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The Language of Light
FINALIST FOR THE BELLWETHER PRIZE
Nelly Grace is starting over. With her two young sons, Nelly has fled to the simple stone house built by her great-grandfather in the moneyed horse country of Maryland in order to escape the grief of her husband’s deathâ and perhaps find a way back to her first photography. Easing her transition into this strange, mannered world is Emma Crofton, the grand matriarch of the foxhunting community, and Emma’s son, Dac, a handsome yet distant horse trainer. As Nelly slowly makes her way back to the camera, she must come to terms with her troubled relationship with her father, a photojournalist who chose fame over family. But when she finally sees him again, Nelly’s fragile new beginning is threatened by revelations of a secret past, and the fears that kept it hidden.
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Nelly Grace is starting over. With her two young sons, Nelly has fled to the simple stone house built by her great-grandfather in the moneyed horse country of Maryland in order to escape the grief of her husband’s deathâ and perhaps find a way back to her first photography. Easing her transition into this strange, mannered world is Emma Crofton, the grand matriarch of the foxhunting community, and Emma’s son, Dac, a handsome yet distant horse trainer. As Nelly slowly makes her way back to the camera, she must come to terms with her troubled relationship with her father, a photojournalist who chose fame over family. But when she finally sees him again, Nelly’s fragile new beginning is threatened by revelations of a secret past, and the fears that kept it hidden.
Look for special features inside.
Join the Circle for author chats and more.
RandomHouseReadersCircle.com
- GenresFiction
352 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2003
60 people are currently reading
760 people want to read
About the author
Meg Waite Clayton
13 books1,568 followersMeg Waite Clayton is a New York Times and internationally bestselling author of 9 novels, including the forthcoming TYPEWRITER BEACH (Harper, July 1) — on Publishers Weekly’s list of 12 fiction “Hot Books of Summer,” which they call, in a starred review, “irresistible… Readers will be riveted.”
Her THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS was a Good Morning America Buzz pick, New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Costco Book Club pick, People Magazine, IndieNext booksellers, LoanStars librarians, USA Today, Book of the Month Club and Amazon Editors’ pick and Publishers Weekly notable book the San Francisco Chronicle calls "gripping … an evocative love story layered with heroism and intrigue — the film ‘Casablanca’ if Rick had an artsy bent … powerful.”
Her National Jewish Book Award finalist THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON was praised by Kristin Hannah as “An absolutely fascinating, beautifully rendered story of love, loss, and heroism … A glowing portrait of women rising up against impossible odds.”
Prior novels include the #1 Amazon fiction bestseller BEAUTIFUL EXILES, the Langum-Prize honored national bestseller THE RACE FOR PARIS- and THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, one of Entertainment Weekly's "25 Essential Best Friend Novels" of all time. Her THE LANGUAGE OF LIGHT was a finalist for the Bellwether Prize (now PEN/Bellwether Prize).
Her novels have been published in 24 languages throughout the world.
She has also written more than 100 pieces for major newspapers, magazines, and public radio. She has participated in the Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman sponsored The Writers Lab for screenwriting, mentors in the OpEd Project, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the California bar. megwaiteclayton.com
Her THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS was a Good Morning America Buzz pick, New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, Costco Book Club pick, People Magazine, IndieNext booksellers, LoanStars librarians, USA Today, Book of the Month Club and Amazon Editors’ pick and Publishers Weekly notable book the San Francisco Chronicle calls "gripping … an evocative love story layered with heroism and intrigue — the film ‘Casablanca’ if Rick had an artsy bent … powerful.”
Her National Jewish Book Award finalist THE LAST TRAIN TO LONDON was praised by Kristin Hannah as “An absolutely fascinating, beautifully rendered story of love, loss, and heroism … A glowing portrait of women rising up against impossible odds.”
Prior novels include the #1 Amazon fiction bestseller BEAUTIFUL EXILES, the Langum-Prize honored national bestseller THE RACE FOR PARIS- and THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS, one of Entertainment Weekly's "25 Essential Best Friend Novels" of all time. Her THE LANGUAGE OF LIGHT was a finalist for the Bellwether Prize (now PEN/Bellwether Prize).
Her novels have been published in 24 languages throughout the world.
She has also written more than 100 pieces for major newspapers, magazines, and public radio. She has participated in the Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman sponsored The Writers Lab for screenwriting, mentors in the OpEd Project, and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the California bar. megwaiteclayton.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
July 21, 2010
This book initially presented as a straight forward story of a young widowed mother who has moved to a family farm in Maryland horse country where she is befriended by an older mentor and is attracted to this woman’s son, a horse trainer. To this point, I thought I would like this story.
However, Clayton’s premise turned out to be that everyone has secrets; some of which seem to exist, as with Willa’s confession of an affair with Emma’s husband, to merely reveal flaws in Emma’s character.
In fact, the only consistent character is Nelly through whose viewpoint the story is told—but Nelly is the consummate unreliable narrator. Emma’s character is the most dubious. Is she the wise older mentor who encourages Nelly in her dream to be a photojournalist like her famous father? Is she the philanthropic creator of homes for orphan girls? Or is she the prevaricator who intimates that Dac may be Nelly’s half brother? Is she the dominating mother who will stop at nothing to keep her son at her side including telling him his Vietnamese wife (whom she paid to vanish) is dead? Does she use a similar ploy in suggesting to Nelly that Dac may be the son of her own father?
As for Nelly’s father, is he the remote preoccupied photojournalist who neglected his wife and children for his career? Or is he the charming fellow who dotes on Emma?
It’s not that people can’t be complex, but in “Language of Light” the author fails to convince us that those characters embody such disparate traits. The ending is particularly dissatisfying. Emma is killed, rather gratuitously—the reader saw this coming from the instant Emma voiced her intention to ride in the steeplechase. Dac discovers, via a sudden reversal in strategy by Emma, his grown Vietnamese daughter. Poof—that’s it for Dac—we never learn how this affects him and he vanishes from Nelly’s life and the book. Nelly’s father never really gives her the accolades she craves, basically telling her to value her own work and that life is hard, et al. As for Nelly, other than her expressed determination to pursue a career (when just a few pages earlier, she could not reconcile this with caring for her sons) we have no idea what her path will be. Pretty obviously, it won’t involve Dac which is a disappointment. It seems clear that Clayton wanted to reject the pat and anticipated conclusions, but since she fails to postulate convincing alternatives, the reader is left with a sense of incompletion.
However, Clayton’s premise turned out to be that everyone has secrets; some of which seem to exist, as with Willa’s confession of an affair with Emma’s husband, to merely reveal flaws in Emma’s character.
In fact, the only consistent character is Nelly through whose viewpoint the story is told—but Nelly is the consummate unreliable narrator. Emma’s character is the most dubious. Is she the wise older mentor who encourages Nelly in her dream to be a photojournalist like her famous father? Is she the philanthropic creator of homes for orphan girls? Or is she the prevaricator who intimates that Dac may be Nelly’s half brother? Is she the dominating mother who will stop at nothing to keep her son at her side including telling him his Vietnamese wife (whom she paid to vanish) is dead? Does she use a similar ploy in suggesting to Nelly that Dac may be the son of her own father?
As for Nelly’s father, is he the remote preoccupied photojournalist who neglected his wife and children for his career? Or is he the charming fellow who dotes on Emma?
It’s not that people can’t be complex, but in “Language of Light” the author fails to convince us that those characters embody such disparate traits. The ending is particularly dissatisfying. Emma is killed, rather gratuitously—the reader saw this coming from the instant Emma voiced her intention to ride in the steeplechase. Dac discovers, via a sudden reversal in strategy by Emma, his grown Vietnamese daughter. Poof—that’s it for Dac—we never learn how this affects him and he vanishes from Nelly’s life and the book. Nelly’s father never really gives her the accolades she craves, basically telling her to value her own work and that life is hard, et al. As for Nelly, other than her expressed determination to pursue a career (when just a few pages earlier, she could not reconcile this with caring for her sons) we have no idea what her path will be. Pretty obviously, it won’t involve Dac which is a disappointment. It seems clear that Clayton wanted to reject the pat and anticipated conclusions, but since she fails to postulate convincing alternatives, the reader is left with a sense of incompletion.
October 24, 2012
I needed some chick lit this week....and when I read the reviews here, I worried this was too serious for my mood. As it was the only book I had with me at my sister's....I opened it. I chose the book bc it takes place in B'more....and it is centered around photography and horses.
The story is good...though I am not sure why many people mentioned it was told by a secondary character....Nellie was as much involved in the story as the rest. The main character (and narrator) just lost her husband and has moved to her father's family house in horse country...MD. She immediately befriends an elderly woman and becomes close to the only single, young man in the neighborhood...father also appears and all this while she struggles with the idea of being a photojournalist or a mother.
My problems with the book:
1) I figured out a lot of the "mysteries" before the characters....annoying.
2) The debate of..."can I be a good mother" if I have a job. I don't think this is a realistic debate.
3) I did not believe/like the main character's best friend---her motivations and doings were a bit forced.
4) Many unanswered questions at the end.
I did enjoy reading about photography...and living in horse country....its what we all want, right? :)
Read if you are looking for something to distract you...but be prepared to want to stab a character...or two.
The story is good...though I am not sure why many people mentioned it was told by a secondary character....Nellie was as much involved in the story as the rest. The main character (and narrator) just lost her husband and has moved to her father's family house in horse country...MD. She immediately befriends an elderly woman and becomes close to the only single, young man in the neighborhood...father also appears and all this while she struggles with the idea of being a photojournalist or a mother.
My problems with the book:
1) I figured out a lot of the "mysteries" before the characters....annoying.
2) The debate of..."can I be a good mother" if I have a job. I don't think this is a realistic debate.
3) I did not believe/like the main character's best friend---her motivations and doings were a bit forced.
4) Many unanswered questions at the end.
I did enjoy reading about photography...and living in horse country....its what we all want, right? :)
Read if you are looking for something to distract you...but be prepared to want to stab a character...or two.
June 29, 2011
Having read Clayton's second book (The Wednesday Sisters) before reading this one, I must say that she has definately grown as a writer between the two. While I enjoyed this book, and found some of the facets of the characters amusing neither they nor the story really grabbed me and pulled me in. I was also slightly let down that we dont really get the resolution between Nelly and Dac that I had been so hoping for. I know the reader is supposed to accept that everyone reacher their own ending, but thats not how relationships really work, so I would have liked a bit more wrap up there, but maybe that is just me.[return][return]Language of Light is a good solid story with characters that you can enjoy, but for my tastes I'd send readers looking to read Clayton on to her second book.
May 9, 2012
It feels unfinished to me. I don't like it as well as I liked Wednesday Sisters.
March 6, 2019
This one really resonated with me right now as I’m in the process of trying to find my creative photographic spark and photography is a huge theme throughout the novel. Excellent character development kept my interest and I truly enjoyed it
February 13, 2018
4.75
I am torn with this book. Right out of the gate, the writing is spectacular. I had at least a dozen moments throughout where I would just linger on a sentence, taking it in, thinking, “My God, how brilliant. I would give my right arm to be able to pen a scene like that.”
There was heart, and I enjoyed that the characters had true human natures. Their being flawed made me want to see where those flaws would take them. I read sitting at my kid’s bus stop and stayed up way too late squeezing in just one more chapter (which easily became three). No doubt, I was pining to see if my initial fears for Dac were grounded!
This book had beautiful tension and I think that’s where my heart aches just a bit when it wrapped up too quickly. Now I say too quickly, but I suppose it could be said that it was just too quickly for me. An author knows her story, and just like God and life, we don’t always get the outcomes we’re praying for.
I think certain characters became so endearing that it was impossible to not dig your heels in and root for them. I wanted that ending. I’m also the kind of person who will look for a love thread in a Cracker Jack box, so I know this is a ridiculous notion and would never hold a fellow author to it.
However, he was a beautiful character and their chemistry was the glue that held the pieces together. I would definitely pick up a delayed sequel, should their be a fresh encounter...
I am torn with this book. Right out of the gate, the writing is spectacular. I had at least a dozen moments throughout where I would just linger on a sentence, taking it in, thinking, “My God, how brilliant. I would give my right arm to be able to pen a scene like that.”
There was heart, and I enjoyed that the characters had true human natures. Their being flawed made me want to see where those flaws would take them. I read sitting at my kid’s bus stop and stayed up way too late squeezing in just one more chapter (which easily became three). No doubt, I was pining to see if my initial fears for Dac were grounded!
This book had beautiful tension and I think that’s where my heart aches just a bit when it wrapped up too quickly. Now I say too quickly, but I suppose it could be said that it was just too quickly for me. An author knows her story, and just like God and life, we don’t always get the outcomes we’re praying for.
I think certain characters became so endearing that it was impossible to not dig your heels in and root for them. I wanted that ending. I’m also the kind of person who will look for a love thread in a Cracker Jack box, so I know this is a ridiculous notion and would never hold a fellow author to it.
However, he was a beautiful character and their chemistry was the glue that held the pieces together. I would definitely pick up a delayed sequel, should their be a fresh encounter...
May 16, 2016
Perhaps I speak a different language than "The Language of Light". This story had a decent start -- a young widower finds herself trying to build a life for her and her two sons soon after her husband dies. Leaving the urban city for the rural country life in the old family home of her father's family, the Mom is looking for the meaning of life. Her father was a professional photographer and absent from home for much of his own children's upbringing. (I guess a man has to have his priorities.) The daughter, now the widower, has always had a passion for photography and is feeling a pull to follow her father's footsteps. She is torn between knowing if she is good enough to make it a career and wondering how to balance a career and motherhood at the same time. There are varying characters, circumstances and romances intertwined in the story, as well as regrets and remembrances but I just could never quite get the story to click for me. The basis of the story had potential, but it just seemed to fall flat. The ending seemed very rushed and I didn't feel that there was much resolution in the personal issues presented. For this reader, someone forgot and left The Language of Light on the dimmer switch mode.
September 23, 2011
I got this book for a steal when Borders went out of business (sob). I was attracted to it because it combines two of my interests - photography and horses. So I went in with moderately high hopes. However, it never felt like the story ever really... developed or recieved the closure it should have.
*Spoiler alert**
It left me feeling somewhat flat... the only time it REALLY got my attention was the revelation that Dac was the protagonist's brother. Story felt all over the place and I never really got the sense that she was mourning the loss of her husband or even was truly battling with the demons that were brought up about her relationship with her husband. Characters felt a bit flat.
*Spoiler alert**
It left me feeling somewhat flat... the only time it REALLY got my attention was the revelation that Dac was the protagonist's brother. Story felt all over the place and I never really got the sense that she was mourning the loss of her husband or even was truly battling with the demons that were brought up about her relationship with her husband. Characters felt a bit flat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2012
In my opinion, there is only one book that successfully pulls off the "tell the story from a minor character" method and that's Wuthering Heights. This book is no Wuthering Heights. You think the story is about Nelly, the widow with two small kids moving to the country. But it really isn't. She mopes around through the book, a rather flat character in my opinion, and tells the story of this neighboring family that I didn't find all that interesting.
While good chunks of the book were interesting enough to keep me reading, they alluded to a plot twist that I guess early on and was hoping they wouldn't do. And then they did it. Lame.
Skip this book.
While good chunks of the book were interesting enough to keep me reading, they alluded to a plot twist that I guess early on and was hoping they wouldn't do. And then they did it. Lame.
Skip this book.
April 27, 2013
Never truly understood what made any of the characters tick (no pun intended here...not a literary reference to the grandmother clock Emma gave to Nelly for her birthday) even as pivotal life choices were revealed throughout the book. The ending was abrupt, and completely unsatisfying, with many unresolved story lines.
December 4, 2012
I read this book because I loved The Wednesday Sisters and wanted to try something else by Clayton. This book wasn't as great, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Being a photographer myself, I probably appreciated the photography-specific parts more than most. I'm big on enjoying the setting the books I read, and definitely did in this novel, but the ending wasn't spectacular.
July 11, 2013
I enjoyed the first part of this book, but ended up being frustrated by it in the end. Some of the characters were deeply flawed-not in a human way, but an unrealistic way. The book never seemed to get around to saying what it wanted to say and it felt unfinished.
September 4, 2013
This was the first book I read from Meg Waite Clayton. I did like the setting and the characters, but felt the book unfinshed.
May 20, 2013
I kept waiting to get answers to all my questions and then it just ended! So disappointed.
September 2, 2017
After reading and loving The Wednesday Sisters, I eagerly dove into another book by this author. What I liked was the detailed descriptions of photography from the taking of the photos to the developing. But there were too many things I didn't like about the book. It is not uncommon for a book to have a prelude and then dive into another time period. But in this one, Nelly's father has obviously passed away but the segue into the main part of the story is not a smooth one: one minute he is dead and the next he is very much alive. Yes, when you read the epilogue, it does tie the story together but it was almost as if the prelude was put in the wrong place.
This is a minor but picky complaint but one an editor should have caught: in the beginning of chapter 13, Willa is bringing the boys home from school but then poof, they are playing soccer (and this is something they never do any other time), with no apparent transition.
Emma is an interesting character as far as strong women go but she alternates between being likeable (in her altruism) but devious and conniving as well. And then there is the whole mystery surrounding who Dac's father is. The reader is given clues that make it kind of obvious but then the book gets to a point where you are left shaking your head... yes you assume you were correct in your guess but it never tells you so. And then there was entirely too much time spent muddling around this topic with no satisfactory conclusion. The whole thing just kind of went away like it never existed.
Much of the book deals with Nelly seeking her father's love and approval. The other thing that bothered me was that Nelly's brothers were mentioned a lot in the past tense of their childhood but they were never presented as adults. At all. Older brother Danny was very influential in Nelly's childhood and although he is apparently still alive, it made me wonder what happened to him. It would have been better to just mention them in passing and then I would not have missed them.
Having read one of this author's books that I loved and then this one, I will give her another try at some point in the future as I see she has two more novels out there.
This is a minor but picky complaint but one an editor should have caught: in the beginning of chapter 13, Willa is bringing the boys home from school but then poof, they are playing soccer (and this is something they never do any other time), with no apparent transition.
Emma is an interesting character as far as strong women go but she alternates between being likeable (in her altruism) but devious and conniving as well. And then there is the whole mystery surrounding who Dac's father is. The reader is given clues that make it kind of obvious but then the book gets to a point where you are left shaking your head... yes you assume you were correct in your guess but it never tells you so. And then there was entirely too much time spent muddling around this topic with no satisfactory conclusion. The whole thing just kind of went away like it never existed.
Much of the book deals with Nelly seeking her father's love and approval. The other thing that bothered me was that Nelly's brothers were mentioned a lot in the past tense of their childhood but they were never presented as adults. At all. Older brother Danny was very influential in Nelly's childhood and although he is apparently still alive, it made me wonder what happened to him. It would have been better to just mention them in passing and then I would not have missed them.
Having read one of this author's books that I loved and then this one, I will give her another try at some point in the future as I see she has two more novels out there.
October 14, 2021
I just finished reading this book, and it was good, I enjoyed it. I felt like the author might have spent a little too much time explaining the dysfunctional introspection of the main character, Nelly, but of course I can see that it was a way for the reader to understand her mind and appreciate the struggles she faced in the book. As I read, I found myself hoping for some resolutions to all her struggles, instead they were only compounded by the additional life situations that she found herself in. They just seemed to snowball without any real answers or personal growth. I wish the ending would have given more definite answers and closure to the cast of characters, although I guess the openness allows the reader to come to their own conclusions. I was looking for a big “cleansing breath” at the end, only to find myself a bit deflated.
My least favorite part? The detailed information about the actual workings of a camera. I’m an amateur photographer, and even though I understood what was being talked about, it did nothing to advance the storyline.
My favorite part? Seeing Nelly have to come to terms with her dad, and the life he lived outside of just being her dad. She was forced to face the fact that he had a life before she was born and as she was a child growing up that was outside of the box that she wanted to put him in. We all have seen selfish grown children refuse to relate to their aging parents in a way that honors ALL of who they are, not just what they know of them as their parents, but who they were before that. Nelly had to look at her dad for who he was, a man with life choices that maybe she didn’t understand or agree with, but still a person with fears, desires and agency as an individual. It was sad that she didn’t move into that place of honoring him, and that her own selfishness kept her from enjoying his last years with a mutual love and respect for each other.
My least favorite part? The detailed information about the actual workings of a camera. I’m an amateur photographer, and even though I understood what was being talked about, it did nothing to advance the storyline.
My favorite part? Seeing Nelly have to come to terms with her dad, and the life he lived outside of just being her dad. She was forced to face the fact that he had a life before she was born and as she was a child growing up that was outside of the box that she wanted to put him in. We all have seen selfish grown children refuse to relate to their aging parents in a way that honors ALL of who they are, not just what they know of them as their parents, but who they were before that. Nelly had to look at her dad for who he was, a man with life choices that maybe she didn’t understand or agree with, but still a person with fears, desires and agency as an individual. It was sad that she didn’t move into that place of honoring him, and that her own selfishness kept her from enjoying his last years with a mutual love and respect for each other.
February 13, 2018
This novel was beautiful! It was one of those novels that I didn’t want to end. I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere that was portrayed between the characters in the story. The story is written in a way that is light and refreshing, yet also full of secrets and loss. Nelly has moved to Maryland with her two boys after her husband died. She quickly finds herself a part of the community there. Nelly becomes close friends with Emma and her son Dac. They encourage her to begin her photography again. Nelly has been struggling with her photography because of the emotions she has related to it. All of the characters’ lives in the story seem to be intertwined in some way. This novel is about motherhood, guilt, and secrets. It is also about loss, new beginnings, and love. Additionally, it is about life and time. Thank you Meg Waite Clayton for writing such a wonderful novel!
August 22, 2022
The only reason I started this book was because it included horses and horse country. From the beginning, I was bothered by the narrator’s poor self esteem. As that expanded into doubt whether she could be a good photojournalist and a good mother (planted and reinforced by her husband), then guilt as she fell in love with another man, I knew I couldn’t finish the book. I made it to page 122. I won’t read a book that emphasizes this false dichotomy that men never have to face, regardless of how many horses are in the book. After reading the reviews, I know I made the right decision. This is not my kind of book.
May 25, 2021
I felt like I read two different stories here...the first about Nelly who moves to a family home after the death of her husband where she tries to pick up the pieces of her life and rediscover herself (specifically her passion for photography). I was hoping the second half of the book would continue to show Nelly work through these struggles and find herself. While it does a little bit, the second half of the book focuses so much on the other characters and leaves the reader with a confusing, not quite believable, unresolved ending. This is not one I would recommend.
October 14, 2018
Honestly? I have conflicting feelings on this book. Some great passages; very real emotions and characters. Confusing seques at time. Great descriptions of the topics of photography, and horsemanship, and the locations. And lots of tense emotions between people, which left me disquieted. And the ending was too ... abrupt. But it did keep me turning the pages because I was caught up in the story. I was just unsatisfied with the end of the book. Left with questions.
April 12, 2018
Because this is her first book, I think I expected it to be good, but not great. I was wrong, it was wonderful. Yes, her later books show a more seasoned writer, but this was a terrific read.
April 14, 2018
Was a fairly quick read. Learned a lot about horses and the people who revolve their lives around them. Enjoyed the characters.
March 20, 2020
This was a new author for me. I enjoyed the story and her style of writing was easy to read.
June 5, 2021
This really brought me back, as I have a lot of parallels with Nelly as a photographer and mother.
Also being tutored by a photographer father.
Really a good read for me
Also being tutored by a photographer father.
Really a good read for me
August 17, 2021
I enjoyed this book i learn alot about photography. And the fact that it was relatable. Finding love then losing it. I will be rereading this book in the future
January 4, 2023
I am loving this author! If you're a fan of historical fiction, check her out- she weaves her stories together across generations and continents beautifully.
March 14, 2023
A moving, lyrical novel --- so much to love here!
May 2, 2014
This is the second novel of Clayton's that I have read and I liked it much better than the first one. But this one was her first published book. I really loved the photography use in the story, particularly because I am so intrigued by photography.
Nelly Grace and her two sons have moved to Maryland to her Grandparents horse farm. Still dealing with the aftermath of her husband's death and what that means for her future, Nelly finds herself adjusting to a whole new culture in this horse community. A woman named Emma befriends her and Nelly begins to learn what courage is and who she is with courage. Nelly's father, a famous photojournalist, has influenced her photography and her desire to hear him say he's pleased with her work. The story takes the reader on a journey, Nelly's, as she tries to figure who she is and what her skin feels like.
I really liked Clayton's use of language in this book. She spent a lot of time developing the characters, the physical setting, and the emotional setting. She also spent a lot of time with both horse people and photography people learning the ins and outs of both so that she could write a story that stayed true to both of those cultures. It was well-done, especially the photography part. I really enjoyed this story and Clayton's style telling it.
Nelly Grace and her two sons have moved to Maryland to her Grandparents horse farm. Still dealing with the aftermath of her husband's death and what that means for her future, Nelly finds herself adjusting to a whole new culture in this horse community. A woman named Emma befriends her and Nelly begins to learn what courage is and who she is with courage. Nelly's father, a famous photojournalist, has influenced her photography and her desire to hear him say he's pleased with her work. The story takes the reader on a journey, Nelly's, as she tries to figure who she is and what her skin feels like.
I really liked Clayton's use of language in this book. She spent a lot of time developing the characters, the physical setting, and the emotional setting. She also spent a lot of time with both horse people and photography people learning the ins and outs of both so that she could write a story that stayed true to both of those cultures. It was well-done, especially the photography part. I really enjoyed this story and Clayton's style telling it.
February 25, 2010
I had lofty expectations for this book after enjoying "The Wednesday Sisters" so much, but this book didn't really deliver for me. The back of the book states that this was "destined to be called old-fashioned" and I do think the writing was a bit formal and well, old fashioned. But I found that to be something I really liked about this book.
I found the plot to be frustrating but not in that "good book" kind of way. It's like this book never got around to saying what it wanted to. Like it was a whole bunch of would've, should've, could've's. The protagonist, Nelly, was more like a petulant three year-old vs a grown woman and mom. And the ending was like one of those blowers you see at a kid's birthday - you know the one's that make noise - but it's like the blower the day AFTER the party. Boring, not fun, and an ending that's been played out a million times before.
I found the plot to be frustrating but not in that "good book" kind of way. It's like this book never got around to saying what it wanted to. Like it was a whole bunch of would've, should've, could've's. The protagonist, Nelly, was more like a petulant three year-old vs a grown woman and mom. And the ending was like one of those blowers you see at a kid's birthday - you know the one's that make noise - but it's like the blower the day AFTER the party. Boring, not fun, and an ending that's been played out a million times before.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews