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Customer Reviews for WaterBrook Press A Sound Among the Trees
WaterBrook Press A Sound Among the Trees
A house with a turbulent Civil War history becomes home to a new bride and stepmother in Susan Meissner's richly absorbing tale of a line of women stuck living in patterns of regret.
For 150 years, Holly Oak, a spacious Southern home, has stood the test of time and wills in historic Fredericksburg with Civil War scars to prove it. Marielle Bishop marries into the family with multi-generational ties to the home, leaving behind her independence and her love of Arizona's deserts to move to Holly Oak to become a wife and stepmother. But it isn't long before Marielle is led to believe that the house she just settled into brings trouble and misfortune to all the women who live there. Local folklore has it that Susannah Page, a Yankee spy who housed Union soldiers, haunts Holly Oak because she's longing for pardon. When Susannah's great-granddaughter Adelaide McClane tells her that the house is "stuck" because of it's tumultuous past, Marielle is determined to get past the rumors and uncover the secrets that are buried within its walls. With Adelaide's richly peppered superstitions and deep family roots at stake, Marielle must carve her new life out carefully as she sorts out the truth and makes peace with the sacrifices she has made for love.
Average Customer Rating:
(47 Reviews) 47
Rating Snapshot (47 reviews)
5 stars
25
4 stars
14
3 stars
4
2 stars
2
1 star
2
41 out of 4787%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for A Sound Among the Trees
Review 1 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Glad I gave this author a 2nd chance
Date:March 26, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Review: This is the second book I have read by this author and I enjoyed this particular book much better than the first one I read ("The Girl in the Glass"). Set in modern day, "A Sound Among the Trees" is a story about one family's history and how many believe the house, "Holly Oak," is haunted by its ancestor, Susannah Page who was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the North and a traitor. Her great-granddaughter Adelaide, the current matriarch of Holly Oak, doesn't believe that Susannah's ghost haunts the mansion.
When Marielle Bishop marries into the family and moves into Holly Oak with her new husband Carson and his two children (Hudson & Brette), she soon begins to believe that there may just be some truth to the story that the house is haunted. Carson's former wife Sara was Adelaide's granddaughter and she passed away while living at Holly Oak. It seems that misfortune has fallen to several of the women who have lived at Holly Oak and Marielle begins to wonder if she might be in for the same fate.
"A Sound Among the Trees" is well written and easily draws you into the characters. I particularly enjoyed the section of the book that dealt primarily with Susannah Page and her life during the Civil War. The author painted a very real picture of how a young woman may have felt during this period of history and the suffering many endured.
I'm most glad that I gave this author a second chance and read "A Sound Among the Trees." (rev. P.Howard)
DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy of A Sound Among the Trees was provided by the publisher Waterbrook Multnomah through its blogger review program Blogging For Books in exchange for our honest review. Opinions expressed are solely those of the reviewer.
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Review 2 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Date:February 2, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Susannah Towsley Page is nothing but a girl caught up in the War between the States in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Born in the North, she and her mother have sojourned home to the Holly Oak plantation after her father's death. Accused of being a spy for the North, Susannah does what she has to do in the name of love. Will the choices she makes prove to be more costly than she first realized?
One hundred and fifty years later, Susannah's great-granddaughter Adelaide, is the owner of the old southern plantation that survived the devastation of the War. At ninety years old, she truly believes that both she and Susannah have fallen victims to the tragic feelings of the house that had seen so much sorrow.
Marielle Bishop marries into the family, knowing nothing of the superstitious belief that Holly Oak bears a grudge against it's past and brings misfortune to all the women who make it their own. Will she discover the truth before it's too late? Or will the past finally bring about the resolution Holly Oak so desperately needs?
This novel encompassed two of my favorite elements in fiction: past and present. There is just something so romantically poignant and hauntingly beautiful about times and places we can re-create, but never live or experience for ourselves. Meissner takes up from past to present with such smooth transition, you never realize it happened. She draws you into the mystery of the house and the stories of all the women who were trapped there with such ease, you will loose yourself. I know I did.
A copy of this book was provided for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Review 3 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Date:January 31, 2013
Stephanie
Quality:
2
out of
5
Value:
2
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
1
out of
5
I really do not like posting a bad review, but its really impossible not to here. I read a book in less than two day, and I had to force myself to finish this one. I love Susan Meissner, she is an awesome writer, but this book was a let down. The characters were hard to like, I'm not sure it was that they were weakly written of if it was just the over all mood that killed the entire book for me. I'm sorry but I couldn't recommend this one.
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Review 4 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
THE POWER OF THE DEEP SOUTH...
Date:January 24, 2013
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Brilliant, Stunning, Emotional, Thought-provoking, are just of the adjectives to describe 'A Sound Among the Trees'! I was raised in New Orleans, so being a southern girl at heart I was extremely curious to read this novel! I also loved a good mystery, and was fascinated by the description and mystery shrouded within! The story centers around this beautiful misunderstood mansion 'Holly Oak', one of the last remaining antebellum homes. The author has such a unique way of storytelling, that you can almost feel like the house itself is living and breathing, just waiting to share it's centuries of memories! We begin from the viewpoint of Adelaide, current owner of Holly Oak, a hearty elderly great grandmother with quite a history of pain, regret, doubts and wisdom. Her widowed son has recently married the young and innocent Marielle, who soon finds out the marriage isn't what she bargained for - with ghosts, illusions, a past that shouldn't be acknowledged, will she have the courage to forgive and forget? Every person has a skeleton in their closet, and I love a good mystery! At the end of the day, you find that these are normal, relatable people, with personal struggles, joys, and loves! I just couldn't put it down!
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased, non-profit review.
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Review 5 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
AMAZING!!!
Date:January 21, 2013
ASC Photos and Designs
Location:NM
Age:18-24
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book was not what I expected it to be. At first I was scared that it would be a fantasy based tale filled with supposedly "real" ghosts and hauntings, but I gave it a shot anyway. And I am SO glad I did. As I read on I realized it is SO much greater that I even hoped it would be. Susan takes you on a great journey, and while I thought it would be wholly about the past and Susannah it held more about the descendants than I thought it would. Though it still tells Susannah's tale and unlocks real life truths. Such as God's will, plans, and timing are SO different and better that we could ever come up with. What you think is a heart breakingly tragic story is revealed to be Providentially Glorious. Adventure, love, pain, joy, heart break, fear, past, presents, and history fold into a great adventure that is in one word Beautiful. This is a MUST READ and had made it ti my Favorite Books List. With it's real feelings and journey this book has touched my heart and I know if you give it a chance it will touch your to. The only true crime with in this book is (WARNING: You may need to brace yourself!)...a couple of the main characters hate chocolate!!! :O WHAT A HORRIBLE CRIME!!! ;)
A Sound Among the Trees touched me so deeply, but I could not find a song that expressed my heart's feelings (I will keep looking and if I find it I will update). That said here are a few of the songs that could portray parts of the book: "Alive" by Avalon, "Wind Chime - Peaceful Soothing & Relaxing" by Wind Chimes, and "Lessons Learned" by Carrie Underwood
John 14:1-4
~ASC
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Review 6 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
THERE CAN BE MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF "GHOST"...
Date:September 9, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
When Marielle married Carson, she knew he had been married before. For the sake of his children, she agreed to live in his first wife's family home with Sara's aging grandmother. She knew she might have to contend with Carson's memories of Sara, but she never dreamed she might be dealing with a Civil War-era ghost.
Susan Meissner's novel is a gripping read, especially for anyone interested in the Civil War. The chapters dealing with Susannah and her involvement with both the Union and the Confederate soldiers really held my interest. Her historic details were correct, which adds realism to the story. Also, for anyone who has ever felt that they were overwhelmed by the "ghosts" of past relationships, this is a must read.
Susan Meissner's novel is a gripping read, especially for anyone interested in the Civil War. The chapters dealing with Susannah and her involvement with both the Union and the Confederate soldiers really held my interest. Her historic details were correct, which adds realism to the story. Also, for anyone who has ever felt that they were overwhelmed by the "ghosts" of past relationships, this is a must read.
5 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group book review bloggers program . I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Review 7 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
A Ghost that wasn't a ghost
Date:September 3, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
A story that keeps you reading for hours. I love a story that grips you and holds you.
Yet an ending not expected. A healing, a release or a new look at life however you want to see it.
A history of a family during the Civil War weaved around a house. How life choices sometimes are made for reasons not expected. Yet good can come out of it. As the story of Susannah and her marriage to Lt. Page unfold, strenth and weaknessed shape her.
A story of ghosts, mental illness, war, love and survival.
To quote from the readers guide, "A ghost story without a ghost." Sometimes a person gets stuck in life and doesn't see the truth.
Yet an ending not expected. A healing, a release or a new look at life however you want to see it.
A history of a family during the Civil War weaved around a house. How life choices sometimes are made for reasons not expected. Yet good can come out of it. As the story of Susannah and her marriage to Lt. Page unfold, strenth and weaknessed shape her.
A story of ghosts, mental illness, war, love and survival.
To quote from the readers guide, "A ghost story without a ghost." Sometimes a person gets stuck in life and doesn't see the truth.
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Review 8 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Excellent Book
Date:September 3, 2012
Sandra
Location:Sarasota, FL
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I loved this book. It has something for everyone. There is the contemporary romance between Marielle and Carson. Marielle has moved across the country to in the house that Carson’s first wife lived in. She is now raising his two children from that marriage. In the mix is the grandmother-in-law who is the matriarch of the house. Most of the people in the area believe the house is haunted. Adelaide doesn’t. She believes the house holds a grudge that affects the women in the family. If Marielle is to survive in this new environment she must put to rest the ghosts, real or imagined, of this house. She must discover the secrets that have kept generations in the dark. I loved that the person who held the key (literally and figuratively) to those secrets was the one person most considered an outcast. She was also the one person that I really admired. She faced her ghosts head on.
This is a book that I whole heartedly recommend to anyone who likes romances, the Civil War and it’s impact on families and a great mystery to tie it all together.
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Review 9 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Excellent book typing the past with the present!
Date:May 29, 2012
HeidiPA
Location:Central PA
Age:35-44
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
My love for Susan Meissner and her writing started with The Shape of Mercy. It’s been 3 1/2 years since I read that book, but I still list it among my favorites and have been hard-pressed to find another book that I have enjoyed as much. Here’s a quote from that original review, that totally fits for A Sound Among the Trees as well:
This book is a perfect blend of contemporary and classical and it draws the two together in such a way that I was hooked from the very first page!
The following year, I had opportunity to read and review White Picket Fences. Once again, I found myself totally drawn in to the book, it’s characters, and the historical content. I ended that review with these words:
I am impressed, once again, with Susan's ability to share about a true historical event, while sharing a fictional story. So far, both of her books have left me longing to know more about these stories of our history, and sent me in search of further information. Since I'm a researcher at heart, these books are right up my alley!
Lady in Waiting arrived last year, at a time when I was too busy to do the review, so I passed it along to my mom. Once again, Susan has woven a modern day story with historical facts to create a book that my mom could not put down. In her words:
This was a very good, very exciting book. I must say it is one of the best books I have ever read! It will be hard to follow this one up!
So, that brings me to A Sound Among the Trees . . . and Susan has done it again! She has certainly created a place for herself on my list of favorite authors. I absolutely adore history; but so many of the more recent historical fiction books that I have read are all the same story, just with different names, locations, etc. Not so with Susan’s books.
She has a unique way of telling a historical story – in this case it’s the Civil War – yet weaving it with a modern-day fictional tale. So, we find several generations of women residing in this old home that has weathered the war. And we’re introduced to the possibility of haunting and ghosts. Yet, in the end, we find that none of those things are the issue at all – it’s really a matter of the heart (and mind).
I loved each and every character in this book. Marielle, who just “happened” upon this house, through marriage. Adelaide, who is haunted by the past and the decisions of her ancestors. Susannah, who we come to know intimately through letters she wrote to her cousin during the war. And all the supporting characters as well – even they play a significant role in combining past and present.
I am now anxiously awaiting Susan’s next book – The Girl in the Glass – set to release this September.
Susan – you have a real gift for storytelling! I hope you continue to write great tales of love, loss, history, and healing. I will continue to read your books as long as you write them!
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Review 10 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
A Christian Ghost Story?!...
Date:April 17, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
Four women must learn to live with the choices that they have made. They are learning not to dwell on the past but to move on and live well. ...For some it takes a lifetime.
The action centers around an old southern mansion, Holly Oak. Adelaide is almost 90 years old, but still very strong mentally and physically. Caroline, her daughter, ran away from home as a teenage and has only come back a few times. One of these times she left her daughter with her mom. Adelaide raised her granddaughter from a baby, but lost her four years ago to complications with a pregnancy. Adelaide owns this home, Holly Oak, that some people consider to be haunted by her great grandma, Susannah. Susannah was a young woman was torn between family and love during the Civil War. Marielle moved from Arizona and marries into this historical family. She hears stories of Susannah’s ghost and she hears Adelaide’s superstitions about the house, but she wants to know the truth. So, is it a ghost story? ...My lips are sealed! ;)
I love the way the author Susan Meissner includes a historical fiction story in her contemporary novel. Her characters are real and messy and dealing with hard issues. My favorite in this novel is Susannah - I would be very interested in a whole book just on her!
Make sure you check out Susan Meissner’s web site at susanmeissner.com and sign up for her “Soozletter”. She is also on twitter at http://twitter.com/#!/SusanMeissner. She is one of my new favorite authors, and I would highly recommend her books to all.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Blogging for Books, Waterbrook Multnomah Publisher’s book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
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Review 11 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Susan Meissner gives us another Excellent Book
Date:April 12, 2012
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
My Review: Having read The Shape of Mercy I was excited at the opportunity to read another Susan Meissner story. This story followed the story of Susannah Page and her influence in the life of Marielle Bishop today. I enjoyed the characters in this story, especially Adelaide, at 90 she was still sharp as they come and making Confederate soldier uniforms for re-enactments. Yet she carried a heavy burden from the past. As her grandson-in-law remarries and brings his new wife home to Holly Oak.
Overall, I enjoyed the story, though I found the story line with Eldora a little disturbing. I wouldn’t call this book overtly Christian though before it ends there is talk of the importance of forgiving one another and ourselves. And there were characters in the story that ended the story better people than they were at the beginning.
I can’t tell you my favorite part of the story without giving away too much. But there is a section that was so enjoyable to read and visualize the events of that the author described. She did a masterful job of drawing you into the events and allowing you to feel many emotions.
I must admit I didn’t enjoy this story as much as The Shape of Mercy but I found it not only an enjoyable read, but I have a better understanding of the Civil War and how hard that time was for our country.
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was only obligated to provide my honest opinion of this story.
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Review 12 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Past & Present
Date:March 20, 2012
Amelia
Location:Rural Oregon
Age:18-24
Gender:female
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
2
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
This book is a great read for someone who can read quickly. I thought the plot moved rather slowly, but the story line is great...mixing the present with the past. It isn't exactly a haunted house story like you would expect, but rather the story of a haunted family with a house full of generational secrets.
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Review 13 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Holly Oak: the house that stood against time
Date:February 20, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
It took me a few tries to really get into this book. I would pick it up, start reading, and quickly get distracted. I would set the book aside. The next time I wanted to read, I'd find something else. This went on a few times until about 4 days ago. I was determined to get past the part that I had read and reread over and over. I know that Susan Meissner is a wonderful author, and I had high hopes for this book. But for some reason, that first chapter did nothing to entice me. I was definitely glad I kept going though.
Marielle Bishop moves from Arizona to Fredericksburg, Virginia when she marries Carson. She agrees to live at Holly Oak, since that is the only home Carson's two children have known. She knows there will be challenges, there always are in blended families. But the challenges she faces are not those she anticipated.
Meet Adelaide McClane, the eccentric elderly woman who owns Holly Oak. She is convinced that the house is "stuck". She uses a scratched record as an example of "stuck". Imagine a record, one of the older ones played on an actual record player. If it gets scratched, it has a hard time playing. It will get to that scratch and play the same part over and over. This is what Adelaide thinks has happened to the house. It is stuck and cannot seem to get past what happened during the Civil War. Susannah Page, Adelaide's great-grandmother, lived at Holly Oak during that time. She is now thought to be haunting Holly Oak, determined to make up for her past as a Yankee spy.
Marielle begins searching for the truth. Is Susannah still with them at Holly Oak? Or is the house stuck in time, not knowing that 150 years have passed since a cannonball struck it's side during a battle? Her focus becomes uncovering the truth and bringing the light of day to buried secrets.
Once I got past that first chapter, being introduced to the different characters that make up "A Sound Among the Trees", I was hooked. I had a hard time putting it down after that. I would recommend this book to any of my friends, especially those who enjoy reading a bit about the past, and how it effects the future.
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Review 14 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Not Your Ordinary Historical Fiction
Date:February 18, 2012
Steph Blogging for Books
Location:Ontario, Canada
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I am not normally a fan of historical fiction, but then again, A Sound Among the Trees is not your typical historical fiction novel.
Ghosts. A cursed Civil War estate. Lost letters. Hidden journals. Buried soldiers. Have I piqued your interest yet?
Susan Meissner breathed life into well rounded, three dimensional characters. She also presented a story I could see unfolding before my eyes. (Being a visual learner, that's a very good thing.)
As I've said countless times before, I'm all about relationships. And this book is filled with the dynamics of many different relationships - among the living, the dead, and a combination thereof.
I don't want to give too much away, but as a Christian, I don't typically read "ghost stories," but just as this isn't a typical historical fiction, it isn't a typical ghost story either.
This book is definitely written for a female audience. The cast is made up almost entirely of women.
I highly recommend this book and would give it a four or four and a half out of five.
I received this e-book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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Review 15 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Mixed Review
Date:February 13, 2012
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
Marielle marries Carson and moves with him and his two children to Holly Oak, the historic Virginia home of Adelaide, the grandmother of Carson’s deceased first wife. Shortly after moving, Marielle hears stories of the ghost of Susannah Page, Adelaide’s great-grandmother, who haunts Holly Oak. Adelaide doesn’t believe there is a ghost but is convinced that the house itself has some sort of hold over its inhabitants. Marielle finds herself on a journey to sort out the truth about Susannah, Holly Oak, and the generations of women who have lived there.
The story has a lot of depth, and is told through the eyes of multiple generations -- particularly, Marielle, Adelaide, and Susannah (through a number of letters she wrote to a cousin during the Civil War). Meissner’s writing is very descriptive, allowing the reader to see and feel the atmosphere the characters are in. The plot, though, is slow-moving and is sometimes rather dark. Although there is some light and healing at the end, I’m not entirely sure I ever found the whole story.
I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for an honest review.
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Review 16 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Date:February 8, 2012
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner was a great read! The setting is in a Southern home that withstood the Civil War. 150 years later the home seems haunted by all that took place there.
Marielle Bishop marries into a family that has ties to the home leaving her beloved Arizona desert to become wife and step mother. She is led to believe the house is haunted and it is up to her to set the record straight.
Author Meissner does a fantastic job of writing that keeps you wanting to read to the end to see what really happens. I love this book because you cannot guess the ending.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
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Review 17 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Good Story, but some unexplored potential.
Date:January 19, 2012
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
Author: Susan Meissner
Genre: Historical/General
Publisher: Waterbrook
Genre: Historical/General
Publisher: Waterbrook
For some reason when I requested this book I was expecting a purely historical novel. I suppose the cover design was part of the reason for that. Part of the story was historical, sort of - almost a flashback. (One of the characters is reading things that were written during the Civil War.) Most of it, though, is contemporary.
The story setup and plot were excellent - a woman newly married to a widower with two children, moving into a house purported by many to be haunted. No complaints about the story.
The scene setting throughout the books was exquisite. Whether the author was describing the southern heat and humidity, a dusty old outbuiding, or a garden party wedding reception, I felt like I was there. I could feel the grass under my feet, hear the breeze in the trees, and feel the dust on my hands and clothes. My compliments to the author on crafting such a sensory treat. It's not often I find a book that really transports me into the story's setting.
I did feel like the plot was not explored and intensified to its full potential, though. When Marielle, the main character, begins believing that the house, Holly Oak, really is haunted, things could have become wonderfully exciting and thrilling... almost a modern/Civil War rendition of Northanger Abbey with a few twists. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it didn't achieve its potential in suspense and intensity. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting A Sound Among the Trees to be Northanger Abbey, but it did leave me feeling like there could have been more.
It was an enjoyable read, and I wouldn't mind picking up more of this author's work in the future.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.
The story setup and plot were excellent - a woman newly married to a widower with two children, moving into a house purported by many to be haunted. No complaints about the story.
The scene setting throughout the books was exquisite. Whether the author was describing the southern heat and humidity, a dusty old outbuiding, or a garden party wedding reception, I felt like I was there. I could feel the grass under my feet, hear the breeze in the trees, and feel the dust on my hands and clothes. My compliments to the author on crafting such a sensory treat. It's not often I find a book that really transports me into the story's setting.
I did feel like the plot was not explored and intensified to its full potential, though. When Marielle, the main character, begins believing that the house, Holly Oak, really is haunted, things could have become wonderfully exciting and thrilling... almost a modern/Civil War rendition of Northanger Abbey with a few twists. Unfortunately, in my opinion, it didn't achieve its potential in suspense and intensity. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't expecting A Sound Among the Trees to be Northanger Abbey, but it did leave me feeling like there could have been more.
It was an enjoyable read, and I wouldn't mind picking up more of this author's work in the future.
I received a copy of this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for my review.
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Review 18 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Wonderful, touching complex family story
Date:December 27, 2011
Jacque Bonesio
Location:Northern California
Age:Over 65
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
This book is great. Characters are real. Family life is complex and perplexing any one new to the situation. Well written and REAL. I love Susan Meissner - one of my all time favorite authors.
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Review 19 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Good Characters, too much "ghost" story
Date:December 23, 2011
Quality:
3
out of
5
Value:
3
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
3
out of
5
A Sound Among Trees is a fictional story that spans multiple generations of women who live, or have lived, at Holly Oak House in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The history of the house encompasses the Civil War, the physical battles that raged around it, and the battles, both mental and relational, that waged within it. The current lady of the house, Adelaide, is convinced that the house is trying to absolve itself of the sins of the house by taking out its angst on the women of the family line. People in the town are convinced that Adelaide's great grandmother, Susannah, haunts the house to absolve herself of her crimes. Are either of these true? You'll need to read the book to find out. :)
I am not a fan of ghost stories, and while the book focused on the idea of Susannah as a ghost, I had trouble getting interested in the story. There were two story lines that did pull me in, though: the story of Susannah herself - told through stories to her cousin Eleanor, and the story of Caroline, Adelaide's daughter, who ran away from home and returned only periodically, once bearing an infant daughter whom she left for Adelaide to raise.
Caroline, the prodigal daughter, leaves home to experience the world in every way she can. She doesn't know who her daughter's father is, and she has an eclectic resume of odd jobs from her travels. However, her travels eventually lead her to a convent where, in her words, the nuns teach her that "people who fall against the last door on earth, find out how to crawl through it." She is changed by God, she has found peace, and she returns to Holly Oak to share that peace and to be the daughter and grandmother that she should have been before.
Susannah's letters tell the story of the civil war and her family's involvement in it, living in the South, but having ties to the north. As a reader, I felt Susannah's conflict, her confusion over the war itself and what her role within it should be. She became more than the "ghost of Holly Oak" through her own voice in the letters, and she became part of the reinstatement of peace to the surviving generations of Holly Oak Women.
Overall, I would give this book 2.5 stars. I was solidly in the 2-star category until I got to Susannah's letters and the conclusions. While those finally got me engaged in the story, it wasn't really enough for me to rank the book much higher.
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Review 20 for A Sound Among the Trees
Overall Rating:
Civil War Effects
Date:December 3, 2011
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
4
out of
5
A Sound Among the Trees by Susan Meissner revolves around an old antebellum Fredericksburg mansion, Holly Oak, that survived the Civil War. It is currently owned by Adelaide McClane, the great-granddaughter of Susannah Page, who was rumored to be a Civil War spy for the Union. With that rumor floats the superstitions that the house is haunted by Susannah’s ghost. Or, according to Adelaide, the house wants a pardon or bears a grudge for all that went on in its tragic past, and the revenge is taken out on the women of the house, making them suffer tormentingly. Adelaide herself “lost” her daughter, Caroline, then her granddaughter, Sara, to a horrible accident, and lastly a freak accident herself.
Enter Marielle Bishop, an Arizona transplant, married to Adelaide’s grandson-in-law, Carson, with his two children. They, too, live with Adelaide in the mansion. Marielle tries to live up to and learn about Carson’s first wife.
Susan’s story is inundated with loss, death, love and reconciliation. But the storyline in-between has a tight and twisting theme of hauntings, clairvoyance, and the truth. The atmosphere is eerie and ethereal at times, causing you to wonder if ghosts are involved whether you believe in them or not, which I myself do not. But that doesn’t eliminate some kind of evil power behind it all.
The secrets, estrangements, and innuendos keep the story flowing from beginning to end. The twist of the ending will blow you out of the water! I never saw it coming and would never have guessed, but it made sense afterwards. What a great ending to an eerie start! And new understandings!
A sound among the trees has always been soothing for me to listen to. If I let the ethereal atmosphere of this book overcome me, it could take my joy away. But I just remember that the Lord is all-powerful, not ghosts, and definitely not clairvoyants.
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