I am a sucker for certain kinds of stories; so read the 5/5 as I liked the book, rather than a claim that this book is really good (I do think it is good: but not sure where I'd put it on a scale of things).

I read it a long time ago, so cannot give a detailed review.

Here are some of the things I liked about it. Patterns repeat across generations; sister loved; sister scorned; and the patterns have weird consequences. I also really related to the emotions of some the characters, the teenaged protagonist in particular.

I also like the deliberately unresolved hints at the fantastic.

After re-reading I am no longer sure that the hints at the fantastic are deliberately unresolved. Rather I now believe that Reynolds gives subtle but unambiguous hints as to what is magic and what is not. ( )

I'm not sure when this book entered our household library, or even who might have brought it in. It could have been either my mother or myself, both of whom have been known to partake in this type of story. I think I might have picked it up at a book fair, but, as I said, am not entirely sure.

This is a story set in the 1920's and 30's about the residents of a small town in New England. Though the town is nothing at all like Peyton Place, there are, indeed, many secrets and mysteries among the inhabitants. The tale revolves primarily around two families, involves suspicion, madness, love, witchcraft, and frankly, a lot of sadness. But it is well told. I kind of wish there'd been a family tree somewhere in the book to help me keep the characters straight, because in my "drift off to sleep" mode while reading in bed, I often had to retrace my steps to recall certain passages, or pause to work out who was related to whom and exactly how. But all in all, it was an interesting story to read.

Even more interesting was to learn that the author inherited and currently lives on the farm featured in the story, and runs an unusual animal sanctuary, called Spring Farm Cares: http://www.springfarmcares.org/

She was also married to Gene Reynolds, the producer of the MASH tv show at one point. Her biography was quite interesting to read. http://www.bonniejonesreynolds.com/author.html ( )

I have often thought of this book as almost poetry, it takes you on a jouney into the secrets of people's hearts. Do you beleive? good and evil cross over (good-sometimes not so good and evil-not always all evil), but you can feel the atmosphere. Love, jelousy, magic and beautiful writing-always one of my favorites! ( )

I admit, I only got halfway through. Not because it's a bad book, but because I found it depressing. But it's a decent book! Really! I'm just delicate. ( )