I am asked from time to time to review things (usually books). Given the volume of requests, the need to filter out material for the radio program and my personal love of reading for pleasure, I turn down a lot of offers.
However, when Waterbrook Press sent me a copy of White Picket Fences
by Susan Meissner, I thought I’d give it a try. The title didn’t quite click, but the description included hints of World War 2 (THANK YOU TO ALL VETERANS!), Holocaust survivors and a few other teasers that made it worth checking out.
The basic story line includes a family taking in a 16-year old niece when her father disappears and her care-taking grandmother dies. While the youngest daughter in the home doesn’t seem too affected, the niece and the 17-year old son begin working on a sociology project together – interviewing two Holocaust survivors. The son is battling supressed childhood memories of a fire, the father buries himself in woodworking projects and the mother is torn by the battles she sees everyone fighting. So, while everything appears to be neat and cozy on the outside (white-picket-fence style), there is turmoil inside.
Am I glad I read it? Well, yes and no. First of all, I think female readers would enjoy it more than I did. As a guy, I’d give it about a C+.
On the plus side:
- good writing style
- story was fairly engaging
- character soul-searching seemed honest
- interesting use of historical truth w/fictional narrative
On the down side:
- semi-predictable elements
- bit too implausible at points
Bottom-line? If you are looking for a decent read for a few days off, a plane trip or something along those lines, White Picket Fences will fit the bill.
Yours in Christ,
Marty
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