The ‘Gift of an Ordinary Day’ by Katrina Kenison examines in excruciating detail the longings of a mother whose children have grow-up. The potent concept of family is ‘idealized’ in this meditative memoir. The book the combines the writing style of Willa Cather and a non-descript Zen Buddhist monk. A brief synopsis will suffice. Katrina lives in an affluent New England suburb. She uproots her family and decides they need a more holistic life. They land in her parents’ home. After her extensive ‘home’ search, she falls in love with battered red cottage. Her family spends an idyllic few months there. They soon have to leave their temporary shelter as it is inhabitable in the winter, and strive to rebuild it. This takes another year. As times passes, her sons grow up and struggle to make basketball team or get into the right college. In the end, she accepts her empty nest with humility. Henry is my favorite character in the book, because I too in some ways was late bloomer. I also was not so promising in my earlier years but think I am successful in worldly terms personally fulfilled.
Overall three stars. The writing is too long-winded and the tone to somber. I feel she says the same thing over and over again. The use of similes and metaphors is astounding. Read this not for the subject matter at hand but for the incredible use of language.

Favorite Quotes
The trees bend low shouldering their heavy burden (253)
I have not gone to church much these three years, turning instead to woods and rivers and communicating with the sky (235)
My son had found his voice (300)
Healing silence (245)