Windfalls: A Novel

This book shows the convergence of two young women, who both had unplanned pregnancies. Each made a decision about that pregnancy that would forever affect them. Hegland demonstrates flawless prose and character development in this haunting novel. Both Cerise and Anna are people the reader comes to know very well. It ended in the only way it could, and is a poignant reminder that we all live with the choices we make.

Cerise and Anna are both young when each becomes unexpectedly pregnant. One chooses to terminate the pregnancy and goes on to have other children and a successful career as a photographer. The other woman keeps the baby but is forced to work long hours at a menial job just to be able to provide the basics for her child. The story alternates between the two women as time passes, other children are born, and more life events take place. The two women eventually come in contact with each other in the last few chapters of the book. The general premise is about the choices we make as mothers and the lengths to which mothers will go to provide and love their kids.

As with the author's other book I read, "Into the Forrest", this story was very show more well written. However, the pace felt slow and I had a hard time relating to either character, as they both felt distant in third person narration. I had to push myself to get through this novel as I kept waiting for the two characters to eventually meet one another. The story became more interesting when Cerise and Anna finally connected, but by then, the story was almost over. The ending was also disappointing and inconclusive. Not a terrible read but some editing would have made it a tighter and more enjoyable story. show less

Two girls, pregnant and choosing different paths. Eventually those paths cross, but this isn't one of those predictible friendship stories. This is nearly two separate stories, and they are realistic. There is poverty, and job loss, and health problems and death, and raising children. Finally a book about real life where the protagonists don't live in mansions and have important jobs. It is too bad this is only the author's second novel - and the first one was excellent too. If she had a dozen, i would run out and buy them all.

Mom said this was the saddest book she'd ever read. It was sad, but the ending was not sad, well it was sad but not in a bad way. It was a sad book.