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Juno's Daughters
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328 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2010
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464 people want to read
About the author
Lise Saffran
2 books15 followersI am the author of the novel JUNO'S DAUGHTERS. My essays and short fiction have been published in literary magazines, Poets and Writers and On the Issues Magazine. In addition to writing, I have a commitment to public health. I am the Associate Director of the Master of Public Health program at the University of Missouri and I lead an annual study abroad in community health in Ghana, West Africa. I'm always looking for ways to bring those two careers together--and sometimes I even find them!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
August 22, 2012
Two stars is such a sad little rating, but I really can't justify more. The main character, Jenny is a 42-year old single mom of 2 teenage daughters but her dialog and actions are annoyingly immature. There is little character development and the "love story" doesn't make any sense. How are they possibly in love after looking at each other a few times? I felt no investment into their lives. I finished it only because I kept telling myself "it has to get better". I was rewarded with slightly better writing and a much better plot in the last few chapters, but too little, too late.
June 12, 2011
This was written by a local author, which is why I bought it. Took me a while to read it because I couldn't seem to get invested in the characters, their lives, or what happened to them. I feel like the author just scratched the surface of these characters and I think I would have enjoyed it much more had I really gotten to know them. Also, referring to the actors by the names of their characters in the play was a little odd and confusing, especially when at the end of the book (and the end of summer theater) their real names are used.
September 17, 2012
I rarely stop reading a book but this one just couldn't keep my attention and was really annoying. The mother, Jenny, is absolutely ridiculous. I don't want to go into spoilerland but a mother should have stronger reactions to an older man kissing her early teen daughter than punching him in the arm. Oh and the love triangle between mother, other daughter, and man was absurd. The writing was choppy and all over the place. I'm glad I didn't waste my money on this. Yup I didn't finish it so I guess that's a 1 star for me.
June 30, 2012
This book was really awful -- I wouldn't have bothered to finish it had I not needed to for my reading challenge. Following all the characters was well nigh impossible. The protagonist's romance was not developed at all -- they go from exchanging glances to being in love. The daughters were just annoying. And writing a chapter in the form of a play -- in the middle of the book -- put me over the edge. All those folks who complain that the Fifty Shades trilogy is bad writing...THIS is bad writing.
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April 24, 2011I couldn't get into this novel. It was about the struggles of a 40 something single mother with two teenage daughters. The Shakespeare connection is that every summer there is a production of a Shakespeare play and professional actors come in for the major roles. I found the author's choice to refer to the actors by the name of the character he/she is portraying to be annoying. The main characters were not sympathetic or interesting enough to capture my attention.
January 3, 2012
The two things that save this book are its location on a tiny, beautiful island off the coast of Washington State & the production of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" being performed. I find it hard to believe any mother would condone the (mis)behavior of this 17-year-old daughter as portrayed in JUNO'S DAUGHTERS.
May 6, 2011
Not terrible, but not very good either ... I found it hard to sympathize with a woman who would compete with her teenage daughter for the attentions of a man.
March 5, 2012
It is a soap opera about a single mom and two daughters. It is set on San Juan Island, and is only worth reading if you love San Juan Island.
August 5, 2012
I loathed the protagonist mother who was so narcissistic & couldn't even think of her daughters' needs.
February 19, 2024
What I liked most about this book was its sense of place. The author did a beautiful job with setting, and I felt like I was there on San Juan Island with all of the quirky characters. I also appreciated the Shakespeare woven throughout. Like in The Tempest, in the novel there's a play within a play. All of this made it a good read. What stopped it from being a great read for me was (1) the ick factor of a 42-year-old mom and her 17-year-old daughter vying for the same man; and (2) a big thing that happens in the last quarter of the novel, which held my attention, but didn't seem fit with the rest of the book. All in all, it averages out to a 3 for me, an enjoyable read.
December 24, 2019
I picked this one up on a whim, used, mostly because the setting: the San Juan Islands. While the skeleton of this book is good (compelling characters, beautiful scenery, and the play-within-a-novel), the writing left much to be desired and there were so many little plot elements that felt very underdeveloped. I would have preferred either a longer book that did everything it was trying to do justice, or some of those side elements cut out to focus more on the key parts of the story. I also found a number of typos, which distracted from the book.
November 29, 2017
WOW!!! All i had to do was sit back and enjoy the ride. Part drama, comedy and all insight into the human drama.
A look into a unique island life.
A look into a unique island life.
March 25, 2019
interesting.
July 4, 2012
I'm sorry for the low rating. While the author OBVIOUSLY has talent, this first novel just misses its mark in too many ways. I realize that the author wants the reader to sympathize, and maybe even empathize, with the plight of a single mother raising two teenaged daughters. Unfortunately, the mother's words and actions simply don't touch my heart, nor my good sensibilities, In the book's final chapters, the mother begins to act and sound like a real mother, and the writing improves slightly. It's just too little too late, for me.
***SPOILER ALERT**********************************************************
The author includes superfluous information when describing the most mundane tasks. For instance, the mother is at the market checkout and the author writes, "the cashier offered her a bag, which she politely refused, and a fork, which she accepted." Maybe it seems petty, but sentences like this, which contain useless dialogue and/or actions, contribute to this novel's choppiness.
It was difficult for me to like Jenny, the mom. Until the last 50 or 60 pages, this woman seemed more like a self-involved teenager than a 42 year old woman. I don't mean that a woman, at every age, can't be youthful and sexual. However this Jenny contemplates that, "she might well be in love with" an actor whom she has known for just about a New York minute! Oh, and her promiscuous 17 year old daughter has her eye on the same fellow! And by the way, this actor has already shared a drunken kiss with Jenny's daughter. I guess that's no big deal though, since he's not the only dirty old man in town whose lips have met those of Jenny's daughter. I'm not appalled by a teenager's behavior. The words young and foolish are often paired together for good reason. I AM APPALLED by Jenny's responses throughout the story. She punches one old guy in the shoulder and calls him a jerk when he playfully confesses his own inebriated kiss with the underage daughter. And that's it. Sorry, but I think a mother would react differently. I know that I would!
In the story, a bunch of actors visit the island to participate in a production of "The Tempest". This happens each summer, with the actors and play selections changing from one year to the next. Jenny and her daughters have small parts in this play. One requirement is that the play's final rehearsal before using costumes is done, au naturel! Yes, naked! Now, I have no real problem with nudity, but I do take offense when it involves underage girls. Not only does Jenny condone it, but when it actually happens, her most pressing thought is to which of them is responsible for the erection displayed on her prospective paramour; Jenny or her 17 year old daughter??! I mean, really? THAT'S what is on this woman's mind at that moment?
The older daughter is Lilly and the 13 year old is named Frankie. From Peg, the female half of the husband/wife team in charge of the play's production comes this gem: "Look, stop brooding, Jen. If seeing an accidental boner is the worst thing that ever happens to Frankie, she'll be one lucky girl......though I think Lilly rather enjoyed it". Jenny's response: 'Jenny groaned and then couldn't help laughing helplessly because, of course, Peg was absolutely right'. Not only is the last sentence a disgusting reaction for a mother, but it's also an awkward sentence; 'couldn't HELP laughing HELPLESSLY.' And speaking of awkward sentences, try this one from the book: '...CUPPING paper coffee CUPS in their hands...'.
Where were this author's editors/publisher/friends prior to the book going to print? There are contradictions among the characters throughout the story. Also, Jenny momentarily daydreams about her beau, while her 13 year old daughter is missing. And at another point, having heard a female voice on an answering machine associated with this beau, Jenny briefly wonders whether or not the guy has kids. Hmmm, I guess 'being so in love with each other', their time is spent more in physical activity than in conversation.
As I proclaimed earlier, THIS AUTHOR HAS TALENT! I hope she will develop her talent and continue writing. The usual advice is to write about what you know. Maybe that will happen in her next book.
***SPOILER ALERT**********************************************************
The author includes superfluous information when describing the most mundane tasks. For instance, the mother is at the market checkout and the author writes, "the cashier offered her a bag, which she politely refused, and a fork, which she accepted." Maybe it seems petty, but sentences like this, which contain useless dialogue and/or actions, contribute to this novel's choppiness.
It was difficult for me to like Jenny, the mom. Until the last 50 or 60 pages, this woman seemed more like a self-involved teenager than a 42 year old woman. I don't mean that a woman, at every age, can't be youthful and sexual. However this Jenny contemplates that, "she might well be in love with" an actor whom she has known for just about a New York minute! Oh, and her promiscuous 17 year old daughter has her eye on the same fellow! And by the way, this actor has already shared a drunken kiss with Jenny's daughter. I guess that's no big deal though, since he's not the only dirty old man in town whose lips have met those of Jenny's daughter. I'm not appalled by a teenager's behavior. The words young and foolish are often paired together for good reason. I AM APPALLED by Jenny's responses throughout the story. She punches one old guy in the shoulder and calls him a jerk when he playfully confesses his own inebriated kiss with the underage daughter. And that's it. Sorry, but I think a mother would react differently. I know that I would!
In the story, a bunch of actors visit the island to participate in a production of "The Tempest". This happens each summer, with the actors and play selections changing from one year to the next. Jenny and her daughters have small parts in this play. One requirement is that the play's final rehearsal before using costumes is done, au naturel! Yes, naked! Now, I have no real problem with nudity, but I do take offense when it involves underage girls. Not only does Jenny condone it, but when it actually happens, her most pressing thought is to which of them is responsible for the erection displayed on her prospective paramour; Jenny or her 17 year old daughter??! I mean, really? THAT'S what is on this woman's mind at that moment?
The older daughter is Lilly and the 13 year old is named Frankie. From Peg, the female half of the husband/wife team in charge of the play's production comes this gem: "Look, stop brooding, Jen. If seeing an accidental boner is the worst thing that ever happens to Frankie, she'll be one lucky girl......though I think Lilly rather enjoyed it". Jenny's response: 'Jenny groaned and then couldn't help laughing helplessly because, of course, Peg was absolutely right'. Not only is the last sentence a disgusting reaction for a mother, but it's also an awkward sentence; 'couldn't HELP laughing HELPLESSLY.' And speaking of awkward sentences, try this one from the book: '...CUPPING paper coffee CUPS in their hands...'.
Where were this author's editors/publisher/friends prior to the book going to print? There are contradictions among the characters throughout the story. Also, Jenny momentarily daydreams about her beau, while her 13 year old daughter is missing. And at another point, having heard a female voice on an answering machine associated with this beau, Jenny briefly wonders whether or not the guy has kids. Hmmm, I guess 'being so in love with each other', their time is spent more in physical activity than in conversation.
As I proclaimed earlier, THIS AUTHOR HAS TALENT! I hope she will develop her talent and continue writing. The usual advice is to write about what you know. Maybe that will happen in her next book.
April 1, 2013
Review Posted on Reading Lark 8/29/11: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2011/...
A story that mimics the sea with its churning events and emotions that shift from tranquil to tumultuous....
Juno's Daughters has the perfect mixture for a great read - strong sense of place, well developed characters, and an intriguing plot. San Juan Island, off the coast of Washington State, holds a bit of magic for those of us who live in the mainland. I love visiting the islands and imagining that I fit into their culture and community. I haven't visited San Juan yet, but after this book it is on my list of things to do. There is just something about a book set on an island that immediately draws my attention. I also loved how Saffran was able to transport the reader to the island; she did a beautiful job with not only describing the look and feel of the island, but she also did a nice job of capturing the island culture.
Juno's Daughters unfolds in two distinct ways. First, there is the yearly summer Shakespeare play when the island is invaded by professional actors. Many locals are involved in the play as well through smaller roles, costume design, etc. The entire island is caught up in the process and it becomes something that everyone looks forward to each year. Jenny, the main character, typically works on costumes and props, but she finds herself being offered an acting part with her two daughters, Lily and Frankie. Lily is a hard to handle, stubborn teen who is on the cusp of adulthood after high school graduation. Frankie is thirteen and trying to figure out who she is and how she fits into the world. The family dynamic between Jenny, Lily, and Frankie was more interesting to me than the scenes involving the play. Their lifestyle is so different than mine and I found myself trying to figure out which character's role in the family would be mine.
As the first segment unfolds, the actors not only bring excitement to the island, but drama as well. Lily falls head over heels in love with an older actor who also happens to have caught her mother's eye. I honestly didn't enjoy this story line at all. Lily's interest bordered on obsession and I was uncomfortable watching her throw herself at the poor man. Many reviewers have commented on this aspect being a competition between Lily and Jenny for Trinculo's affections, but I didn't see it that way at all. I did, however, want Jenny to step in and control her child a bit more. Lily seemed to care for nobody but herself. However, since I am not a parent, I had trouble understanding a lot of Jenny's choices where her daughters were concerned.
The second main focus of the book was what happened after the play. I don't want to spoil this section for readers, but I will say that I enjoyed it a lot more than the "play" section of the book. I felt like this was where Saffran's writing had a chance to shine. The characters became solid and I learned to accept them - flaws and all. I was also humbled by how the island all came together to support Jenny and her girls.
Overall, this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of contemporary adult fiction. This novel focuses heavily on island life as well as the workings of a single parent household with a history of abuse. I also really enjoyed the connections to Shakespeare's The Tempest and the musical references that litter the text. Saffran's knack at character creation is superb. I could see using this text as a model for how it should be done.
One Last Gripe: It was frustrating to me that the characters went by their names from the play in the beginning of the book and then switched to their real names at the end. I understood the purpose behind it, but it made trying to keep everyone straight difficult at times.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The setting and Saffran's beautiful language
First Sentence: There was one day in early June of each year when theater-loving residents of San Juan Island, Washington, listened more eagerly than usual for the echoing horn of the ferry in Friday Harbor.
Favorite Character: Frankie
Least Favorite Character: Lily
A story that mimics the sea with its churning events and emotions that shift from tranquil to tumultuous....
Juno's Daughters has the perfect mixture for a great read - strong sense of place, well developed characters, and an intriguing plot. San Juan Island, off the coast of Washington State, holds a bit of magic for those of us who live in the mainland. I love visiting the islands and imagining that I fit into their culture and community. I haven't visited San Juan yet, but after this book it is on my list of things to do. There is just something about a book set on an island that immediately draws my attention. I also loved how Saffran was able to transport the reader to the island; she did a beautiful job with not only describing the look and feel of the island, but she also did a nice job of capturing the island culture.
Juno's Daughters unfolds in two distinct ways. First, there is the yearly summer Shakespeare play when the island is invaded by professional actors. Many locals are involved in the play as well through smaller roles, costume design, etc. The entire island is caught up in the process and it becomes something that everyone looks forward to each year. Jenny, the main character, typically works on costumes and props, but she finds herself being offered an acting part with her two daughters, Lily and Frankie. Lily is a hard to handle, stubborn teen who is on the cusp of adulthood after high school graduation. Frankie is thirteen and trying to figure out who she is and how she fits into the world. The family dynamic between Jenny, Lily, and Frankie was more interesting to me than the scenes involving the play. Their lifestyle is so different than mine and I found myself trying to figure out which character's role in the family would be mine.
As the first segment unfolds, the actors not only bring excitement to the island, but drama as well. Lily falls head over heels in love with an older actor who also happens to have caught her mother's eye. I honestly didn't enjoy this story line at all. Lily's interest bordered on obsession and I was uncomfortable watching her throw herself at the poor man. Many reviewers have commented on this aspect being a competition between Lily and Jenny for Trinculo's affections, but I didn't see it that way at all. I did, however, want Jenny to step in and control her child a bit more. Lily seemed to care for nobody but herself. However, since I am not a parent, I had trouble understanding a lot of Jenny's choices where her daughters were concerned.
The second main focus of the book was what happened after the play. I don't want to spoil this section for readers, but I will say that I enjoyed it a lot more than the "play" section of the book. I felt like this was where Saffran's writing had a chance to shine. The characters became solid and I learned to accept them - flaws and all. I was also humbled by how the island all came together to support Jenny and her girls.
Overall, this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of contemporary adult fiction. This novel focuses heavily on island life as well as the workings of a single parent household with a history of abuse. I also really enjoyed the connections to Shakespeare's The Tempest and the musical references that litter the text. Saffran's knack at character creation is superb. I could see using this text as a model for how it should be done.
One Last Gripe: It was frustrating to me that the characters went by their names from the play in the beginning of the book and then switched to their real names at the end. I understood the purpose behind it, but it made trying to keep everyone straight difficult at times.
My Favorite Thing About This Book: The setting and Saffran's beautiful language
First Sentence: There was one day in early June of each year when theater-loving residents of San Juan Island, Washington, listened more eagerly than usual for the echoing horn of the ferry in Friday Harbor.
Favorite Character: Frankie
Least Favorite Character: Lily
July 8, 2011
Won this book on 3/11/11. Received book on 3/21/11.
I debated on the stars for this throughout the whole book because at times it was a solid 4 and at others it was just a 3, so 3.5 stars really for me. I just couldn't go with 4 stars for a few reasons.
I got over 80 pages into the book before the F bomb dropped and then it went almost to the end until it dropped again, each time it was used multiples times really close together.
The other part I had a hard time with was the "naked rehearsal." I was floored that both the mother and the female director of the play would allow teenage girls to be a part of that. Since it seemed like it was the first time in their summer productions young girls had been involved, couldn't they have made some exceptions? I just couldn't get past that.
I was surprised that only about half of the book is about the play at all, then the rest of it deals with Jenny and her daughters after it ends. So much of the beginning of the book deals with the play and it's infused in just about every aspect of their lives and the story, so I wasn't prepared for it to end when it did and then the turn the book took.
There were several references I didn't get. A lot of Shakespeare, some of which I was able to pick up on that it was Shakespeare but not the reference because I'm not familiar with The Tempest. There were some other references to songs (songs they sang at the parties and others quoted in conversations) that I didn't pick up on, although there was mention made of Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead, so some of them could have been those.
This book has a very hippy feel to it, but as Jenny, the mom, is only 42, I'm not sure when the setting of the book is. It feels like it's current at times, so the hippy-ness felt off to me. It did explain a lot of her attitude, though, which really frustrated me with her character. She was so lackadaisical with her daughters and then she's upset when they want to break free from her??
Also, this was actually probably the only book where I didn't want the main love interest to be who she ended up with. Everything about her character screamed to me that she needed the island guy, not the actor.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read and I did enjoy a lot of it, but there were parts I had a hard time following or just had a hard time with.
I debated on the stars for this throughout the whole book because at times it was a solid 4 and at others it was just a 3, so 3.5 stars really for me. I just couldn't go with 4 stars for a few reasons.
I got over 80 pages into the book before the F bomb dropped and then it went almost to the end until it dropped again, each time it was used multiples times really close together.
The other part I had a hard time with was the "naked rehearsal." I was floored that both the mother and the female director of the play would allow teenage girls to be a part of that. Since it seemed like it was the first time in their summer productions young girls had been involved, couldn't they have made some exceptions? I just couldn't get past that.
I was surprised that only about half of the book is about the play at all, then the rest of it deals with Jenny and her daughters after it ends. So much of the beginning of the book deals with the play and it's infused in just about every aspect of their lives and the story, so I wasn't prepared for it to end when it did and then the turn the book took.
There were several references I didn't get. A lot of Shakespeare, some of which I was able to pick up on that it was Shakespeare but not the reference because I'm not familiar with The Tempest. There were some other references to songs (songs they sang at the parties and others quoted in conversations) that I didn't pick up on, although there was mention made of Led Zeppelin and the Grateful Dead, so some of them could have been those.
This book has a very hippy feel to it, but as Jenny, the mom, is only 42, I'm not sure when the setting of the book is. It feels like it's current at times, so the hippy-ness felt off to me. It did explain a lot of her attitude, though, which really frustrated me with her character. She was so lackadaisical with her daughters and then she's upset when they want to break free from her??
Also, this was actually probably the only book where I didn't want the main love interest to be who she ended up with. Everything about her character screamed to me that she needed the island guy, not the actor.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read and I did enjoy a lot of it, but there were parts I had a hard time following or just had a hard time with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2011
Set in the Pacific Northwestern San Juan Islands, author Lise Saffran's "Juno's Daughter" is an immensely enriching novel, full of amazing characters, and a wonderful story. When a troupe comes into town, trying to bring Shakespeare's play "The Tempest" to life, Jenny Alexander's curiosity is piqued. There is no doubt that Andre, the young and charismatic actor who is part of the troupe, is definitely playing a big role in Jenny's interest in this play. But while this single mother of two teenage daughter is re-discovering her own passion, her seventeen year old daughter Lilly is beginning to get invested in Andre as well.
Author Lise Saffran explores the dynamics between mothers and daughters, between two different generations of women, and their love for one another. Reading about Jenny coping with her daughters coming into their own, and allowing them to make their mistakes and learn from them was a bittersweet and heartwarming experience. On the other hand, watching the girls realize that their mother is more than just a parent, and a woman with a heart and desires, and learning to accept this fact, was another touching experience. Overall, this book was an amazing read, and although I'm not a mother yet, it made me look forward to motherhood. For a first novel, author Lise Saffran has outdone herself!
Author Lise Saffran explores the dynamics between mothers and daughters, between two different generations of women, and their love for one another. Reading about Jenny coping with her daughters coming into their own, and allowing them to make their mistakes and learn from them was a bittersweet and heartwarming experience. On the other hand, watching the girls realize that their mother is more than just a parent, and a woman with a heart and desires, and learning to accept this fact, was another touching experience. Overall, this book was an amazing read, and although I'm not a mother yet, it made me look forward to motherhood. For a first novel, author Lise Saffran has outdone herself!
September 10, 2016
Jenny Alexander is raising her two teenaged daughters alone in the San Juan Islands of Puget Sound after leaving behind a troubled relationship on the mainland. She finds peace and solace in the arms of this close-knit community, but, alas, not much love...until, that is, a group of Shakespearean actors arrives for a summer production of The Tempest. A handsome actor in the troupe catches her eye, but also the eye of her thrill-seeking, bohemian daughter Lilly. Unfortunately, her naive younger daughter Frankie suffers the most as a result of their conflict and goes missing. It's up to Jenny and Lilly to come back together despite their differences in order to save Frankie. The twists and turns and misunderstandings that result kept me turning the pages and the writing was beautiful, especially the fascinating island and ocean descriptions. I look forward to reading Lise Saffran's next book!
January 15, 2014
I picked this one mostly for the location as it takes place in the San Juan Islands and involves a summer Shakespeare event both of which I have positive personal connections to. Before reading it, I thought with all these connections to the story, that it would surely be fun and good, but instead it was trite and didn't feel genuine at all.
Story was of a single mother who lived with her two daughters on the Island and the events around their collective participation in an annual Shakespeare production one summer. I didn't believe the characters nor what they were doing. It all felt fake. Everything that happened could happen in real life, so it wasn't unreal. However, there must not have been enough depth to the characters for me to believe they were as passionate about things as their actions in the story made them out to be. There wasn't even very much about the natural experience found in those particular islands, either, which really surprised me.
Don't bother.
Story was of a single mother who lived with her two daughters on the Island and the events around their collective participation in an annual Shakespeare production one summer. I didn't believe the characters nor what they were doing. It all felt fake. Everything that happened could happen in real life, so it wasn't unreal. However, there must not have been enough depth to the characters for me to believe they were as passionate about things as their actions in the story made them out to be. There wasn't even very much about the natural experience found in those particular islands, either, which really surprised me.
Don't bother.
March 14, 2011
This lovely debut reads like a dream, the characters ever in action, the plot unfolding at a pleasingly zippy pace. Saffran does a great job of creating a fully-realized community on the San Juan Island of her imagination, and placing within that community believable characters who are flawed and compelling. I was particularly drawn in by Frankie, Jenny Alexander's youngest daughter. It is Frankie's decision towards the end of the book that brings together all the plot threads and forces Jenny to awaken to the reality that a mother cannot always protect her children from experience. Also, if you read to be transported, you'll enjoy this book--Saffran's poetic yet spare physical description creates an enticing island geography.
February 18, 2011
I enjoyed this book a lot. In part because I identified with the single mom coping with wonderful and challenging teenage daughters. Each of the daughters reminded me of my own relationship with my daughter during those years in different ways. And the painful process of letting go, of fully acknowledging the shift in even a close relationship where you will only know about a daughter what she decides to share. The recognition that while you can always be ready to "be there" for them, once they leave home it will be up to them whether or not they want you to be there for them. And that at times they can "be there" for you in ways that are so special. So this was a happy, bittersweet, book, which made me appreciate all the energy that goes into growing a parent as well as a daughter.
March 8, 2011
I started reading this novel on an afternoon train ride and was done with it by bedtime. The book tells the story of a single mother struggling to let go of her two teenage daughters while simultaneously reclaiming her own--long neglected--right to sexual passion. Set on the San Juan Islands, the writing beautifully evokes coastal life, while cleverly interspersing the plot of Shakespeare's play THE TEMPEST(the plot revolves in part around a local theater's production of the play). I loved the way the book grappled with questions of a woman's changing identity, especially as she enters her forties and confronts her children's growing autonomy. And the writing itself was beautiful and evocative. Highly recommended.
April 4, 2011
I really liked this book, with all the different relationship dynamics, mother/daughters, sisters, friends, future lovers, past lovers, wanna-be lovers it was both funny and heart-wrenching. Set on an Island in Puget Sound, Juno's Daughters follows single-mom Jenny raising her two teenage daughters, one a homebody, one a thrill-seeker. When the local theatre company hosts Shakespeares 'The Tempest', and actors from around the country appear in the play, Jenny and her daughters join in and play Juno, Ceres, and Iris. Infatuation, desperation, and love tear their relationships apart, but as we all know love wins in the end, and it does in this novel for mother/daughters, sisters, friends, and lovers.
February 17, 2013
This was a piece of fluff, but a rather enjoyable one. It's about a single mom living on tiny San Juan island off the coast of Seattle with her two daughters, one on the brink of adulthood and the other perched at the edge of teendom.
The family's story is cleverly paralleled by Shakespeare's The Tempest, a play being produced on the island that summer in which the mother and her daughters all play minor parts.
It's a sweet and engaging story, and a lovely look inside life on a small, isolated island. That was probably my favorite part about this book, as I love "virtual tourism" via novels. I would really like to visit these quaint little islands that are in many ways so close to a large city, but so far away in many others.
All in all, a nice little read that's not too taxing.
The family's story is cleverly paralleled by Shakespeare's The Tempest, a play being produced on the island that summer in which the mother and her daughters all play minor parts.
It's a sweet and engaging story, and a lovely look inside life on a small, isolated island. That was probably my favorite part about this book, as I love "virtual tourism" via novels. I would really like to visit these quaint little islands that are in many ways so close to a large city, but so far away in many others.
All in all, a nice little read that's not too taxing.
October 14, 2012
Wonderful easy read. This coming-of-age story shares the frustrations and joys of watching teens grow to adulthood through the eyes of a single mom and curious crew of characters. Set in the lovely San Juan Island area, the story follows Jenny Alexander and her daughters against the backdrop of a nomad group of actors and their annual summer Shakespeare production. Vivid, enjoyable characters with scenes and references that appeal to many of us boomer types, I've already shared it with two friends and recommended to more. I'm disappointed at some of the reviews. Sometimes a sweet story we can easily read in a few hours is just what we need.
March 1, 2011
I loved this book. I just loved the romantic play between the two main characters and the descriptions about the blossoming love affair. I felt the remarks about kids growing up and becoming their own people was bittersweet. It's so true how you can't hold them back but you have to just watch them and hope they don't make too many mistakes. This mother was a little more lenient than I would be with my kids but everyone on the island seemed to be this way. I loved the ending and would love to see a sequel. Great writing by this new novelist.
March 10, 2011
I thought this book was very well written and had many good elements to it, I believe this book has the potential to really touch women who are in the same position as the main character, but for me, A 20 year old I don't think it gives off the same effect. Its funny because I'm from the Seattle area and I could tell the author wasn't from around here when she called the purse a "pocketbook". Nobody says that around here. Overall I'd recommend it to women who are around late thirties or with teenage daughters
December 23, 2015
This is a simple, quick read about a single mom, Jenny Alexander, raising two daughters on San Juan Island, Washington. Each summer a group of actors gather here for the annual Shakespeare performance. The professional actors are supplemented with islanders filling in as actors and crew. The story centers around Jenny and her daughters and the handsome actor "Trinculo" and intriguing "Ariel." The book's pages flows with the mother-daughter relationship, love and heartbreak, and friendships that only living on an island can bring.
October 21, 2010
Good read. The main characters were well developed, except for Trinculo, the handsome clown. Having traveled to Vancouver Island made the setting of San Juan Island enjoyable to read about. The book provided descriptions of island life and rituals which rang true. Now to refresh my reading of the Tempest which formed a basis for the book as the characters performed summer theater of the same play. due Jan 2011
March 28, 2012
The biggest lure this book provided for me was the location, San Juan island, WA. This is where I honeymooned and I did enjoy the island references, even the ones about those pesky tourists on the rented scooter cars. :) it was a nice story, could easily become a lifetime for woman movie. Just when I thought the story was winding down, I was surprised to see there were over 100 pages left which lead us to a moving conclusion where the town comes together.
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