Monday, March 16, 2015

Splinters of Light by Rachael Herron

Published March 3, 2015 by NAL

Ten years ago, Nora Glass started writing essays about being a single mother of a six-year-old daughter. Her weekly column made her a household name, and over the years, her fans have watched Ellie grow from a toddler to a teenager.

But now Nora is facing a problem that can’t be overcome. Diagnosed with a devastating disease that will eventually take away who she is, she is scared for herself, but even more frightened about what this will mean for her sixteen-year-old daughter.

Now Nora has no choice but to let go of her hard-won image as a competent, self-assured woman, and turn to the one person who has always relied on her: her twin sister, Mariana. Nora and Mariana couldn’t be more different from one another, and they’ve always had a complicated relationship. But now the two sisters will have to summon the strength to help them all get through a future none of them could have ever imagined, while uncovering the joy and beauty that was always underneath.

My Thoughts….

This is a heartbreak tale.  It is a story that I could not put down.   The story of Nora, Ellie, and Mariana touched my heart at the first page and never let go.    Splinters of Light is a story that even now that I am finished with the story it is still in my thoughts.   I just cannot let go it. 

Everything about this book is real.   The story is realistic, the characters are relatable, and the disease is real.  Alzheimer’s is a disease that everyone is familiar with.    Rachel Herron tackled this disease with care and understanding.   She made the disease real and understandable.    I enjoyed that the story was told from Nora’s point of view.   I could feel the panic, frustration, and fear as she experienced it.   While each day was a challenge, and some days she was not up for the challenge, she managed to make it through each day and learn something new about herself.     It seemed that with every step back she took a step forward, learning something new about herself or her family. 

While the main character was Nora, Ellie and Mariana were very important to the story also.   When a person get sick like Nora did it affects the entire family unit.  The scary thing is that Ellie does not have a dad who is willing to step in and help out (LOSER!).   There is never a doubt that Mariana will be involved and do all that can be done to keep Ellie and Nora together and safe.
   

This is a beautiful story about relationships between mothers and daughter and sisters.  It is heartbreaking, yet it is uplifting.    Splinters of Light is the perfect book.   I recommend checking it out. 

Book Links
 Amazon  |   Barnes and Noble   |   iTunes    |   Goodreads

Meet Rachael Herron...

Rachael Herron is the internationally bestselling author of the novel Pack Up the Moon, the five book Cypress Hollow romance series, and the memoir, A Life in Stitches. She received her MFA in writing from Mills College, and when she's not busy writing, she's a 911 fire/medical dispatcher for a Bay Area fire department. Splinters of Light, her next mainstream standalone, will be out in March 2015 from Penguin. She lives with her wife, Lala, in Oakland, California, where they have more animals and instruments than are probably advisable. Rachael is struggling to learn the accordion and can probably play along with you on the ukulele. She's a New Zealander as well as an American. She's been known to knit. 

How to Stop Stalling and Write Your Book
Take Rachael's online class now! (Take 50% off, if you click through here.

Feel free to contact her about teaching at  your writing conference/seminar.
Classes include:
Revision: Where the Real Party Is   
Finish That Novel    
Plotting Vs. Pantsing: Who's Right?     
Time Management for Writers
Breaking Into Romance


In what order should I read Rachael's novels? 

You can read them in any order, but chronologically, the Cypress Hollow novels are:
1. How to Knit a Love Song (Eliza's Gift in Australia)
    (Short Story: Honeymooning)
2. How to Knit a Heart Back Home (Lucy's Kiss in Australia)
3. Wishes & Stitches (Naomi's Wish in Australia) 
My memoir, A Life in Stitches, can be read anytime! 

Pack Up the Moon, a mainstream novel, stands alone. 

Author Links
Website   |   Facebook   |   Twitter

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