I love Jojo Moyes, her writing style, and her stories, which are unique and compelling. I did not, however, love Sheltering Rain. Now, that doesn't mean the story was terrible, it just did not impact me in quite the same way was her other books. If someone were to only be able to read just one of Moyes' books, I would not suggest this one. Me Before You would be the one I'd recommend.
Sheltering Rain is the story of Sabine, a 16 year old girl from London who is sent to live with her grandparents in Ireland while her mother, Kate, sorts out her dysfunctional male relationships. Kate has never been particularly close to her parents, and when she returns to Ireland upon the impending death of her father, she is startled to find that Sabine has grown close to her grandparents, and to many other folks in the town. Startled and a bit jealous that her daughter has done something she was never able to do.
The story is broken up into past and present sections, but there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the organization, which left me wondering at times what I was reading and who was telling the story. It felt like it took me forever to finish the book, too, and I didn't always want to read it (which is the tell-tale sign for me as a reader to know if a book is "good"--do I want to read it, or is reading more like work). Reading this book was a bit like work.
It does have a good ending and there were a few surprises along the way and I think the overall message is a positive one. So, the book is not by any means terrible. It just simply is not my favorite Jojo Moyes book. Nor will it be on my top ten list for 2014. Oh well. She's written so many fabulous books--they all can't be stellar, right? Law of averages and all...
Happy reading, everyone!
:) Dodie
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