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Summary: A great reminder about what's important in life!
Review: Leota's Garden is a wonderful book that explores the many stages of life. Throughout the story we view the characters (and ourselves), developing or destroying relationships within their own families. It is a great reminder about what is important and lasting.
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Summary: Could Have Been Written for Caregivers
Review: LEOTA'S GARDEN is one of the finest books I have read recently, and I read a lot, mostly best-selling fiction. I had just read THE LAST SIN EATER and had paid no attentiion to the author's name (I am ashamed to say!). When I began reading LEOTA'S GARDEN and checked to see what other books Rivers had written, I thought to myself, "Hey--that's why I liked it, also!" Those of us who have lost our fathers and are now at least partially taking care of our mothers can identify with so many thoughts and ideas in this book, especially if we were close to our grandparents. I am now anxious to read earlier books written by this author.
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Summary: A soul-refreshing affirmation of family and love
Review: Leota's Garden is the perfect story of the transformation of despair and pain into hope and joy, using the symbolism of a rejuvenated garden. A granddaughter seeks out her estranged grandmother and finds an old woman who has little to live for, but the relationship which develops between the two brings new understanding and hope for the whole family.
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Summary: Leota's Garden by Francine Rivers
Review: Leota's Garden was a joy to read! It not only is good, readable fiction, but it encouraged me to allow my feelings to be vulnerable to become a part of the story. As I read, I felt the feelings of the characters and was able to place myself in situations that I do not daily experience.Francine Rivers has become one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend Leota's Garden to any reader who has not yet experienced the joy of a Christian fiction book!
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Summary: A GOOD read
Review: Leota's Garden was one of the best Christian novels I have read to date. Rivers does a good job of telling the story of a reunion between a grandaughter and grandmother without too much syrupy emotion. It's a near-realistic tale of family tensions and misunderstandings. The story is anything but sweet, but it is anything but vulgar, either. The main character's naivety is meaningful and believable, as is the grandmother's irritability. Rivers has the strength to not let the book become a morality play or an evangelistic utopia in which all the character's problems are solved through easy faith, even though you hope they will. Though it plainly portrays moral and emotional trials of life, it doesn't quite reach deep enough into the emotions or processes behind the behaviors of the characters. If Rivers had reached a little deeper into the soul and psyche of each character, the story would have been transformed from a good read into a truly great novel. But over all, a very good book. I really cared about the characters in the end, even if they weren't quite developed enough.
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Summary: A GOOD read
Review: Leota's Garden was one of the best Christian novels I have read to date. Rivers does a good job of telling the story of a reunion between a grandaughter and grandmother without too much syrupy emotion. It's a near-realistic tale of family tensions and misunderstandings. The story is anything but sweet, but it is anything but vulgar, either. The main character's naivety is meaningful and believable, as is the grandmother's irritability. Rivers has the strength to not let the book become a morality play or an evangelistic utopia in which all the character's problems are solved through easy faith, even though you hope they will. Though it plainly portrays moral and emotional trials of life, it doesn't quite reach deep enough into the emotions or processes behind the behaviors of the characters. If Rivers had reached a little deeper into the soul and psyche of each character, the story would have been transformed from a good read into a truly great novel. But over all, a very good book. I really cared about the characters in the end, even if they weren't quite developed enough.
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Summary: This book reminds me of how I feel about Amy Grant...
Review: That is, I feel that maybe this is the best that is offered at the time to the Christian community, but we should be able to find something much better. Sorry, I hate to be negative about someones work, especially someone who is a sister in the Lord, but...I really expect more from a book. I count Redeeming Love as one of my top reads of all time, so I have loved Francine's writing but this work did not do it for me. Hmmm...it is too full of the negative, where you never really see too much of the Lord working. Also, there are way too many loose threads in this story. I realize at times it is good to use your imagination, but this was too much for me. There were a few errors like when the football game was on tv at Easter. And one of my pet peeves...forgive me Francine, but please quit saying, he raked his hand through his hair! I have noticed this phrase numerous times in your writing and I think you said it three or four times in the first chapter or two alone! Read it, you might really be blessed, but I think we can do better.
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Summary: A Gift from God
Review: The cover quotes 'Leota's Garden, a Novel'. It's so much more than that. it's a witness from the heart of God of the love He has for us and wants to share if only we will let Him. Francine Rivers has presented the wonderful gift of love to us all in this compelling, sweet story of life, love and the roads we all travel to get there. I'm going to share this book with everyone I love. And I'm going to buy everyone of her books and devour them. Thank you, Francine Rivers for answering God's call.
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Summary: Found it difficult to continue reading
Review: The premise is good but the character development was flat and the plot was predictable. It was hard to finish and I was disappointed after the glowing reviews.
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Summary: Francine River never disappoints!
Review: The reason Francine Rivers is a favorite author of mine is because she takes me someplace new with every book. She makes me think and makes me explore the depths of my own faith. She challenges me in new ways. Her characters are real, complex, and three dimensional. You'll feel like you really knew Annie and Leota and all the other wonderful characters who people this novel. I'll be eagerly awaiting her next book -- which is always too long of a wait.
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