Sunday, March 20, 2011

Southern Lit., Pick of the Week: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand

The Southern Lit. Pick of the Week takes us just a bit north of the South for this week’s read. I just finished Elin Hilderbrand’s The Island. It is set on a tiny rustic island off Nantucket called Tuckernuck where 4 women gather to heal, grow and make peace with where they find themselves.

The story revolves around Birdie, who is recently divorced from her long time husband, and her grown daughters, Chess and Tate, along with her artsy, widowed sister, India. Birdie has planned a month long get away to help her daughter, Chess, heal her heart after the end of her engagement and emotional breakdown. But, like all good books, each woman has her own “row to hoe” (as we say in the South) and being isolated and away from the busyness of modern life gives each heart the spotlight to open up, heal and deal with the pain of the past. New relationships develop among the women, along with a couple of surprises from unexpected characters. The story doesn’t disappoint and by the end you will find yourself longing for an escape just like what is found on the shores of Tuckernuck Island.

Reading The Island was like sitting on the beach listening along with the girls as they deal with where life as dropped them. Each of these four women are very different from one another, but I am sure you will find a kindred spirit among them, though by the last page, you will love them all. This is the perfect Spring Break book or beach read.

Also includes book club guide, Author interview along with recipes for some of the foods mentioned in the story!
This post was written as a member of Southern Mommas Writers
(and you don't have to be a Momma!)


9 comments:

  1. I love this author. I'm not sure if I've read this one or not. Is it new or one of her older ones?

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  2. I am not familiar with this author, but your review does intrigue me.

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  3. Sounds like a good beach read to me! Carla

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  4. This sounds like exactly the kind of book I'd like. Thanks!

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  5. Sounds great! I'll have to check it out.
    xoxo
    SC

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  6. I am always looking for a good book! I might check it out too! Thanks! And thanks for stopping by my blog and for your sweet comments!

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  7. I read this last summer and loved. She is one of my favorite authors. I have another one of her reads queued up on my Nook.

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  8. I found you when looking for books to take with my on my Girl's Weekend to the Beach next weekend... I reviewed this on my blog last month... LOVED IT!

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  9. Enjoying your southern lit reviews. :)

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