A very bitter sweet story about a family torn apart by illness, anger and death.
347932
When Elizabeth becomes ill with a brain tumor her husband, Jeffrey, becomes angry and unable to cope. During this period the reader sees Jeffrey's in ability to cope with not just Elizabeth's illness but his inability to take responsibility for his choices in life. It's always someone else's fault.
3447128
Gut wrenching beautifully written a heartbreaking story a missing child ,the horrible emotional effects on the family at the time and years later.
3106602
One family loses their little girl and another gains her. You end up feeling bad for all of them! It was a sad story to me but well written.
4135375
This book tells one of Canada's most tragic tales that brought about the near-extinction of a people through ethnic and religious intolerance, the Expulsion of the Acadians. This is the story of that episode through the eyes of the second eldest daughter of a large family. It is a heartbreaking story of loss and shameful, needless relocation of a people who were not wanted where they came from nor where they were sent. Hated either because they were French or Catholic, or both, the story brings to mind that world issues of today are no different than the ones of the past. A well-written, fast-paced story even though one knows ultimately how it will end due to the title, if one isn't familiar with the history. The book has a heavy atmosphere; I felt sad for the most part with the loss and death, and the ending only gives a bittersweet dose of happiness. The historical details are presented well through the emotional story and I'd say this would make a good introduction to the topic, especially with the historical notes included at the back of the book. I thought I didn't know this author, but taking a look at her backlist of titles, I realize I have read one other of her historical fictions a very long time ago. An emotional entry in the series.
1989558
Author  and her siblings had  a very sad childhood. Very interesting story about family living in southern coal mining regions with problems of mental illness,alcoholism,illiteracy and prostitution.
4356109
This is the description of a dysfunctional Irish family ruined by a number of difficult and emotional situations, seen through they eyes of one of their children, Tatty.  Alcoholism plays a big part in this harrowing story and the seemingly detached tone with which Tatty describes her feelings and the events taking place, is quite heartbreaking.

I also think that the absence of speech/quotation marks during dialogues didn't tarnish in any way the fluency of the narrative.  A very nice book.
4213036
This is the story of a very dysfunctional family.  Brad is a lawyer and Janet (his wife) are parents of three children.  Joseph who is in the Army deployed to Iraq,  Ruth who is in high school and they youngest broth Aubrey.  The parents are comfortably wealthy and more concerned about social status so have very little to do with the children.  But when Joseph shows up one day life changes for all of them.  Joseph refused an order and returned AWOL to his home.  He is arrested and the news media intrudes on their lives.  School becomes unbearable.  Life is not the same for any of them after that.  Finding out why Joseph did what he did will give the reader a lot to think about .
4864695
Sad story well told. Had a little difficulty connecting with the characters as the whole family seemed to lack emotion.  The disconnect between them spilled over to this reader.
4836640
Very good book but so sad at the same time!
I was very saddened that this family and Lily was treated with such cold callousness.
1918214
A story of how a family struggles to cope within itself and the life they lead as adults.
4640606
It is such a beautiful story and it made me so incredibly sad. When a person loses touch with their emotions and insticts, like a lot of us do nowadays, the consequences can be very destructive.
2715765
This was one of the saddest stories I have ever read.  The novel depicts the true story of extreme abuse to a beautiful, intelligent, young girl. I would suggest that anybody sensitive to the subject of child abuse might not want to read this book.  It was very well written, but the subject matter was difficult for me to deal with.  The story was heart breaking.
2506172
This family's story of a battle with a deadly disease will tug at your heart strings if not completely rip them out. This book is hauntingly lovely and a definitely recommended read.
3062466
it was filled with harshness and heartache.  Good overcomes evil.  A bittersweet tale.  But, I'm so happy that Sugar becomes the strong beautiful person she was meant to be.  Ms. Hall is an excellent storyteller.
1950381
It tells up to a point both sides of this terrible decease
One can only go so far in what they can remember the other remembers everything.  The sadness for both. The feelings i had went towards the wife.  She had the burden of it all.  Though their lives had it's up's and downs she loved him and that shone through this sad and unfortunate story of life,  I would recommend it as it puts in perspective that the person with the illness is not the only one suffering. And all to often those left to care are forgotten or not recolonised for the care to those unfortunate souls who have being afflicted with this terrible decease.
4531137
It is hard to say that I "love" this book since it is such a sad story but I do give it 5 stars. As anyone who has read my work knows, I am very interested in true stories about alienation, having written books based on true stories of adults who were alienated as children (Adult children of parental alienation syndrome) and a book based on true stories of parents currently alienated from their children (surviving parental alienation). I have heard many tragic stories and I will add this one to the list of well-written memoirs written from the perspective of a targeted parent. This story shows, as many other stories of alienation do, how unenlightened and incompetent legal and mental health professionals can do real damage to the lives of families and children affected by alienation. It is maddening and heartbreaking to see how alienating parents are supported by the system designed to protect children. There is obviously much work to do to address this very serious form of child abuse.
4147046
A fine, but sad, story of a family that seemed to experience plenty of glory but unimaginable pain.