This books was a marvelous read. Based very loosely on her own family's history, Francine Rivers deftly moves through the lives of a Swiss immigrant and her family, from 1900 all the way up to 1952. The story focuses first on Marta, a young woman raised in Steffisburg, Switzerland who moves across Europe learning all she can in the hopes of opening her own boardinghouse or hotel. Her drive and ambition take her to pre-World War I Canada where she meets her husband and embarks on a courageous and hard scrabble life in the Canadian prairie-land. Work on the railroad takes her and growing family from Canada to California in the early 1920s.
From there the narrative is taken over by Marta's daughter Hildemara, as different from her mother as night is from day. The story follows her life from 8 years of age up through nursing school and married life.
Managing to accurately and interestingly portray that many different eras is a struggle, certainly, but Rivers handles in adeptly and with ease. If that wasn't impressive enough, she switches from one character to another without seam or awkwardness. Her characters are well-rounded and their challenges are universal and easy to relate to.
The wait for Rivers' newest book was well worth it! Now we just have to wait 'til autumn for the final volume in the story!
Reviewed by: Gretchen Schmidt