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Sassafras
Newly widowed Champs Noland hates Egret’s Pond, the retirement community he nicknamed Regret’s Pond.
Tired of empty condolences, “What to Expect When You’re Grieving” pamphlets, and casseroles delivered by do-gooding widows, he flees to his ramshackle summer cabin on the Sassafras River bringing the golden urn containing Pat’s ashes with him.
His plan?
To spend his days idly fishing on his rusty old boat, Tetanus, and drinking beer. Alone.
But troubled waters await him.
Not only is Pat dead, but his daughter Laura has redecorated his beloved cabin with plans to rent it out as a “hair-being-bee.” His boat is gone, his beer fridge is filled with watermelon-flavored Perrier, and his plans for solitude are shattered by interfering neighbors, a notorious chicken-farming arsonist, and the arrival of his demanding adult children.
When he’s confronted with a shocking secret, Champs must decide if he’s going to dwell in the past and continue to hide behind his gruff exterior, or let go of the golden urn and embrace the uncertainty of living—and loving—again.
Tired of empty condolences, “What to Expect When You’re Grieving” pamphlets, and casseroles delivered by do-gooding widows, he flees to his ramshackle summer cabin on the Sassafras River bringing the golden urn containing Pat’s ashes with him.
His plan?
To spend his days idly fishing on his rusty old boat, Tetanus, and drinking beer. Alone.
But troubled waters await him.
Not only is Pat dead, but his daughter Laura has redecorated his beloved cabin with plans to rent it out as a “hair-being-bee.” His boat is gone, his beer fridge is filled with watermelon-flavored Perrier, and his plans for solitude are shattered by interfering neighbors, a notorious chicken-farming arsonist, and the arrival of his demanding adult children.
When he’s confronted with a shocking secret, Champs must decide if he’s going to dwell in the past and continue to hide behind his gruff exterior, or let go of the golden urn and embrace the uncertainty of living—and loving—again.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2019
6 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Trish Heald
1 book13 followers Trish Heald is the award-winning author of Sassafras. A former strategic business advisor, writer, and editor, Trish turned her hand to fiction after an MA in Psychology revealed a passion for helping flawed characters through crises and renewal. Trish lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband, three almost adult children, and a narcoleptic beagle.
Sassafras won a 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice: Fiction and was a Finalist in the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.
Sassafras won a 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for Best New Voice: Fiction and was a Finalist in the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 9, 2019
Sassafras is the story of Champs, a newly widowed man mourning the loss of his wife. He stays in a retirement facility named Egret’s Pond, and he wants to get as far away as possible. Champs’s biggest dream is to return to his cabin on the Sassafras River, where he can be undisturbed drinking beer, fishing, and wasting away the rest of his days. But when his children reveal they have spruced up the cabin and plan to turn it into an Airbnb, all of Champs’s grand plans go out the window. The resulting story is one of grief, family, and everything great about the great outdoors.
When the author and her team so kindly reached out to me to review this novel, I was immediately intrigued at the comparison to A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. A Man Called Ove is one of my favorite books of all time, and I can definitely see the similarities between Ove and Champs. Champs is a “beloved curmudgeon” who wants things the way he wants them. He’s definitely one of those characters that gets under your skin at first but who you grow to love. One of the strengths of this novel is the characters in general, as everyone has their own distinct personality and will stick with you long after you close the last page.
Another great quality of this novel is the atmospheric writing style. You truly feel like you’re on the Sassafras River, so if you are a nature lover, you will love the narrative style! Even though I am more of an indoors person, I really appreciated the way that the landscaping was described. There were also vivid descriptions of the different kinds of fish and the beers Champs loves, and even though those are things that I personally am not interested in, I enjoyed hearing the details and did not think that they took away from the main storyline.
The twists and turns in this narrative make you want to keep flipping the pages, and you grow more and more attached to the characters with each chapter. By the end you have truly gone on a wild ride with each and everyone of them, and I was sad to see it come to an end. Maybe one day we’ll get to follow Champs on even more adventures!
When the author and her team so kindly reached out to me to review this novel, I was immediately intrigued at the comparison to A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman. A Man Called Ove is one of my favorite books of all time, and I can definitely see the similarities between Ove and Champs. Champs is a “beloved curmudgeon” who wants things the way he wants them. He’s definitely one of those characters that gets under your skin at first but who you grow to love. One of the strengths of this novel is the characters in general, as everyone has their own distinct personality and will stick with you long after you close the last page.
Another great quality of this novel is the atmospheric writing style. You truly feel like you’re on the Sassafras River, so if you are a nature lover, you will love the narrative style! Even though I am more of an indoors person, I really appreciated the way that the landscaping was described. There were also vivid descriptions of the different kinds of fish and the beers Champs loves, and even though those are things that I personally am not interested in, I enjoyed hearing the details and did not think that they took away from the main storyline.
The twists and turns in this narrative make you want to keep flipping the pages, and you grow more and more attached to the characters with each chapter. By the end you have truly gone on a wild ride with each and everyone of them, and I was sad to see it come to an end. Maybe one day we’ll get to follow Champs on even more adventures!
September 15, 2019
First of all, props to Trish Heald, who is one of many independent authors out there willing to do the hard work of managing all aspects of their book production, from writing the work to publishing it to marketing it. Though I’m sure rewarding, I can’t imagine how challenging that process would be--at least at times—not to mention the resiliency and self-motivation a project like this would require. With that said, thank you to the author for providing me with a free digital ARC copy of SASSAFRAS via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In short, SASSAFRAS details one man’s experience with the recent loss of his wife, growing older, and dealing with sometimes difficult adult children who seem to want to control his situation. I’ve been on a curmudgeon reading kick lately, and Champs certainly fits the bill: he is cantankerous, irascible, beer guzzling, and just plain stubborn most of the time. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t lovable, and as the novel progresses both his family and the reader find more and more reason to appreciate who Champs is deep down despite his rough edges.
The primary reason for my three-star rating is the pacing, which felt slow at times. Additionally, the large cast of characters got a bit unwieldy by the novel’s conclusion, but I mostly kept track of who was who without too much confusion. Despite these issues, this is a heart-warming, feel-good story, and the setting of the Sassafras River adds perfectly to the charm of the novel.
(As an aside, I have to say I love the cover art! It's gorgeous! The designer deserves a pat on the back and is hopefully out there making more beautiful covers!)
In short, SASSAFRAS details one man’s experience with the recent loss of his wife, growing older, and dealing with sometimes difficult adult children who seem to want to control his situation. I’ve been on a curmudgeon reading kick lately, and Champs certainly fits the bill: he is cantankerous, irascible, beer guzzling, and just plain stubborn most of the time. But that doesn’t mean that he isn’t lovable, and as the novel progresses both his family and the reader find more and more reason to appreciate who Champs is deep down despite his rough edges.
The primary reason for my three-star rating is the pacing, which felt slow at times. Additionally, the large cast of characters got a bit unwieldy by the novel’s conclusion, but I mostly kept track of who was who without too much confusion. Despite these issues, this is a heart-warming, feel-good story, and the setting of the Sassafras River adds perfectly to the charm of the novel.
(As an aside, I have to say I love the cover art! It's gorgeous! The designer deserves a pat on the back and is hopefully out there making more beautiful covers!)
September 6, 2019
Sassafras is the story of Champs Noland and his dysfunctional family. Recently widowed Champs hates to be in Egret's Pond, a retirement facility his wife convinced him to get settled in to spend the rest of their lives. But now with his wife, Pat gone, Champs completely abhors even the thought of spending a day in this facility. So, irrespective of where his 3 children want him to live, he flees to his rickety summer cabin which has been passed on to him through generations. His plan is to spend the remaining days of his life staying there, fishing on his rusty old boat and drinking beer as much as he wants in peace and solitude. But once he reaches there gradually all his plans get thrown into the bin. A set of nosy neighbours and arrival of his demanding children derails his plans of solitude and with the turn of events, he gets confronted with lots of family drama and a shocking secret from his past he was not all prepared for. Now Champs must decide whether to brood over the past or to accept the bitter truth unfurled right before his eyes with composure and dignity.
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Sassafras has all the elements of a good family drama. The story initiates in a plaintive note and gradually transforms into a jovial, chaotic and uplifting tale of a stubborn old man who tries to embrace life as it happens to him. But what I loved most about this book is how the whole family drama was unravelled in a satirical unhinged way. For me, it was a 4⭐️ read!
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I thank the author for the review copy.
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Sassafras has all the elements of a good family drama. The story initiates in a plaintive note and gradually transforms into a jovial, chaotic and uplifting tale of a stubborn old man who tries to embrace life as it happens to him. But what I loved most about this book is how the whole family drama was unravelled in a satirical unhinged way. For me, it was a 4⭐️ read!
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I thank the author for the review copy.
October 7, 2019
Sassafras by Trish Heald is a recommended story of the plans of newly widowed Champs Noland and his dysfunctional family.
Champs Noland has lost his beloved wife, Pat, to cancer shortly after they moved into a retirement community. His plan is to leave Egret's Pond, or as Champ's calls it, Regret's Pond, and head out, with the urn containing Pat's ashes, to his fishing cabin on the Sassafras River. His children plan for him to stay at the retirement community. He plans to spend the remainder of his life alone, drinking beer and fishing off his rusty boat. Imagine Champs shock when he arrives at his cabin and finds it all redecorated. Apparently his daughter, Laura, has been fixing it up so it could be rented out as an Airbnb - without telling Champs. Things go downhill from here.
Champs will be a memorable character for many readers, especially for some of his plans and actions once he reaches Sassafras River. This is a heart-warming story about a stubborn curmudgeon after the death of his wife and the story of how he and his family develop a relationship with her gone. All the characters are caricatures, representing a type of person, rather than feeling like real flesh and blood people. But, many readers are really going to like this story and will find Champ and all his ways endearing. There is an underlying story about acceptance and how families are what you make them.
This is reminiscent of all the other recent books about old curmudgeons (set off by the excellent A Man called Ove), who are also somewhat lovable in a crusty way. It is well-written and creates a sense of place; however, the crusty-old-man jokes became tiring after a while (and I began to wonder if Heald actually knows any man in their 70's). It is a lighthearted satirical novel, though, and many people will respond to it favorably.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Glasswing Media via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/1...
Champs Noland has lost his beloved wife, Pat, to cancer shortly after they moved into a retirement community. His plan is to leave Egret's Pond, or as Champ's calls it, Regret's Pond, and head out, with the urn containing Pat's ashes, to his fishing cabin on the Sassafras River. His children plan for him to stay at the retirement community. He plans to spend the remainder of his life alone, drinking beer and fishing off his rusty boat. Imagine Champs shock when he arrives at his cabin and finds it all redecorated. Apparently his daughter, Laura, has been fixing it up so it could be rented out as an Airbnb - without telling Champs. Things go downhill from here.
Champs will be a memorable character for many readers, especially for some of his plans and actions once he reaches Sassafras River. This is a heart-warming story about a stubborn curmudgeon after the death of his wife and the story of how he and his family develop a relationship with her gone. All the characters are caricatures, representing a type of person, rather than feeling like real flesh and blood people. But, many readers are really going to like this story and will find Champ and all his ways endearing. There is an underlying story about acceptance and how families are what you make them.
This is reminiscent of all the other recent books about old curmudgeons (set off by the excellent A Man called Ove), who are also somewhat lovable in a crusty way. It is well-written and creates a sense of place; however, the crusty-old-man jokes became tiring after a while (and I began to wonder if Heald actually knows any man in their 70's). It is a lighthearted satirical novel, though, and many people will respond to it favorably.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Glasswing Media via Netgalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2019/1...
November 20, 2019
Funniest book I've read all year! Sassafras by Trish Heald had me laughing out loud so many times. This was the perfect book to cheer me up, and I want to read it again—yes, it was that good.
Champs Noland is quite the curmudgeon, and all he wants to do is leave his stupid retirement home and head to the Sassafras River with his dead wife's ashes so he can fish in peace. But his daughter throws everything for a loop when she secretly remodels his lake house into a AirBnB fit for any hipster.
From a notorious chicken farming-arsonist to a shotgun-wielding neighbor, from a manic germaphobe daughter to a Harlequin romance-reading granddaughter, this literary fiction novel is overflowing with unique, hysterical characters. Champs is obviously my favorite, but if I had to pick a second, it would be Josanne, who loves to cook up a storm and knit "samplers" for grieving friends.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's funny and lighthearted while reminding readers of the importance of forgiveness and family. I want this to be a movie, and I feel like Jack Nicholson would be the perfect Champs Noland.
Champs Noland is quite the curmudgeon, and all he wants to do is leave his stupid retirement home and head to the Sassafras River with his dead wife's ashes so he can fish in peace. But his daughter throws everything for a loop when she secretly remodels his lake house into a AirBnB fit for any hipster.
From a notorious chicken farming-arsonist to a shotgun-wielding neighbor, from a manic germaphobe daughter to a Harlequin romance-reading granddaughter, this literary fiction novel is overflowing with unique, hysterical characters. Champs is obviously my favorite, but if I had to pick a second, it would be Josanne, who loves to cook up a storm and knit "samplers" for grieving friends.
I can't recommend this book enough. It's funny and lighthearted while reminding readers of the importance of forgiveness and family. I want this to be a movie, and I feel like Jack Nicholson would be the perfect Champs Noland.
September 28, 2019
Can I just say that crotchety old men are the absolute best? Champs, who has recently lost both the love of his life and source of emotional intelligence, his wife, Pat, is thrown for a major loop. Despite his wife and three adult children’s insistence at Champs staying in the assisted living center, he moves out to his old fishing cabin on the Sassafrass River. The novel follows Champs as he reconnects with his semi-dysfunctional family and begins to accept his grief. Despite the heavy subject matter, the novel is positively delightful and humorous. Family secrets are unearthed and Champs learns that he’s actually not to old to learn how to emotion. I found the transitions between past and present to be a little rough. I would have also enjoyed a little more solid background on the various family members than the more fluid sprinklings throughout the novel, as I found it a little difficult to connect the secret to the family member. However, I absolutely recommend this novel because in addition to be a wonderful story, it has some of the best pop culture mentions.
October 2, 2019
Do you know how are you supposed to feel when your lifelong companion leaves you behind with a life plan that you’re supposed to follow after he/she is gone? Neither does Champ.
When Champs loses his wife Pat, he doesn’t really know how to cope with the loss of his confidant, emotional companion and, most importantly, the glue that held his family together. With her gone, he finds himself stranded at a residential facility that all his 3 children consider the best for him while all he wants to do is return to Sassafras, the only place that always feels like home. He also finds himself coming to terms with his individuality and emotions, along with the fight to cope with Pat's death. This shift enables him to reconnect with his children and himself while moving on to another adventure that awaits him.
When Shayla first asked me to review it, I was so thrilled. This book was definitely the perfect read to end my summer with and would recommend you to do the same and grab yourself a copy as soon as it comes out on 1st October!
When Champs loses his wife Pat, he doesn’t really know how to cope with the loss of his confidant, emotional companion and, most importantly, the glue that held his family together. With her gone, he finds himself stranded at a residential facility that all his 3 children consider the best for him while all he wants to do is return to Sassafras, the only place that always feels like home. He also finds himself coming to terms with his individuality and emotions, along with the fight to cope with Pat's death. This shift enables him to reconnect with his children and himself while moving on to another adventure that awaits him.
When Shayla first asked me to review it, I was so thrilled. This book was definitely the perfect read to end my summer with and would recommend you to do the same and grab yourself a copy as soon as it comes out on 1st October!
October 9, 2019
It takes some time for me to write this review. This book touched me in a way. It made me contemplate about my future, when I will enter the empty nest stage.
The book itself tells us a story about Champ after his wife, Pat, die. He is struggling to fit in elderly facilities and reject the idea of such place. But when he come to his cabin in Sashafras, in hope to stay there for the rest of his life with his wife urn, he found that his daughter redecorated the place to list it in AirBnB. Something he doesn't know.
Then, we'll meet Champs' children whose already adult, two of them have kids. We will be shown their internal conflicts and how it resolved.
Thankfully, this book ends happily. But please be prepared to be moved by Champs contemplation, and annoyed by his sometimes ridiculous act.
Thank you #netgalley for providing the arc in exchange of honest review.
The book itself tells us a story about Champ after his wife, Pat, die. He is struggling to fit in elderly facilities and reject the idea of such place. But when he come to his cabin in Sashafras, in hope to stay there for the rest of his life with his wife urn, he found that his daughter redecorated the place to list it in AirBnB. Something he doesn't know.
Then, we'll meet Champs' children whose already adult, two of them have kids. We will be shown their internal conflicts and how it resolved.
Thankfully, this book ends happily. But please be prepared to be moved by Champs contemplation, and annoyed by his sometimes ridiculous act.
Thank you #netgalley for providing the arc in exchange of honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 17, 2019
This is the debut novel by Trish Heald, and I really enjoyed reading it! The story follows Champs, an old curmudgeon trying to navigate life now that his wife is deceased and his (extremely stubborn) children are grown. It’s his struggle to maintain his identity, relationships, and independence despite his age. He is a charming, hilarious character.
The character development of this novel was one of its strongest points, along with the humor. However, some of the plot points fell flat for me. There were a few situations in the story that I just didn’t find believable, but overall it was still a good read. I give it 3.5 stars. If you want an easy, funny, charming read for this fall, look no further.
The character development of this novel was one of its strongest points, along with the humor. However, some of the plot points fell flat for me. There were a few situations in the story that I just didn’t find believable, but overall it was still a good read. I give it 3.5 stars. If you want an easy, funny, charming read for this fall, look no further.
November 2, 2019
Sassafras is a river, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. That’s the geography. But Sassafras is more than a river; it’s a culture, a way of life, with generations of history. And there lives Champs, after he’s fled from the retirement community where he lived with his recently deceased wife.
He flees with her urn. And therein lies the tale of his entire family, whose essence he discovers in his journey of mourning, and his children’s and grandchildren’s and neighbor’s mourning. That Champs is on this journey is unknown to him until he finally gets it, towards the end of this long story.
This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will exasperate you. And it’s well worth diving into.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
He flees with her urn. And therein lies the tale of his entire family, whose essence he discovers in his journey of mourning, and his children’s and grandchildren’s and neighbor’s mourning. That Champs is on this journey is unknown to him until he finally gets it, towards the end of this long story.
This book will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will exasperate you. And it’s well worth diving into.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
October 1, 2019
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!! I have been so lucky to get the opportunity to read this book early and I am beyond happy with what I read! The story is perfectly written and by the end of the book, you really feel a strong bond with the Noland family. Purchase this book as soon as it comes out, it more than worth your money, its almost like your making money from buying it. It really touches your heart!
October 2, 2019
Fun and funny! Champs is our begrudging hero. He annoys us and we love him all at the same time! Take some time to go on a journey with Champs, find out about his wonderfully weird and dysfunctional family and enjoy seeing an old man discover the joys of life all over again. Buy the book, enjoy the read, feel the change in your own life!
October 3, 2019
This was a great read--fun, uplifting, funny, and touching. It made me want to call my dad. I hope someday we'll get a sequel so that I can read all about the further adventures of Champs. I honestly didn't want it to end.
May 18, 2020
When pondering the overall makeup of one's life, the old grudges and fronts we put on seem petty, almost silly.
A quick-paced read with short chapters, Sassafras (by Trish Heald) packs in a lot of ideas and thoughts in a concise story
We start after Champ's wife, Pat, has passed away. He can feel his own mortality creeping on and his own agency shrinking. Living in Egret's Pond (which he playfully calls it Regret’s Pond), he feels stifled by the structure and expectations of a man his twilight years.
Enforcing this kind of normalcy is his daughter Laura. She is initially seen as the child of three who has her life put together.
I found her to be an intriguing character because, on face value alone, she’s the wet blanket on Champs’s fun. The exploration of her past paints an understandable and sympathetic picture of someone who, in 2020, would be described as a “Karen.”
Champs is no angel. He’s a very human protagonist and really sends the message of reflection home. His arc is one of trying to hang onto the vision of the past, almost at the cost of his family and even of his own life at times.
The conflict here is Champs himself. I think Trish Heald does something I don’t see often in having a dynamic and changing character in an older person. It’s common to believe that once a person reaches a certain age, they’re set in their ways. Sometimes changing for the worst because the realization of how small we really are is just a traumatic as coming into the world for the first time. Two bookends of horror make it understandable why some would hang so tight to nostalgia.
I won’t say much about the most impactful part of the book but it comes during a time of forced rest. After having a bombshell dropped on him, Champs is recovering in the company of sage disguised as a bubbly woman who reads Harlequin novels. The insight he shares and the realizations he uncovers made a quiet moment really meaningful.
The book ends quietly with one noticeable hook that could be set up for a sequel should the author choose to write one. I think it reflects reality to have that detail open-ended. Sometimes we’re all too far away to conclude so nicely.
For someone in their winter season, the tanned, surly, and stubborn Champs has a lot of life left in him.
I normally read Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. There’s a struggle of good and evil (or an evil justified through the lens of the antagonist). But that isn’t present here. Everyone is a person with their own flaws and mistakes as well as moments that remind us that the imperfect people around us are perfect for the time being. They’re trying, just like we are. I think the quiet philosophy of mortality, forgiveness, and growing in later life kept me reading.
Also, to the author’s credit, her descriptions of the locales and observation of nature painted a vivid image in my mind. I could envision the world Champs fights so hard to preserve and stay in, agreeing with him because it looks, sounds, and tastes so ideal. I have faint memories of similar areas described in the novel so a lot of the descriptions struck a chord with me.
I highly recommend the book.
A quick-paced read with short chapters, Sassafras (by Trish Heald) packs in a lot of ideas and thoughts in a concise story
We start after Champ's wife, Pat, has passed away. He can feel his own mortality creeping on and his own agency shrinking. Living in Egret's Pond (which he playfully calls it Regret’s Pond), he feels stifled by the structure and expectations of a man his twilight years.
Enforcing this kind of normalcy is his daughter Laura. She is initially seen as the child of three who has her life put together.
I found her to be an intriguing character because, on face value alone, she’s the wet blanket on Champs’s fun. The exploration of her past paints an understandable and sympathetic picture of someone who, in 2020, would be described as a “Karen.”
Champs is no angel. He’s a very human protagonist and really sends the message of reflection home. His arc is one of trying to hang onto the vision of the past, almost at the cost of his family and even of his own life at times.
The conflict here is Champs himself. I think Trish Heald does something I don’t see often in having a dynamic and changing character in an older person. It’s common to believe that once a person reaches a certain age, they’re set in their ways. Sometimes changing for the worst because the realization of how small we really are is just a traumatic as coming into the world for the first time. Two bookends of horror make it understandable why some would hang so tight to nostalgia.
I won’t say much about the most impactful part of the book but it comes during a time of forced rest. After having a bombshell dropped on him, Champs is recovering in the company of sage disguised as a bubbly woman who reads Harlequin novels. The insight he shares and the realizations he uncovers made a quiet moment really meaningful.
The book ends quietly with one noticeable hook that could be set up for a sequel should the author choose to write one. I think it reflects reality to have that detail open-ended. Sometimes we’re all too far away to conclude so nicely.
For someone in their winter season, the tanned, surly, and stubborn Champs has a lot of life left in him.
I normally read Sci-Fi and Fantasy books. There’s a struggle of good and evil (or an evil justified through the lens of the antagonist). But that isn’t present here. Everyone is a person with their own flaws and mistakes as well as moments that remind us that the imperfect people around us are perfect for the time being. They’re trying, just like we are. I think the quiet philosophy of mortality, forgiveness, and growing in later life kept me reading.
Also, to the author’s credit, her descriptions of the locales and observation of nature painted a vivid image in my mind. I could envision the world Champs fights so hard to preserve and stay in, agreeing with him because it looks, sounds, and tastes so ideal. I have faint memories of similar areas described in the novel so a lot of the descriptions struck a chord with me.
I highly recommend the book.
May 14, 2020
Sassafras had me waxing and waning from depression to hope. This was beautifully written with skill and sensitivity. Champs is every crotchety old man (like my dad!) who wants everything his way and his way means nothing ever changes. I don't blame Champs for his grief and depression-- his world was rocked by the illness and death of his wife (the book begins when Pat has recentlypassed on). The family's makeup including the chosen family of close friends feel tangibly real and vibrant. I was totally immersed. My heart hurt. Without giving anything away, I'll say thank gods it ended joyfully with hope and love plus forgiveness. It's simply incredible.
Fathers and daughters can have complicated relationships. A woman can't always be a "daddy's girl," and Laura never wanted to be. Not with her father, Champs, with his brusque attitude and constant simmering anger ready to blow whether he's sober or drunk. Laura and her brothers, Jeffrey and David, need their own time and ways to grieve, but Champs can't deal with other people's problems because he can't deal with his own suffering.
Family friends, particularly Josanne, manage to break through Champs's crusty shell. It's a slow process. When he tries to improve too quickly, it backfires and sends everyone to their proverbial corners. Josanne's needlework has always been therapeutic for the people who receive her intimately designed samplers. She thoughtfully uses her arthritis as the perfect excuse to convince Champs to help out with a cross stitch. The secret behind it doesn't come to Champs until later, but the powerful healing of doing something delicate with his hands for someone else is cathartic.
New family members unexpectedly enter Champs's world. He surprisingly takes to them better than his children he's raised since birth. This shows Champs isn't without heart. It just needed to be found and healed.
Anyone with worries about their parents or adult children will be enraptured with Sassafras.
Fathers and daughters can have complicated relationships. A woman can't always be a "daddy's girl," and Laura never wanted to be. Not with her father, Champs, with his brusque attitude and constant simmering anger ready to blow whether he's sober or drunk. Laura and her brothers, Jeffrey and David, need their own time and ways to grieve, but Champs can't deal with other people's problems because he can't deal with his own suffering.
Family friends, particularly Josanne, manage to break through Champs's crusty shell. It's a slow process. When he tries to improve too quickly, it backfires and sends everyone to their proverbial corners. Josanne's needlework has always been therapeutic for the people who receive her intimately designed samplers. She thoughtfully uses her arthritis as the perfect excuse to convince Champs to help out with a cross stitch. The secret behind it doesn't come to Champs until later, but the powerful healing of doing something delicate with his hands for someone else is cathartic.
New family members unexpectedly enter Champs's world. He surprisingly takes to them better than his children he's raised since birth. This shows Champs isn't without heart. It just needed to be found and healed.
Anyone with worries about their parents or adult children will be enraptured with Sassafras.
June 5, 2020
“Sassafras” is one of those words that is just fun to say out loud. Go ahead. Try it.
“Sassafras” by Trish Heald, brings about happiness, too! Which really took me for a surprise, because with the story premise of a newly widowed man trying to come to terms with his dead wife 💀.....well, let’s just say it’s not my usual cup of tea! I’m ever the optimist seeking for the happily-ever-after.
BUT, this book is chock-full of lovable, diverse characters all in life’s transition. Without giving away too much, this happy-endings girl was pleased with how each character came out of their emotional turmoil.
I’ve gotta give mad props to the main protagonist, Champs. His growth is TREMENDOUS! I was left feeling so proud of this fictional, grumpy old man. Another way this book resonated with me is through the beautiful setting of the Sassafras River. Trish describes the water, climate, animals and surrounding nature so exhaustively you feel like you’re actually there! But what I appreciated most was the immense realism of the river people. The traditions and culture that surround fishing and boating is engrained into a person as they grow up. My family has fishermen on both sides going back for generations. Memories and nostalgia bubbled up within me each time I opened these pages.
Bravo, Trish!!! Truly a wonderful read!
“Sassafras” by Trish Heald, brings about happiness, too! Which really took me for a surprise, because with the story premise of a newly widowed man trying to come to terms with his dead wife 💀.....well, let’s just say it’s not my usual cup of tea! I’m ever the optimist seeking for the happily-ever-after.
BUT, this book is chock-full of lovable, diverse characters all in life’s transition. Without giving away too much, this happy-endings girl was pleased with how each character came out of their emotional turmoil.
I’ve gotta give mad props to the main protagonist, Champs. His growth is TREMENDOUS! I was left feeling so proud of this fictional, grumpy old man. Another way this book resonated with me is through the beautiful setting of the Sassafras River. Trish describes the water, climate, animals and surrounding nature so exhaustively you feel like you’re actually there! But what I appreciated most was the immense realism of the river people. The traditions and culture that surround fishing and boating is engrained into a person as they grow up. My family has fishermen on both sides going back for generations. Memories and nostalgia bubbled up within me each time I opened these pages.
Bravo, Trish!!! Truly a wonderful read!
April 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this story. It's a story about a family with real-life problems, issues, secrets and challenges. One of the things I appreciated most about the book is that the main character isn't a young, ageless member of the family but the family patriarch, an older gentleman dealing with grieving the recent death of his wife and the swarming nature of his family trying to take care of him so they can get on with their own lives. What they all learn is they need each other in order for each of them to move on. The ending is satisfying without being overly-sweet-and-not-seemingly-real. The review is 4 stars only because of the PG-13+ language. I know that's the reality for many and seemed to fit this family, just wish there wasn't as much language as there ends up being. I certainly noticed it but it didn't take away from me appreciating this story or enjoying the characters. It's certainly a 5-star story.
May 13, 2020
I loved this book! Charming characters flawed in the most realistic ways. It brought a few tears to my eyes, but more often it made me laugh. I fell in love with this family.
Almost five months after reading it, there are still little things that bring the story back to mind. (Yesterday I was shopping for a water fountain for my yard and immediately thought of Champs!) This is my new go-to gift for friends who like to read.
Almost five months after reading it, there are still little things that bring the story back to mind. (Yesterday I was shopping for a water fountain for my yard and immediately thought of Champs!) This is my new go-to gift for friends who like to read.
November 28, 2020
What an excellent read...the cast of characters, the plot and plot beneath the plot, the dry and witty humor...I loved it all. Champs is such an endearing character I wanted to spend all my time with him on the Sassafras River, fishing the calm waters.
November 17, 2020
This was quite an entertaining read. Definitely a page turner. I enjoyed it a lot.
December 17, 2023
A beautiful story of a husband father grandfather coming out of the fog of grief after his wife passes. Reminded me of On Golden Pond.
March 17, 2020
Fantastic read. Loved it!
October 6, 2019
What a great book!
This is the story of Champs, a patriarch who has a cabin on the Sassafras River off the Chesapeake Bay.
We meet Champs shortly after his beloved wife of many years, Pat, has passed away.
We follow along as he learns to cope and interacts with his kids, grandkids, friends, and most of all, life without Pat. (I don't want to spoil a great story).
Having just lost my own Dad, this book really resonated for me, especially the wonderful and touching wisdom of Champs' neighbor Josanne, whose calling is making memorial cross-stitch samplers. There are so many funny, touching moments in the book, and it is really well written.
At one point Josanne says,
" We want so bad to figure out death, to get away from the hurt, to make it something else. I think death is a great fissure thrown in our path, like a crack in the earth. Now, some of us are gonna spend the rest of our time looking into that crack paralyzed and full of fear. Others are gonna be drawn into it and disappear in the blackness. There’s some fools gonna try to jump over it to the other side, where the grass is always greener, but they never really make it. the only way I’ve seen it work, is to build a bridge. And to build a bridge takes time, it takes materials, and most of all it takes other people. You can’t do it alone.”
This really resonated and hit home for me. So. Much. Wisdom.
A book about healing wrapped up in comedy and love.
One of the best things I've read in a really long time.
Brava!
Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
This is the story of Champs, a patriarch who has a cabin on the Sassafras River off the Chesapeake Bay.
We meet Champs shortly after his beloved wife of many years, Pat, has passed away.
We follow along as he learns to cope and interacts with his kids, grandkids, friends, and most of all, life without Pat. (I don't want to spoil a great story).
Having just lost my own Dad, this book really resonated for me, especially the wonderful and touching wisdom of Champs' neighbor Josanne, whose calling is making memorial cross-stitch samplers. There are so many funny, touching moments in the book, and it is really well written.
At one point Josanne says,
" We want so bad to figure out death, to get away from the hurt, to make it something else. I think death is a great fissure thrown in our path, like a crack in the earth. Now, some of us are gonna spend the rest of our time looking into that crack paralyzed and full of fear. Others are gonna be drawn into it and disappear in the blackness. There’s some fools gonna try to jump over it to the other side, where the grass is always greener, but they never really make it. the only way I’ve seen it work, is to build a bridge. And to build a bridge takes time, it takes materials, and most of all it takes other people. You can’t do it alone.”
This really resonated and hit home for me. So. Much. Wisdom.
A book about healing wrapped up in comedy and love.
One of the best things I've read in a really long time.
Brava!
Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.
October 5, 2019
Champs Noland is in a retirement community and he hates it with a passion. His wife has passed away and he is totally at a loss how to cope with everyday stuff. He wishes she left him notes on how to manage their three children, what to say to people and just how to survive.
Champs has been the provider and nothing else. He has not been able to actually grieve the loss of his wife and just plods on day to day just trying to get through the day the only way he knows how. Returning to his holiday home on the river is the only way he knows how to live, but finding on arrival that the entire place has been gentrified makes him so angry that again he does not know what and how to cope.
When the children start arriving with the intention of disposing their mother's ashes and having some form of closure, apart from trying to get to grips with their father things take on a slightly ludicrous turn with Champs opposing them at every turn and not being able to see the bigger picture of how concerned they all are for him. Faced with a discovery that he only suspected before Champs has to now learn how to live, and love and forget all over again.
A story of family - amidst grieving for a much loved mother, and relationships which have to be first mended before they can move on.
Champs has been the provider and nothing else. He has not been able to actually grieve the loss of his wife and just plods on day to day just trying to get through the day the only way he knows how. Returning to his holiday home on the river is the only way he knows how to live, but finding on arrival that the entire place has been gentrified makes him so angry that again he does not know what and how to cope.
When the children start arriving with the intention of disposing their mother's ashes and having some form of closure, apart from trying to get to grips with their father things take on a slightly ludicrous turn with Champs opposing them at every turn and not being able to see the bigger picture of how concerned they all are for him. Faced with a discovery that he only suspected before Champs has to now learn how to live, and love and forget all over again.
A story of family - amidst grieving for a much loved mother, and relationships which have to be first mended before they can move on.
December 17, 2019
Sassafras by Trish Heald is a stunning debut. I laughed and cried as Heald expertly told a story about healing and family (whether tied by blood or friendship).
When Champ’s wife, Pat, dies, both he and his family lose their peacekeeper and grief, as it so often does, slips its fingers into the cracks in their relationships and pulls them wide open. We follow Champs as he struggles both stubbornly and defiantly with change. At times, Heald leads us to feel frustrated with him before our hearts break once more for all Champs has lost.
Alongside Champs, Heald crafts incredible character arcs for his children, grandchildren and even Millie, the dog. Sassafras, much like its namesake, widens as the novel develops and unravels the trials and tribulations of more than just Champs. Heald moves through these individual stories adeptly to maintain momentum and weave them all together.
Thus, Sassasfras is an undeniably heartwarming story about healing after loss, tragedy and shock; and when I learnt Heald has a background in psychology I couldn’t help but imagine her at her writing desk like Josanne sitting on the porch, cross-stitching grief into something beautiful.
When Champ’s wife, Pat, dies, both he and his family lose their peacekeeper and grief, as it so often does, slips its fingers into the cracks in their relationships and pulls them wide open. We follow Champs as he struggles both stubbornly and defiantly with change. At times, Heald leads us to feel frustrated with him before our hearts break once more for all Champs has lost.
Alongside Champs, Heald crafts incredible character arcs for his children, grandchildren and even Millie, the dog. Sassafras, much like its namesake, widens as the novel develops and unravels the trials and tribulations of more than just Champs. Heald moves through these individual stories adeptly to maintain momentum and weave them all together.
Thus, Sassasfras is an undeniably heartwarming story about healing after loss, tragedy and shock; and when I learnt Heald has a background in psychology I couldn’t help but imagine her at her writing desk like Josanne sitting on the porch, cross-stitching grief into something beautiful.
December 4, 2019
3.5 stars
Champs, the main character, is struggling with how to live his life now that his wife has died. He’s unhappily living in a retirement community and wants to control his future, regardless of any input from his adult children. As an aside...the author did a wonderful job of capturing my vision of life in a retirement community (which may or may not be accurate).
So, Champs heads off to do what he wants and has many adventures along the way. For much of the book, Champs is not a likable character and he reminded me of a blend of Ove (from A Man Called Ove) and Olive Kitteridge (from Elizabeth Strout’s books. It was often even hard to find something redeeming about him and I wondered how his wife put up with him! But his family is made up of an interesting cast of characters and there are storylines about life, grieving and family that kept me reading.
I wasn’t wild about the ending but overall, liked the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Glasswing Media for the opportunity to read Sassafras in exchange for an honest review.
Champs, the main character, is struggling with how to live his life now that his wife has died. He’s unhappily living in a retirement community and wants to control his future, regardless of any input from his adult children. As an aside...the author did a wonderful job of capturing my vision of life in a retirement community (which may or may not be accurate).
So, Champs heads off to do what he wants and has many adventures along the way. For much of the book, Champs is not a likable character and he reminded me of a blend of Ove (from A Man Called Ove) and Olive Kitteridge (from Elizabeth Strout’s books. It was often even hard to find something redeeming about him and I wondered how his wife put up with him! But his family is made up of an interesting cast of characters and there are storylines about life, grieving and family that kept me reading.
I wasn’t wild about the ending but overall, liked the book. Thanks to Netgalley and Glasswing Media for the opportunity to read Sassafras in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2019
Sassafras is the river that Champs, our main character, escapes to after the death of his wife. She was apparently the buffer between Champs and his children and the modern world. He is set adrift emotionally following her death as his grapples with his loss and the losses that follow. He was a difficult character to like, but so were many of the other characters, especially his children, who also allowed their mother to serve as buffer in their relationship with their father. A quick uplifting read, though the uplift was hard fought. I was given an advanced readers copy of this book by the publisher and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2019
I would never have thought that I would love a book about a cranky old man fishing on a river, but I could not stop reading it until it was over (and I would love a sequel!) Champs' wife just passed away, and he hates the retirement community he lives in so runs away to his beloved cabin on the Sassafras Rive where he plans to drink beer, fish, and waste away the rest of his days. But his children have other plans, and the things go downhill in a funny, uplifting, and relatable story of a dysfunctional family. Happy reading!
February 6, 2020
This is a good story of a man who is grieving the loss of his wife and regretting the decision to move into a elder care home. Champs decides to take Pat's ashes and visit his old cabin on the
Sassafras River and go fishing and drink beer. He discovers his daughter Laura has redecorated the old cabin and sold his boat. She's planning to use the cabin as a rental to make some money. This book follows the father and daughter as they both come to terms with Pat's death and what will make them both happy. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Sassafras River and go fishing and drink beer. He discovers his daughter Laura has redecorated the old cabin and sold his boat. She's planning to use the cabin as a rental to make some money. This book follows the father and daughter as they both come to terms with Pat's death and what will make them both happy. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 30, 2019
I am familiar with the area Trish writes about so that was fun to read a book set in that location. And having gone through the "discussion" with my own parents about where to live in old age, this book hit close to home. I loved Champs! I was rooting for him and not loving his daughter very much for the way she handled things. The neighbors were hilarious. The story and the characters were wonderful and very realistic. I didn't want the story to end. Loved it!
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