterious notebook full of stories about a magical figure named The White Rebbe, a miracle worker in league with the enigmatic Angel of Losses, protector of things gone astray, and guardian of the lost letter of the alphabet, which completes the secret name of God.

When his granddaughter, Marjorie, discovers Eli’s notebook, everything she thought she knew about her grandfather–and her family–comes undone. To find the truth about Eli’s origins and unlock the secrets he kept, she embarks on an odyssey that takes her deep into the past, from 18th century Europe to Nazi-occupied Lithuania, and back to the present, to New York City and her estranged sister Holly, whom she must save from the consequences of Eli’s past.

Interweaving history, theology, and both real and imagined Jewish folktales, The Angel of Losses is a family story of what lasts, and of what we can-and cannot-escape.

My Thoughts:

The Angel of Losses was somewhat of an up and down read for me. There were strong elements that I thoroughly enjoyed and there were a few aspects that didn’t work for me. Let me be clear and say that it was mostly an UP read and in the end I found it to be a very strong work.

About the Author

The Jewish myths were incredibly interesting and beautifully written. While reading those sections I found myself completely immersed in the story. I’m interested in religious history and the tales of the White Rebbe were fantastic. I could have read the mythical tales all day long.

Unfortunately the modern relationships in The Angel of Losses weren’t quite up to par with the ancient ones. I didn’t find the current relationships as deep or as believable. Keep in mind that I almost always prefer the historical aspects in books to modern ones. Part of my dissatisfaction with these parts of the book are on me.

With themes including love, loyalty, theology, and folk tales, The Angel of Losses is a very entertaining debut that I can recommend to almost every reader.

You don’t have to take my word for it, please see the rest of the TLC tour stops here.