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The Roots of the Olive Tree

by Courtney Miller Santo (Goodreads Author)

3.35 of 5 stars 3.35 · rating details · 971 ratings · 255 reviews

Set in a house on an olive grove in northern California, The Roots of the Olive Tree is a beautiful, touching story that brings to life five generations of women--including an unforgettable 112 year-old matriarch determined to break all Guinness longevity records--the secrets and lies that divide them and the love that ultimately ties them together.

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published August 21st 2012 by William Morrow (first published August 7th 2012)

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Jun 14, 2012 Julie Barrett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Roots of The Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo
I was first attracted to this book because of the name, olive tree in the title. Coming from a family of nurserymen this would be right up my alley.
Love the proverbs and how they are useful to the olive pickers.
This is a story about 5 generations of women and there is a geneticist coming to find out why they live so long. He hopes to find out all their secrets.
Love hearing about the olive trees, nursery/grafting and why their products are so useful...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Harpercollins Canada rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 50-book-pledge-2012, summer-2012

Can you believe it? We've hit stop #11 on our Summer Passport tour: The United States of America!

The Roots of the Olive Tree is set in a small town in Sacramento Valley, California where a family lives on their olive farm. But this is no ordinary family, the Keller family represents 5 generations of first born women the eldest, Anna, being 112 years old. Anna, who is determined to become the oldest person in the world, has attracted the attention of a geneticist who believes that the Keller wome...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Samantha Glasser rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

The Roots of the Olive Tree concerns a family of women who have extrordinarily long lives. The first woman of the still-living Kellers in California is Anna whose father brought the first olive trees from Australia to the United States. Her daughter Bets (short for Elizabeth--the author has conveniently used the letters of the alphabet to keep track of the characters and their ages) has lived to see her daughter Callie, her grand-daughter Deb, and her great-grand-daughter Erin grow up and have c...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Nancy rated it 5 of 5 stars

I won an Advance Reader's Edition from BookReporter.com in a SneakPeak contest. I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well developed and believeable and the story was very interesting. 5 generations of women, 4 of whom were living in the same house. Each woman had her own section so the reader became very familiar with her character and story - but the whole book was very cohesive. The story was interesting. DNA and immortality were part of the story. The oldest woman, Anna, wa...more

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Feb 25, 2013 Sidna Bookout rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book claims to be about 5 generations of women in a family who live long lives. Although 5 generations of women are in the story, there are so many different themes in the book, the characters are not really fleshed out. Also, this book has so few likeable characters that it is difficult to know who to root for.

The book begins with Anna when she is 112 years old. Her goal is to be the oldest living person in the world. Her family moved to the Sacramento Valley in California from Australia w...more This book claims to be about 5 generations of women in a family who live long lives. Although 5 generations of women are in the story, there are so many different themes in the book, the characters are not really fleshed out. Also, this book has so few likeable characters that it is difficult to know who to root for.

The book begins with Anna when she is 112 years old. Her goal is to be the oldest living person in the world. Her family moved to the Sacramento Valley in California from Australia when Anna was four years old and her father brought olive trees for planting. Her family has grown olives and produced olive oil for generations. I was afraid it was going to be one of those earth women books with loads of boring detail about growing olives. There is some of that in the book, but it is not overwhelming.

Anna's daugther Elizabeth (Bets), who is 90, lives with her as does Bets' daughter Callie. Callie's daughter Deb does not live with them because she has been in prison for 20 years for killing her husband when her daughter Erin was 4 years old, leaving Erin to be raised by her three grandmothers.

As the book begins, a geneticist is coming to study the family to try to understand why they have lived so long. While they awaiting the arrival of the geneticist, Erin who is in her early 20's shows up unexpectedly. She is an opera singer and has been touring Europe, but has come home because she is pregnant by a married man.

A tag line at the bottom of the front cover of the book says "The distance between mothers and daughters can be measured in secrets" Boy, is that true in this book! I can't imagine how five women could have more secrets than this tribe. Some of the women know secrets about the other women that they don't know about themselves.

Just when you think you know where the book is going, a secret is revealed and it goes in a completely different direction.

I bought this book because I attended a literacy luncheon where the author was one of the speakers. I live in Memphis and she teaches Creative Writing at the University of Memphis. This is her first book. I wonder if she thought it might also be her last so she needed to include every storyline she has had for a book in it.

At the beginning, I thought she was making the mistake a lot of beginning writers make of using language that was too flowery. The second paragraph on the first page begins, "In 2006, summer overstayed its welcome--giving the entire Sacramento Valley the look of wildflowers that sat too long in the vase." However, the writing got simpler after that. Another troublesome issue is one that many female writers make. There is only one likeable male character in the book. In fact, even though each of the women in the book has only one daughter, but several sons, we learn nothing about the sons. All we learn is that they married women who were not from that area and went to live near their wives' families and never come to visit.

In spite of my criticism of the book, I found it hard to put down. I am going to recommend that both of my book discussion groups read it next year as there are a lot of issues to discuss. I think it will be one of those books that all the women's book discussion groups read in the next year or two. (less)

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Feb 01, 2013 Brenda rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: women-s-fiction

This started with a good premise but I felt the author was lacking character development. I have problems with books that have unlikeable characters. However, I have a unusual and some might say twisted sense of what is likeable and can find some horrific characters terribly likeable. When they are dully drawn is when I have the problem.

Enter five generations of one family who live in Kidiron, California - a fictionalized version of Corning, for those of you familiar with that particular stretch...more

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Jan 03, 2013 Sharon rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: american, female-author, novel, debut, read-within-a-year-of-publication

This book had too much going on. I liked the descriptions of the orchids and Anna's story. But the book just seemed to be about too many issues / stories / characters without fully exploring any of them. I thought the book was going to be realistic fiction dealing with family relationships and aging, but suddenly there was a family member in prison for murder, another who was a victim of an improbable accident, secrets of paternity, a woman hoping to become the oldest living person, an unplanned...more

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Oct 11, 2012 Maurinejt rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Roots of the Olive Tree at the core is a charming generational book, but the details make it fresh and interesting. Anna is one hundred and twelve, and she lives with her daughter, her granddaughter and soon to be joined by her great-granddaughter. We quickly learn that she is a "superager": that she possesses a gene, which runs through the female line only, that allows the normal affects of aging to pass her by. When the story opens, the women are expecting a visit by a geneticist who is ce...more The Roots of the Olive Tree at the core is a charming generational book, but the details make it fresh and interesting. Anna is one hundred and twelve, and she lives with her daughter, her granddaughter and soon to be joined by her great-granddaughter. We quickly learn that she is a "superager": that she possesses a gene, which runs through the female line only, that allows the normal affects of aging to pass her by. When the story opens, the women are expecting a visit by a geneticist who is certain that this family contains the secret to curing aging diseases, such as Alzheimer, and perhaps eventually stopping the internal aging process altogether. His argument about the modern advances of medicine that allow us to extend life, but the fact that the quality of life is still subject to the aging process, is surprisingly compelling. His goal is to extend our productive, healthy years to match the new life span we have achieved. However, this family is also subject to deep secrets and trauma, some of which is unearthed during the doctor's intense scrutiny.

I loved the story, I loved the interplay between the women. The connection to their family olive grove was rock solid and tied the various strands together. I did feel like Anna's long life was a tremendous opportunity that was mostly thrown away. You didn't get much from her memories of a different time, just here and there. In certain sections it would have been stronger to get away from the modern age and completely go back into the past. I found myself thinking wistfully of Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenindes, another generational novel with an intense retelling of family history that allowed the reader a real sense of who these people were and why pivotal choices were made. The most interesting turning points here were just sketched in with a few sentences or a couple of short scenes. It also bothered me that during the description of the romantic relationship between the doctor and one of the women, I could never figure out if it was a genuine attraction or it had more of a Pygmalion vibe that was a little creepy. And the ending was wholly unsatisfying, Batman! And confusing to boot, but I THINK I know what the author was trying to say. Maybe. Still, the details and characters were exquisite, I didn't want to put the book down, and would recommend it.(less)

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Oct 10, 2012 Janet rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through BookReporter.Com, and here are the questions they asked (in return for reading) with my responses. What did you think of THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE? The tantalizing secrets uncovered in The Roots Of The Olive Tree that tie one generation to the other make for great reading. Family dynamics, forgiveness, love in all it's various forms, jealousy, anger and hurt, and above all secrets and the timing of their reveals, all play a part in what...more I received an Advance Reader's Copy of this book through BookReporter.Com, and here are the questions they asked (in return for reading) with my responses. What did you think of THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE? The tantalizing secrets uncovered in The Roots Of The Olive Tree that tie one generation to the other make for great reading. Family dynamics, forgiveness, love in all it's various forms, jealousy, anger and hurt, and above all secrets and the timing of their reveals, all play a part in what makes the Keller women live long and prosper. I was grateful for the chance to live in their world for a time and to discover, as Anna the oldest living Keller woman, says "...the story of her life was not the same as the truth of her life."

What other authors would you compare to Courtney Miller Santo? Luanne Rice, Anne Rivers Siddons,Barbara Delinsky, Debbie Macomber

What other books would you compare to THE ROOTS OF THE OLIVE TREE? The Silver Boat, Luanne Rice; The Orchard, Jeffrey Stepakoff; The School of Essential Ingredients, Erica Bauermeister; and The Vineyard, Barbara Delinsky.

What do you think about the jacket? Is it appealing, does it draw you in, does it represent the book well? I am totally attracted by covers! I have discovered some fantastic authors simply by being fascinated by the cover art. I was drawn to the main section of the cover,the "label," however the unfocused area containing the woman and child left me unimpressed. I found the mother figure too modern in dress. I would have expected to see a woman dressed more timelessly - reflecting the agelessness and the interchangeability of the Keller women.

Who would you suggest this book to? I would suggest this book to my friends that look for what they call a "gentle read" and for anyone that likes to learn a little history and science in their novel reading. The book would lend itself well to book discussion, as the secrets revealed speak individually and as a group to what makes the family dynamics especially fascinating and complex. I can picture a great discussion on aging, especially whether one would want to live to over 100! (less)

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Sep 19, 2012 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fiction, womens-fiction

This is more of a 3.5 star review from me:

The Roots of the Olive Tree alternates between the viewpoints of all five women. In doing so, I felt like I got just a taste of each woman's life and a few hints at why each had the personality that she had. I would have liked to know even more about each woman's past life. This book was more a slice of all of their present lives. Of course, it did venture into the past to reveal the secrets that some of the women were harboring. While I found the secret...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literature-fiction

Story Description:

Harpercollins Publishers|August 13, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-06-221996-1

Five generations of firstborn Keller women live in the same house on an olive grove in secluded northern California. Anna is 112 and trying to be the oldest woman in the world and succeeding heartily. Her daughter, Bets, granddaughter, Callie, great-granddaughter, Deb, and great-great granddaughter, Erin are also defying the longevity norms. When a geneticist comes to study the women at the same tim...more Story Description:

Harpercollins Publishers|August 13, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-06-221996-1

Five generations of firstborn Keller women live in the same house on an olive grove in secluded northern California. Anna is 112 and trying to be the oldest woman in the world and succeeding heartily. Her daughter, Bets, granddaughter, Callie, great-granddaughter, Deb, and great-great granddaughter, Erin are also defying the longevity norms. When a geneticist comes to study the women at the same time Erin announces she is pregnant with her firstborn boy, the Keller’s roots are shaken wide open. Told in the third-person perspective of each of the women, the story and mystery of their existence is revealed in compulsive prose and compassionate drive.

My Review:

Five generations of firstborn women, living together in Hill House which is located in a secluded olive grove in northern California is the amazing setting for this story. Meet the Keller family: Anna, the matriarch is 112-years-old; Elizabeth or Bets is her daughter and she is 90-years-old; then Calliope or Callie her granddaughter; Deb, her great-granddaughter, and Erin, her great-great granddaughter.

Dr. Amrit Hashmi, a geneticist, learns about the Keller women and is coming to investigate, collect blood samples, and take an oral history all in the hope of discovering the reason to their amazing longevity. Each woman has a different opinion about his coming, but Elizabeth (Bets), is worried that he may uncover her secret that she’s held for so many years.

Deb, is in Chowchilla prison and an upcoming parole hearing has brought her daughter, Erin home after a long absence. She arrives with a secret of her own. Actually, each of the women in this family habours secrets of their own and although the friction between the members of this family often leads to fights, it’s the strong roots of the olive grove that binds them together.

I enjoyed some of the characters more than others, like Anna for example who is just too old and sweet not to like. However, her great-granddaughter, Deb is selfish and self-centered and for a woman in prison for a very good reason, I don’t think she is entitled to have these feelings.

For a debut novel, Courtney Miller Santo has done a remarkable job in writing this novel. The story was superbly engaging, the characters were very well developed, and really gave a believable voice of each of the women. I won’t have any trouble recommending The Roots of the Olive Tree to everyone I know. I loved the cover of this book and it was an all-round super read! I was sorry to see it end.

(less)

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Sep 04, 2012 Victoria rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: family, lit-fic, not-for-me

The description of the book - a story surrounding five living generations of women - appealed on that very women’s fiction level. The synopsis hinted at hidden secrets along with this very interesting family dynamic that brings all five of these women back under the same Californian roof. Santo broke her narrative into five sections - one section for each generation’s P.O.V. - plus a bonus epilogue from the perspective of the sixth generation. Unfortunately, the secrets revealed came surprisingl...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Kim Fay rated it 5 of 5 stars

When I dug into "The Roots of the Olive Tree," without realizing it in that first sitting, I read more than 100 pages. I love stories that are intricate; I love stories that explore the complex relationships between women, whether family or friends. This novel has all of that, as well as an extra layer involving the family matriarch, Anna, who wants to live to be the oldest woman in the world. As she and the rest of her family - five generations of very complicated "pistols," as my mom would cal...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Virginia Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, womens-fiction

As rich and savory as olives and their oil, "The Roots of the Olive Tree" by Courtney Miller Santo is a satisfying read for lovers of food and fiction. Five generations of the intriguing Keller women live together under the rule of matriarch Anna, a timeless woman of 112 years. The story is told from the varying viewpoints of the women, each with their own shadows and secrets. When a geneticist wants to evaluate the key to the longevity and health of the Keller clan, events are set in motion whi...more

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Jun 17, 2012 Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

Olives, Olive Oil, longevity.....sounds like it could be true to me. The Keller women had worked in the olive orchards for generations, and Anna, who was 112, claimed the longevity was because of the family's "love" of the olives....this book is filled with generations of women and family life. What a magnificent book with a powerful, thoughtful ending.

A lot of life's lessons were taught under and in the olive trees. Anna told her great, great grandchild, Erin, that "roots" are important whethe...more Olives, Olive Oil, longevity.....sounds like it could be true to me. The Keller women had worked in the olive orchards for generations, and Anna, who was 112, claimed the longevity was because of the family's "love" of the olives....this book is filled with generations of women and family life. What a magnificent book with a powerful, thoughtful ending.

A lot of life's lessons were taught under and in the olive trees. Anna told her great, great grandchild, Erin, that "roots" are important whether they belonged to a tree or to a family. The olive garden was everything to Anna, and she wanted her family to know how important it actually had been.

You will meet five generations of Keller women with the sixth on the way. Each woman was remarkable. Anna was the oldest at 112, Elizabeth was 90, Callie was in her sixties, Deb was in prison for murder, and Erin in her late 20's shows up pregnant at the family home of Hill House.

You will become attached to these women, specifically Anna who began it all and held it all together. The other women take care of Anna, not that she needs any care, and they take care of each other. They are proud of their longevity and, of course, their olive orchards. The book was very well written and made me think about the power if you can call it that of olive oil....could that tiny fruit be the answer to living a long, healthy life or is it simply one's genes?

Besides enjoying the female characters, you will enjoy Dr. Hashmi who was doing research on the Keller family to see what the secret of their longevity was. Each woman had a wonderful story with Anna of course being the reason they all were there and the reason they were the person they had become. Anna was my favorite....she had a great story from her childhood that was retoldfrom generation to generation.

You will follow each character and her place in the circle of life. You will not be bored with their stories. The author takes you deep into each woman's life with wonderful descriptions and flashbacks along with tears and hugs. You will find out if their longevity really is from olive oil or from something that has been kept secret for over 100 years. What a beautiful story....a splendid family saga that is uniquely told. (less)

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May 08, 2013 Stephanie Ward rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: blog-tour, finished-copy, for-review, owned

'The Roots of the Olive Tree' is a lyrical and beautifully written story about a family's saga through the women that hold the secrets and heart throughout the years. It tells the tale of Anna, the matriarch, along with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter, and also her great-great-granddaughter. The author expertly weaves together tales and memories from each of the women's lives, along with the history of the town and the home that holds them all together - Hill House. The writ...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Roots Of The Olive Tree
By
Courtney Miller Santo

My " in a nutshell" summary...

This is a novel of generations of women within the same family. They have an attachment to olives and olive oil. They pretty much all have a good measure of dysfunction. The oldest one, Anna, wants to be the oldest living person ever.

My thoughts after reading this book...

I had a total fascination for the women in this novel. Anna comes first...the oldest...still active and vibrant...is it the hot water, lemon and ol...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Andrienne rated it 5 of 5 stars

I was very interested in reading this book and it was a satisfying one. For one, the writing is really good--how it flows, what's said, and what's depicted. I rate books poorly even when the plot is strong but the writing is so shoddy. Just like appetizers, this book needs to be savored, you can't rush a fiction book. This book had a huge cast of characters with each of their stories brought to light in each chapter--helpful because each character is given appropriate attention to move the story...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Susan Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of five generations of women living together in a house amid the olive orchards in Northern Sacramento Valley in Calif. Actually it's only 4 because one of them (NO.4) actually lives there only a couple of weeks but her presence is felt throughout.
The oldest is Anna, 112 years old, came to America from Australia when she was four and was involved as the olive trees were planted and grew. She achieves her ambition of becoming the oldest living person in the world. Her daughter...more

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Jun 18, 2012 Ruth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

5 (6) generations of females living on olive farm in California … present day setting. Early pages, but good read.

Liked it. Wanted to love it, but just didn't feel it.

5 generations of first born females in one olive 'plantation'. Other than their inclusive past and present, there wasn't a great deal there. Anna is the oldest and wants to be the oldest living person. Her daughter Bets story deals mostly with her husband Frank who has dementia or something along those lines and is in a home and...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: foodie-books, foodie-fiction, fiction, reading-for-review

the Keller family is five generations of firstborn women led by Anna, a matriarch of 112, bound and determined to be named the oldest person in the world and showing few signs of slowing down anytime soon. Anna lives in the family home on a secluded olive grove outside Kidron, a small town in Northern California with her daughter Elizabeth (Bets) and granddaughter Callie. Great-granddaughter Deb is doing time for killing her husband and great-great granddaughter Erin has recently returned home f...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Denise rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.0 out of 5 stars - "Life is eternal, love immortal and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight."

Before you read this, if you can -- download Under the Olive Tree, a prequel to this story of long-lived women! Not only are they living long lives, they don't seem to age as do others. The matriarch of the family is a supercentarian (living past age 110) with a secret that has incredible implications for the research study being done Amrit Hasmi on the five wom...more 3.0 out of 5 stars - "Life is eternal, love immortal and death is only a horizon; and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight."

Before you read this, if you can -- download Under the Olive Tree, a prequel to this story of long-lived women! Not only are they living long lives, they don't seem to age as do others. The matriarch of the family is a supercentarian (living past age 110) with a secret that has incredible implications for the research study being done Amrit Hasmi on the five women who live in the Sacramento Valley and own an olive orchard.

The women -- in alphabetical and age order -- Anna, Bets (Elizabeth), Callie (Calliope), Deb and Erin -- have an interesting family dynamic with resentment that seems to have come from misunderstandings and hidden truths that are revealed throughout the narrative. Each of the characters is complex and well drawn -- you love them one minute and almost loathe them the next. The choices each has made in her past affect their daily lives as they all live together in Hill House in a town called Kidron. The men are either deceased or absent so it is a house of only women living together in a somewhat disharmonious state with some allegiances stronger than others. The point of view shifts between the women as each tells a bit of her background and her personal history.

Underneath the theme of longevity and the point that a person doesn't want long life without health as well, is the olive. The fruit and the oil permeate the novel and the reader can almost taste, feel, see and smell them. The women are the roots of their family and have survived and flourished despite hardships and trials that typically bring death or infirmity to most other people of their age. What is in their make-up that allows them to live so long? Is it in their DNA or is it some other type of influence from their diet or environment? Dr. Hasmi wants to know and the women tell him their stories and allow their blood to be tested.

This was an interesting book and an easy, fast read. I'd recommend to anyone who enjoys women's fiction. (less)

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Jul 01, 2012 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

‘The Roots of the Olive Tree’ by Courtney Miller Santo is a fictional story of five generations set in the Sacramento Valley of California. The inspiration for the story came from the author’s family. Her great grandmother will be 104 soon and her family has roots in the same area that the story is set. The author’s family’s knowledge of growing and tending of the olive trees is reflected in her. So this story sprang from the author’s affection for her family and unique setting.

I enjoyed this st...more ‘The Roots of the Olive Tree’ by Courtney Miller Santo is a fictional story of five generations set in the Sacramento Valley of California. The inspiration for the story came from the author’s family. Her great grandmother will be 104 soon and her family has roots in the same area that the story is set. The author’s family’s knowledge of growing and tending of the olive trees is reflected in her. So this story sprang from the author’s affection for her family and unique setting.

I enjoyed this story very much. There were four women with very different personalities and many secrets. I also loved learning about the care of the olive trees, the many different flavors of them and the olive oils depending on the age and where the trees were growing. I was surprises to learn that Olive trees are hardy and are invigorated by grafting. I had no idea of the many ways to serve them!

Anna is the matriarch of the family, at 112 years; she was strong and had no huge medical problems. She wanted to be the oldest living person in the world. That is what attracted me to this book from the beginning. I remember as a child telling my grandmother that I wanted to live to be at least 100. My grandmother said “Whatever for?”! I still do. So I had to read this book. It is no wonder that I identify with Anna the most.

So you follow the lives of Anna, Bet (Elizabeth) Callie, Deborah and Erin. Each woman is the mother of the next one in the string of generations. All are keeping secrets from the rest of the women. There is a page in the front to help the reader keep the names straight, it did help. I did not get lost in the story and enjoyed the unfolding of their lives. I think of this book as a gentle book instead of an earthshaking one.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to reads about different generations and pick some information about growing olive trees at the time.

I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine Program and that in no way influenced my review.

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Jan 24, 2013 Jessica Budd rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

I just turned the last page of this book and I sit her pondering "did I enjoy that or did I just tolerate my way through it?" It's the story of five women, five generations, and the secrets that they have kept. The story revolves around what these women have genetically that makes them live longer than anyone else. In the search for that answer, they find answers to the questions they have each had about their family.

A good premise but I didn't feel connected to any of them. I couldn't really p...more

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Sep 14, 2012 missbowers rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Dear Courtney Miller Santo,
Your novel, The Roots of the Olive Tree, helped me consider the implications of aging, and of growing older--and that they are not necessarily one and the same. You wrote your characters so well that I did not imagine them as old, old women--let me explain. They didn't sound like old women, and that, I believe, was the point. They sounded like women who were old, but aged.

I didn't really like or understand the ending. I guess I don't like books that have a vague, ambig...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Kelly rated it 2 of 5 stars

This title was a miss for me. I keep giving "women's fiction" a try but all too frequently I find the stories to be somewhat bland.
In The roots of the olive tree we have a character study of several generations of long lived women. The story ostensibly concerns a researcher studying the women to determine why they are superagers and in his pursuit of the scientific evidence secrets are revealed. For me each of the individual women's stories just were not that interesting nor did I find their sec...more

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Jun 30, 2012 ☯Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, fiction, harper-collins-giveaway

I would give this book 2 1/2 stars if that were an option. I have an Advance Reader's Edition from Harper Collins. The book centers around five generations of women who live together. None of these women seem to age, so a scientist comes to investigate why. His visit is the catalyst for revealing the stories of the five Keller women. The book is divided into five sections; each woman is given a chance to share her thoughts and secrets. Unfortunately, I could not really relate to any of the chara...more I would give this book 2 1/2 stars if that were an option. I have an Advance Reader's Edition from Harper Collins. The book centers around five generations of women who live together. None of these women seem to age, so a scientist comes to investigate why. His visit is the catalyst for revealing the stories of the five Keller women. The book is divided into five sections; each woman is given a chance to share her thoughts and secrets. Unfortunately, I could not really relate to any of the characters. As soon as I begin to get interested in one character, the story would switch to another member of the family. I was most interested in Deb, who is in prison for shooting her husband. However, she abruptly leaves the story and is only mentioned occasionally thereafter.

I know that this book has not been published. Hopefully, there will be massive changes, especially with the story of Anna, the first character of the book. This section dragged and I almost stopped reading because of boredom and poor writing. On page 24, there is a long description of the town, Kidron, being moved, house by house. Anna is reliving this history from 1900, when she is six years old, but she skips around in an incoherent way to discuss her daughter's home and to mention the great grandchildren of the first settlers. I had to read it several times just to unravel the timeline.

The book is more enjoyable after this. It took about as long to read the first 40 pages as it took to read the remaining 260 pages. A good book should grab the reader's attention quickly.

I do have one quibble about Frank. He is supposedly suffering from lewy body dementia. However, I know someone who has this terrible disease. It is progressive and the vast majority die within 8 years of diagnosis. (Frank has had the disease for 20+ years.) There is no way someone with this disease would be permitted to do what Frank does at the end of the book.

This episode, as well as others just as improbable, made the book unrealistic to me.(less)

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Jun 11, 2012 Sandi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sandi by: Bookreporter.com

As I read the Roots of the Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo - a Goodreads author - I became very attached to Elizabeth - better known as Bets. Bets was the 2nd of 5 generations of living first born Keller women and was 90 years old. Her mother Anna was still living at 112 years old and very much a part of the novel, as the study of longevity was a major topic of the book. Family secrets, life in Hill House, and the loves that all 5 women endured, makes this family extraordinary. In addition,...more

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Dec 12, 2012 Melanie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was looking for a new book and came across this while perusing the Barnes and Noble book shelves. This was a very easy read, but you are also able to put it down and do something else without feeling like you're abandoning the characters. It is a story about aging, family and coming to grips with both. This family of women seems to not age, at least not like the rest of us. The author does a good job with giving the reader a good visualization of the setting, but could expound a little more re...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

First novel by this author and a very good one...I think the cover summed the entire book up better than anything I can write: "The distance between mothers and daughters can be measured in secrets".

The Keller women have many secrets...five generations of firstborn women, living together in the same house in an olive grove in the Sacramento Valley in Northern California. Anna, the matriarch, is 112 years old and determined to become the oldest person in the world. Their unusual lifespans have ca...more

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About Courtney Miller Santo

Courtney Miller Santo teaches creative writing at the University of Memphis, where she received her MFA. She has a BA in journalism from Washington and Lee University and although born and raised in Portland, Oregon, she’s spent most of her adult life in the South. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in the Los Angeles Review, Irreantum, Sunstone and Segullah. Her debut novel THE ROOTS OF THE...more

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“I’d put more distance between us. Having us here, always together hasn’t allowed for any fondness to grow between us.” — 2 people liked it

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