Stories that Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

[Karin]

If there's one thing I will say about Susie Finkbeiner is that her writing is usually consistently strong and her stories are not all the same. I've given 4 stars to every book of hers I've read except this one.

This is story about family in crisis in the early 1960s. Betty, childless, is widowed suddenly at age 40, and not all that long later her estranged sister shows up at the door with her 5 year old son. I don't like to give spoilers about anything in the actual book, but suffice it to say that there has not only been love and joy, there has also been tragedy and heartbreak in the past. The main page edition shows mental health as one of the top shelves and the blurb tells you that Betty becomes the temporary guardian of her nephew. I love how short that blurb is, because this is a book best learned about by reading. Yes, this is a Christian novel, but there is no sugar coating issues even if not everything is graphically described like in some novels.

My one complaint is that at times this book felt a bit like it was dragging, which is a first for Finkbeiner. Also it was difficult for me to relate to Betty.