After the Leaves Fall

Kindle読書29冊目After the Leaves Fall読了。かなり暗い女の子の話。母に捨てられ父を亡くし、初恋も実らず恋人にも去られあげくには・・・。でも不思議と月の雫が銀色に光る様な語り口の物語だった。最後がゆるいのはReligions系ゆえか。

This one would be 3.5 for me. It was a slower paced book, but because the writing was so beautiful I enjoyed savoring it. I thought some of the choices that Julia made were quite sad, she just won't let people in. And I think her college experience could have been a lot different if she had made more of an effort. But then it wouldn't have been the same book.
There was no language and no graphic sex but there are mentions of sex.
Overall I did enjoy this book.

The writing was a refreshing surprise. Ms. Baart captured the conflicting emotions of Julia so well. The picture of faith that Ms. Baart painted was also beautiful. Julia is disconnected from the faith of her childhood, but her grandmother exhibits that true ability to love as God does because she is truly trying to walk with God and that was both inspiring and understated. I really enjoyed this book

I heard this on one of my talk shows I listen to, said his wife and staff members couldn't put it down and it was offered free on Amazon Kindle on Valentine's Day. I had no idea what this book was about. But I wanted to read it anyway.

Once I started, I was sucked in. The main character was real and down to earth. Her mom left, her dad died, and she went to live with her grandmother on a farm in some small town. Her life turned upside down and semi-bitter, her faith became questionable as she went on through her life trying to find her way. Despite the many differences between her life and mine, I felt I could connect with her on a deeper level. I saw myself in her thoughts many times. Her uncomfortable-ness with others, her feelings of show more invisibleness, her falter of faith, her independence, and her lack of direction and where she fit in -- I've seen it all within myself growing up.

I really enjoyed reading about Julia's growth and her "one step forward, two steps back" dance with life. Because, isn't that how life operates? And who really is your one constant in life? It wasn't her mother, her father, her grandmother and it surely wasn't Thomas. Julia finally realizes who her constant is at the end.

Julia's story is not complete at the end of the book. Be warned and anticipate purchasing her sequel. :) show less

'After the Leaves Fall' is a coming of age story told by Julia who finds herself dealing with tragedy, loss and teenage pregnancy. Julia never really appeals to me (there is something about that name). I found her self-centered, immature and frustrating throughout the book and wanted to give her a good shake!

The touching inner journey of a young woman to hope and a budding faith is what is at the heart of this book. Julia's life starts rough and doesn't improve as time goes on. Her mother has no interest in being a mother, and indeed "Janice" as she and her father call her leaves Julia and her father when Julia is just a little girl. They move out to live on the farmstead with Julia's grandmother--and when Julia's father dies a few years later Julia suddenly finds her world reduced to long lonely nights wondering if she is doomed to be alone forever. Julia does strike up a friendship with the "boy next door", Thomas, but even that ends in disappointment when he goes to college and finds a girlfriend. When it is time for Julia herself to go show more to college, she finds a glimmer of hope, thinking maybe this is the time when she will be able to reinvent herself and find belonging at last. But life has still more curve balls to throw at her, and in the end she may find that she has no one to turn to, except the God that she turned her back on long ago. Readers who enjoy savoring an introspective story about the inner struggles of a thoughtful journeyer will enjoy this novel. It ends rather abruptly, but there is a sequel called Summer Snow so readers that hate cliffhangers might want to plan ahead and get both books at once. show less

Beverly Mitch from the TV series "7th Heaven" said, “I think the hardest part about being a teenager is dealing with other teenagers-the criticism and the ridicule, the gossip and the rumors.” In After The Leaves Fall, Julia Bakker from rural Iowa spent her teenage years trying to escape the gossip of a small town. Julia became familiar with loss at an early age, her mother left at the age of 9 and her Dad died at the age of 16. The last thing Julia wanted was pity; Thomas who was a few years older than her, was the only person she formed a close relationship with.

Julia had a chance to reinvent herself when she moved away to attend college. She majored in Engineering and tried everything she knew to become the person she wished she show more was. After just one semester of college a wrong decision derails her dreams. She is left moving back in with her Grandmother and facing an uncertain future.

This is a powerful, emotional story of how God never lets you go, even if you walk away. This book touched me deeply. One of the many powerful scene in the book is when Julia has returned from college to visit her Grandmother. Julia was avoiding the topic of not attending church in awhile, then her Grandmother said unexpectedly, “You don't have to go to church with me Julia, God is seeking you out, and I am willing to trust His timing.” This is not a book you read, but a book you feel. This book with touch your heart deeply while sharing in Julia's coming of age story. I strongly recommend this first time author, Nicole Baart. I can guarantee you I will be in line for her second book.

Website: http://www.nicolebaart.com/ show less