I love books that have a flavour of earth in them.Books by authors like Annie Proulox where the place the story unfolds itself becomes a character....this book by Mark Spragg has a very similar feel to it. Its a story of two old men and a young girl...its a story of an abused mother with a young daughter...its a story of a sleepy town in Wyoming..
Griff is a ten year old who packs all her belongings every day in the morning in the hope that her mother will take her and flee from her latest boyfriend who beats them. Her wish comes true one day when her mother Jean decides enough is enough and they both leave the trailer home and the abusive boyfriend behind. With nowhere to go and money running dry, Jean takes Griff to Ishawooa...the town in Wyoming where she grew up...fell in love,married and lost her husband,Griff's father. Griff is first shocked and then excited that she has a grandfather.
Her grandfather Einar is a recovering alcoholic...who is spending the twilight years of his life alone in a run down farm with a friend of many years, Mitch who is bed ridden since a grizzly mauled him. Einar reluctantly takes to the girl but does not want anything to do with her mother.
The book ends when they all come together and decide to give their family a second chance..the book ends with a hope that Griff will finally stop packing every morning.
Needless to say i loved it..its a very poignant story..particulary the way Einar has been treated. He struggles a lot within. Griff is adorable and far wiser for her age. Its sad when kids have to grow up sooner than they have to. Wonderful book. Cant wait to see the movie based on this book. Staring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and JLo.
Griff is a ten year old who packs all her belongings every day in the morning in the hope that her mother will take her and flee from her latest boyfriend who beats them. Her wish comes true one day when her mother Jean decides enough is enough and they both leave the trailer home and the abusive boyfriend behind. With nowhere to go and money running dry, Jean takes Griff to Ishawooa...the town in Wyoming where she grew up...fell in love,married and lost her husband,Griff's father. Griff is first shocked and then excited that she has a grandfather.
Her grandfather Einar is a recovering alcoholic...who is spending the twilight years of his life alone in a run down farm with a friend of many years, Mitch who is bed ridden since a grizzly mauled him. Einar reluctantly takes to the girl but does not want anything to do with her mother.
The book ends when they all come together and decide to give their family a second chance..the book ends with a hope that Griff will finally stop packing every morning.
Needless to say i loved it..its a very poignant story..particulary the way Einar has been treated. He struggles a lot within. Griff is adorable and far wiser for her age. Its sad when kids have to grow up sooner than they have to. Wonderful book. Cant wait to see the movie based on this book. Staring Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman and JLo.
2 comments:
I thought the movie looked interesting. Now I definitely want to read the book.
Have you ever read "Empire Falls?"
i read up on "Empire Falls"...looks interesting...lemme see if i can get my hands on it the next time i go to a lending library..
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