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1st out of 119 books
—
146 voters
Blackberry Winter
by
Sarah Jio (Goodreads Author)
In 2011, Sarah Jio burst onto the fiction scene with two sensational novels--The Violets of MarchandThe Bungalow. WithBlackberry Winter--taking its title from a late-season, cold-weather phenomenon--Jio continues her rich exploration of the ways personal connections can transcend the boundaries of time.
Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, D...more
Seattle, 1933. Single mother Vera Ray kisses her three-year-old son, D...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 25th 2012
by Plume
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This is a very special novel to me. I dedicated it to my three young sons, and to mothers everywhere who have lost children. I hope you will enjoy the book as much as I enjoyed writing it! xo
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I won this book from a first reads giveaway here on goodreads!
I was so excited when I found out I won a copy of this book through the first reads program here on goodreads! I was even more excited once I started reading this book and got swept up in the amazing mystery! This book was an amazing read that did not disappoint.
This book alternates between two points of view: Vera in the 1930's and Claire in present day Seattle. Sarah Jio is an excellent storyteller - she weaves together two differe...more
I was so excited when I found out I won a copy of this book through the first reads program here on goodreads! I was even more excited once I started reading this book and got swept up in the amazing mystery! This book was an amazing read that did not disappoint.
This book alternates between two points of view: Vera in the 1930's and Claire in present day Seattle. Sarah Jio is an excellent storyteller - she weaves together two differe...more
11 likes · like · see review
Blackberry Winter was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Penguin Group (USA).
Two stories with years separating them are more intertwined than one might think…
May 1, 1933...
Vera Ray works the nightshift as a maid at a hotel in Seattle. A snow storm has blown in during the night; strange with how late in the year it is. When she kisses her three year old son Daniel goodbye she doesn't know that when she returns he won't be there waiting for her.
'Two snowstorms, sharing one calendar date, sep...more
Two stories with years separating them are more intertwined than one might think…
May 1, 1933...
Vera Ray works the nightshift as a maid at a hotel in Seattle. A snow storm has blown in during the night; strange with how late in the year it is. When she kisses her three year old son Daniel goodbye she doesn't know that when she returns he won't be there waiting for her.
'Two snowstorms, sharing one calendar date, sep...more
Blackberry Winter has a little bit of everything, historical fiction, mystery and romance. The story is told from two different time periods, that of a young single mother Vera and her son Daniel in Seattle in 1933 during the Great Depression and Claire Aldridge, a reporter in Seattle in 2010. The ‘blackberry winter’ which occurred in both 1933 and 2010 leads Claire to uncover the story of Daniel’s disappearance when he was three years old.
This is a quick and easy read. The prose is light and en...more
This is a quick and easy read. The prose is light and en...more
4 likes · like · see review
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
What lengths would we go to justify our personal definition of family? Would we leave our children unattended to go to work if we had to? Would we rob, steal, or kill to save a child?
As Claire begins her research on the freak storm (the blackberry winter) for her newspaper feature, she stumbles onto a story that resonates deep within her. While bouncing back and forth between her story and that of Vera Ray, we discover a web of secrets and surprising discoveries. These change all of Claire's per...more
As Claire begins her research on the freak storm (the blackberry winter) for her newspaper feature, she stumbles onto a story that resonates deep within her. While bouncing back and forth between her story and that of Vera Ray, we discover a web of secrets and surprising discoveries. These change all of Claire's per...more
http://anovelreview.blogspot.com/2012...
A crazy snowstorm blankets Seattle in May, but it’s not the first time. A fluke snowstorm fell in May of 1933 too and the editor of The Herald wants Claire Aldridge to write a feature article about the May storms—about Blackberry Winter.
During Claire’s research of the storm of ’33, she finds a newspaper article about Vera and her three year old son who went missing. Vera was a young maid at a high end hotel and had left her son home alone at night while sh...more
A crazy snowstorm blankets Seattle in May, but it’s not the first time. A fluke snowstorm fell in May of 1933 too and the editor of The Herald wants Claire Aldridge to write a feature article about the May storms—about Blackberry Winter.
During Claire’s research of the storm of ’33, she finds a newspaper article about Vera and her three year old son who went missing. Vera was a young maid at a high end hotel and had left her son home alone at night while sh...more
Won this book on First Reads Giveaways
May 1933- A freak snowstorm hits Seattle and a little boy goes missing.
May 2010- A freak snowstorm hits Seattle and Claire is given the assignment at her newspaper to do a story about it. She stumbles upon the story of the missing boy, and for her own reasons is immediately sucked into it and wants to find out what happened to that little boy.
The book moves from past to present, giving us a full story of the mother of the missing boy, and Claire's search fo...more
May 1933- A freak snowstorm hits Seattle and a little boy goes missing.
May 2010- A freak snowstorm hits Seattle and Claire is given the assignment at her newspaper to do a story about it. She stumbles upon the story of the missing boy, and for her own reasons is immediately sucked into it and wants to find out what happened to that little boy.
The book moves from past to present, giving us a full story of the mother of the missing boy, and Claire's search fo...more
I liked it well enough, but I predicted some of the direction it was headed, and I hate that! (While we all love being right, I think most of us better enjoy unexpected twists in our reads to keep us lured into time wharp DEAR time). Overall, this was a quick read (40 pages Sun, then read over lunch at work today, and all evening until I finished!) . It has some mystery, suspense, drama, history and romance all wrapped up in the storyline. The "cast" is developed to an appropriate level - enough...more
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First I should say Sarah Jio is one of my favorite authors at the moment. She writes so lyrically and makes mysteries interesting and is engrossing to read. This book hit me so hard and I think as a parent who lost a child in a similar way Claire did so I literally felt her pain and understood her journey. I loved the story and while I predicted much of what was happening it was a beautiful read and it made me happy, sad and vulnerable through out.
The author of this book wrote to me to tell me my review was of the wrong book. She is absolutely correct. I am not a seasoned computer user and the review I wrote for this book was really for Whatever Happened to Sophie Wilder? I am so sorry for the confusion. This book - Blackberry Winter -- is on my list to be read.
Well, now I have finally read it. The story has a parallel plot of two women, one who lived in 1933 and one who lives in the present. They both experience a Blackberry Winter. The...more
Well, now I have finally read it. The story has a parallel plot of two women, one who lived in 1933 and one who lives in the present. They both experience a Blackberry Winter. The...more
3 likes · like · see review
Read about this book in Real Simple Magazine. Had it ordered the day it came out Aug 25th. Finished in 2 days. Blackberry Winter (love the term) is an old fashion weather term for a late-season cold snap, snow storm. The story goes back and forth between a Blackberry Winter in 1933 to the present day with a mystery love twist. Wonderful read.
3 likes · like · see review
I'm only a couple chapters in and can't put it down! It's a fast read so far, but not fast enough because I can't wait to see what happens!
I gave it a four because the ending felt sort of abrupt. Maybe thats because I didn't want it to end?
I gave it a four because the ending felt sort of abrupt. Maybe thats because I didn't want it to end?
Oct 01, 2012
Logan
marked it as to-read
Sarah has done it again! Every one of her books have been a work of art. She always touches my heart with her beautiful stories and fascinating mysteries. Love, love, love her books! Am sending it along to a Mom who needs a little cheer in her life right now!
This was first time reading anything written by Sarah Jio and I loved this book! I read it in a day as I didn't want to put it down. Totally recommend this book!
I'm not sure how Ms. Jio does it but this book is better than The Bungalow and I adored that book. Both Vera and Claire are likable and relatable women. Their stories are interwoven beautifully.
Great story. Excited to read other books by her!!
Thank you for recommendation Stern family!
Thank you for recommendation Stern family!
Dec 07, 2012
Heather
added it
Review and author interview posted on Kindles & Wine
One evening, I was well immersed in the Book Divorce stage of reading this book (in other words, I become like the monkeys – I see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing). :) I quickly shoved some spaghetti squash in the oven for dinner and headed out to the porch with my Kindle.
About 15 minutes later, The Husband comes home and comments about how good it smells and asks when “whatever that is” will be done. Without a care for what the oven...more
One evening, I was well immersed in the Book Divorce stage of reading this book (in other words, I become like the monkeys – I see nothing, hear nothing, and say nothing). :) I quickly shoved some spaghetti squash in the oven for dinner and headed out to the porch with my Kindle.
About 15 minutes later, The Husband comes home and comments about how good it smells and asks when “whatever that is” will be done. Without a care for what the oven...more
Good story. I loved how it all tied together in the end.
**SPOILER ALERT** The story started out well. I like how it was 2 different stories that were merging & it was fun that it was set in Seattle. But it ended up being predictable and too cookie-cutter.
Vera Ray & Daniel's story was interesting and it was easy to fall in love with Daniel. But how their story connected with Claire's was interesting but too corny at the same time.
I personally think it would've been upsetting after all the long hours of research Claire did to then realize tha...more
Vera Ray & Daniel's story was interesting and it was easy to fall in love with Daniel. But how their story connected with Claire's was interesting but too corny at the same time.
I personally think it would've been upsetting after all the long hours of research Claire did to then realize tha...more
This is probably closer to a 3.5...the writing was good, the story was entertaining, and the characters were interesting, but all of the "breakthroughs" were just too coincidental to make it a truly satisfying mystery. Presented as a parallel story about a Seattle woman whose son was abducted in the blackberry winter of 1933 and a current day reporter experiencing the same meteorological phenomenon on the anniversary of the loss of her own baby, it's an effective way to dig into the mystery of t...more
As I'm now very accustomed to saying, and required to say by law, this book was delivered unto my door free of charge through a GoodReads giveaway.
The cover seems to scream romance. It ain't. The back of the book calls it a mystery. It's investigative but I'd not call that sufficient cause to categorize it as a "mystery". I'd summarize it more closely as simply a well-written and believable historical novel that centers closely on the dynamics of loss and motherhood. Everything else is really ba...more
The cover seems to scream romance. It ain't. The back of the book calls it a mystery. It's investigative but I'd not call that sufficient cause to categorize it as a "mystery". I'd summarize it more closely as simply a well-written and believable historical novel that centers closely on the dynamics of loss and motherhood. Everything else is really ba...more
Read this book because of a favourable review in a magazine and absolutely enjoyed MOST of the book. Jio uses a double narrative approach (which I am starting to see that although common and interesting, maybe is starting to become overdone) with Vera's story set in 1933 Seattle when as a young single mom, she leaves her 3 year old son alone one night--I know, right?!--in order to go to work. When she returns in the morning, her son is missing. The other narrative is from the POV of Claire, who...more
I've been reading a lot this week, and one book I want to share with you is Blackberry Winter by Sarah Jio. I enjoy Jio's books because you're always guaranteed a great story. You can read my review of The Bungalow here and Violets in March here.
Blackberry Winter is a combination love story and mystery presented in two different plots: one in the present and one during the Great Depression. The common element that bridges the decades is a late spring blizzard in early May, hence the title Blackb...more
Blackberry Winter is a combination love story and mystery presented in two different plots: one in the present and one during the Great Depression. The common element that bridges the decades is a late spring blizzard in early May, hence the title Blackb...more
In Blackberry Winter, Sarah Jio gives us a very bond-able heroine in Claire Aldridge. Claire is good, she’s kind, but she’s wounded–just the sort of gal we women-type like relating to. Jio sets Claire and the rest of her cast of compelling characters in Seattle–which happens to be Jio’s hometown and mine. I loved the way Jio paints our beautiful corner of the world, both present day and eighty years ago. Her prose is no frills, yet soft and inviting, and for time it took me to read this lovely b...more
This is, generally, a book about dealing with the loss of a child. The author alternates between a story about the disappearance of a little boy during the Great Depression and a story about a modern-day journalist, still reeling from an accident which killed the baby she was about to have, who is researching the unsolved mystery of the missing boy. The book has elements of a historical fiction book, a mystery, and (sort of) a romance, but I wouldn't classify it as strongly any of those things....more
It’s the month of May in the year 1933, and the city of Seattle is experiencing a very unexpected snowstorm. An extremely ‘down on her luck’ mom, Vera Ray, has to leave her three-year-old son, Daniel, alone in their apartment in order to go out to her job on the night shift of the Olympic Hotel’s cleaning crew. When Vera arrives home in the morning, Daniel is missing, and the only thing she finds in her search for her son is a teddy bear lying in the snow behind their apartment building.
Moving...more
Moving...more
This was a quick, easy read which was similar to Jio's other book, Violets of March. Both contained a mystery, both were set near Seattle, and both flip flopped in time between present day and years ago.
In Blackberry Winter, the main character, Claire, has to produce a news article on a strange storm which comes through Seattle. Somehow she ties the storm to a story of a missing boy back in the 30s, when a similar storm occurred. We learn of Vera Ray's tough life and heartbreak of losing her son...more
In Blackberry Winter, the main character, Claire, has to produce a news article on a strange storm which comes through Seattle. Somehow she ties the storm to a story of a missing boy back in the 30s, when a similar storm occurred. We learn of Vera Ray's tough life and heartbreak of losing her son...more
I’ll start with a PSA – you’ll want a box of tissues within reach when you read Blackberry Winter. Because yes, you will cry.
It is the story of two women who have suffered through loss so heart-wrenching you can’t help but feel for them. Two women whose lives are one day connected by fate, and family ties.
Vera Ray fell in love with the wrong man, and is doing the best she can as she raises her son alone. Times are hard, but people don’t care. So she leaves three-year-old Daniel in bed while she...more
It is the story of two women who have suffered through loss so heart-wrenching you can’t help but feel for them. Two women whose lives are one day connected by fate, and family ties.
Vera Ray fell in love with the wrong man, and is doing the best she can as she raises her son alone. Times are hard, but people don’t care. So she leaves three-year-old Daniel in bed while she...more
Dec 18, 2012
Radhika
added it
The author dedication to all mothers everywhere: especially those who have to say goodbye to a child.. so apt for the generation of violence we live in! It is a story of love,loss and redemption spanning over two generations,
In the present time Seattle Herald reporter Claire Alridge awakens to another late-season snow storm. She is asked to cover this unusual occurence which was named Blackberry winter decades earlier,when they had a freak snow storm like this one... While researching about that...more
In the present time Seattle Herald reporter Claire Alridge awakens to another late-season snow storm. She is asked to cover this unusual occurence which was named Blackberry winter decades earlier,when they had a freak snow storm like this one... While researching about that...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Did you feel it was predictable? | 11 | 99 | May 22, 2013 12:36pm | |
| Coffee Talk: Buddy Read with Cheryl | 33 | 10 | Mar 15, 2013 07:47pm | |
| Kindle Book Club ...: Discussion, Blackberry Winter, In Progress | 26 | 52 | Oct 28, 2012 06:11am | |
| Kindle Book Club ...: SPOILER ALERT: Discussion, Blackberry Winter, Completed Reading | 16 | 38 | Oct 22, 2012 06:08pm |
Sarah Jio is the New York Times bestselling author of BLACKBERRY WINTER, THE VIOLETS OF MARCH (a Library Journal Best Book of 2011), THE BUNGALOW, and the forthcoming, THE LAST CAMELLIA (5/28/13), all from Penguin/Plume. Sarah is also the health and fitness blogger for Glamour.com. She has written hundreds of articles for national magazines including Redbook, O, The Oprah Magazine, Glamour, SELF,...more
More about Sarah Jio...
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