The Winter Guest
Another novel by Pam Jenoff, The Winter Guest is set in the same time and place as the two previous reviews - Poland during WWII. Helena, her twin sister Ruth, and their 3 younger siblings struggle to survive after their father passes away and their mother is sent to the hospice ward of the hospital. Although they look just alike, the twin sisters are very different in personality. Helena is the tomboy of the family, hunting and procuring the necessities, while Ruth prefers undertaking a more motherly role. It's during an outing in the woods that Helena discovers an injured soldier, and despite her reservations, decides to help him. She treats his injuries as best as possible and continues to visit and bring supplies to the soldier whenever she can sneak away.
It turns out that the soldier is an American paratrooper named Sam. The two fall for each other as they spend more time together, but hold back because of the uncertainty and danger of the situation. Eventually, though, Sam proposes marriage and offers to help get Helena's siblings out of harm's way, too. Ruth soon discovers Helena's secret soldier and her outrage is mixed with jealousy, and things become quite tense between the two siblings. Eventually, though, all of the siblings attempt an escape when Sam is healed enough to walk. Things don't go quite as planned, of course, but Helena is able to escape with some of the siblings and makes a new life in America.
I have to say that I was pretty underwhelmed with this novel, which is funny because I went into it thinking I would really enjoy it. The plot sounded quite interesting, and I had already read two of Jenoff's other novels and loved them. The pace of this story just seemed too slow, even though everything was supposed to be taking place in a short time period. The characters fell flat for me, too; Helena just seemed too stoic and bland, and Ruth came across as vindictive and resentful. I liked Sam, but overall I didn't think there was much development for any of the characters. Ruth's big betrayal of Helena just seemed like too much, too, as if it was just added in there because the story needed some flavor, but it just felt contrived for me.
This isn't the worst novel I've read, but it was pretty average at best. I'd say go ahead and read it if you're a fan of Jenoff, but I thought her other works were much better.
It turns out that the soldier is an American paratrooper named Sam. The two fall for each other as they spend more time together, but hold back because of the uncertainty and danger of the situation. Eventually, though, Sam proposes marriage and offers to help get Helena's siblings out of harm's way, too. Ruth soon discovers Helena's secret soldier and her outrage is mixed with jealousy, and things become quite tense between the two siblings. Eventually, though, all of the siblings attempt an escape when Sam is healed enough to walk. Things don't go quite as planned, of course, but Helena is able to escape with some of the siblings and makes a new life in America.
I have to say that I was pretty underwhelmed with this novel, which is funny because I went into it thinking I would really enjoy it. The plot sounded quite interesting, and I had already read two of Jenoff's other novels and loved them. The pace of this story just seemed too slow, even though everything was supposed to be taking place in a short time period. The characters fell flat for me, too; Helena just seemed too stoic and bland, and Ruth came across as vindictive and resentful. I liked Sam, but overall I didn't think there was much development for any of the characters. Ruth's big betrayal of Helena just seemed like too much, too, as if it was just added in there because the story needed some flavor, but it just felt contrived for me.
This isn't the worst novel I've read, but it was pretty average at best. I'd say go ahead and read it if you're a fan of Jenoff, but I thought her other works were much better.
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