Things Worth Remembering

This is the second novel I've read by this author, and she is fast becoming one of my favorites. I got my review copy from Bethany House. If I had to describe the writing style of Jackina Stark in one word, it would be "tenderhearted." She manages to tell a deeply profound story with a delicate pen.

Relationships between mothers and grown daughters are complex, but the one depicted in this Christian fiction has the reader searching for clues as what could have caused their once-close relationship to crumble. The reader quickly discovers that there is a gulf between this mother and child.

Written in first person narrative in the voices of these two main characters: Kendy, the mother, who strives to regain the closeness she once enjoyed show more with her now grown daughter, and Maizey, the daughter who rebuffs all efforts to spend any alone time with her mother. As Maizey's wedding day approaches, memories surface that help shed light on the breach of that fateful summer.

The plot moves at a steady pace, urging the reader to read on--this is a hard book to put down. Characters are well rounded--flawed--believable. I found myself relating to both mother and daughter. Even secondary characters are fleshed out such that the reader can understand their motivations. I thoroughly enjoyed the novel and its theme of love and forgiveness. I trust that you will too. show less

I enjoyed this tale of mother-daughter bonding with its parallel storylines between Kendy and Maisey and Kendy and Carolyn. Kendy longs for a restored relationship with her daughter Maisey and thinks the visit the week before her wedding will provide just the thing. Maisey, though, seems to go out of her way to avoid her mother and to try not to include her in anything wedding related (other than inviting her to attend). Through unintentional meddling by her husband-to-be, a secret that Maisey has been keeping for 9 years is revealed and can finally be dealt with.

I started this book in the morning around 11 and finished by early evening. It was such a good read and very hard to put down. (And I did have to put it down to make lunch and take care of my family.)

The glimpse into the complicated mother/dauhter relationships of two generations broke my heart and left me hopeful. It made me want to call my mother just to chat and then take my teenage daughter out shopping.

We are only human, children of dust, and once we accept that in ourself as well as in those we love, we will sleep in peace.

This was an early review book, I enjoyed it a great deal. I found it a good story on forgiveness and love between mother's and daughter's and the damage that can be done by one person's selfishness. It's always nice to be reminded of the power of forgiveness.

I remember requesting this book from the Early Reviewers batch. It said nothing about it being religious fiction (though I suppose I ought to have known that Bethany House was a Christian publisher, though I had never actually heard anything about the publisher prior to receipt of the book) in the summary. I was quite surprised to find out that this book was, in fact, Christian fiction. That, in itself, predisposed me not to have a great deal of enjoyment of the book. I don't generally like religious fiction.

I feel like I gave the book a good, solid chance. Despite this, it fell totally flat and was really lacking in character development. Maisey was slightly hateful, snotty and selfish, while her husband-to-be was Perfection Embodied. show more Even the parents and the secondary characters didn't delve any deeper than what could be seen on the surface. It seemed to be a very simplified version of real life.

Then, when it came to the plot, it dragged out. By the middle of the book, the truth finally comes out as to why Maisey and her mother aren't on the best of terms anymore. And when the real reason is finally disclosed, it is incredibly disappointing. This was why a daughter and her mother had only strained conversation, at best, for nine years? It fell flat.

Religious differences aside, I can't see this as a very engaging book. It wasn't at all the high-drama mother-daughter story that I expected from the summary given. I couldn't recommend this book to anyone. show less

At the beginning of the year I read and reviewed the premiere novel of author Jackina Stark, Tender Grace. I found the book a refreshing and soft-spoken book about a christian woman recovering from the loss of her husband. I hoped this second book would be just as nice. I was left with somewhat the same reaction but tinged with disappointment.

Kendy Laswell is the loving, almost idyllic, mother to Maisey, a college student. Maisey is to be married at the end of the week. But there has been a tension between mother and daughter for many years. Kendy doesn't understand why Maisey seems to hate her so much. As the wedding date inches closer, Kendy and Maisey are forced to confront each other and their personal demons and learn to show more forgive.

One of the things that I liked about Stark's first novel was that the christian perspective was handled with a light touch, coming naturally with the main character without being preachy or overbearing. This book had a stronger thread through it as the daughter is reminded of how a christian ought to graciously forgive. While Tender Grace could be read by a person of any faith without discomfort I can't say the same thing for Things Worth Remembering. This is not a bad thing rather something to take note of.

There is a tendency to make the characters too perfect, except for the obvious flaws that the book is addressing. It was almost believable in the first book but it is not in this one. There is also a tendency to fit the people into "the real world" by adding in references to, say, Pottery Barn, Pier 1 and other such trendiness that I found tedious. I think that the story could have been fleshed out better and made more believable if given more attention. These complaints are not huge but they niggled at me.

My one big complaint was that I did not like Maisey. She is a spoiled brat who takes advantage of her parents with a sense of entitlement. Eventually you come to understand why she is so angry but the resolution comes too close to the end for you to build any kind of positive sentiment. There really should have been a recovery time for a relationship that was in such ruins.

That being said I would read more by Jackina Stark. Her writing is clear and her subject matters are addressed in a way that christians can appreciate. And, because I have to appease my superficial side occasionally, I once again love the cover art and title.

One word review:
Underdeveloped show less

A mother and daughter, on the eve of the latter’s wedding, delve into the emotional wounds that keep them apart. Told from alternating points of view, Jackina Stark’s latest, Things Worth Remembering explores the consequences of our actions, and how choices aren’t made in a vacuum. This is a gently and honestly told story about familial fidelity and forgiveness. Stark examines the wounds within families, particularly between mothers and daughters, and does a passable job of sketching her characters. What might have made the story a little better would be to tone down the “sweetness” at times, broaden the story structure, and do away with telling it in the present tense. Stark has the right idea, but only gets so far dealing show more with inner wounds; the redemptive parts of the story wrap-up a bit tidier than feels realistic to the reader. She could have gone so much deeper. show less