Fiction Friday: Her Daughter’s Dream
On April 23, 2010 I posted a review of Her Mother’s Hope, the first book in Francine Rivers’ two-book saga that explores the depths of grace and forgiveness in one of life’s fiercest bonds—the love between mother and daughter. In the dramatic conclusion to the series, Rivers delivers a rich and deeply moving story about the silent sorrows that can tear a family apart and the grace and forgiveness that can heal even the deepest wounds.
Her Daughter’s Dream picks up where Her Mother’s Hope left off, with Carolyn Arundel’s mother, Hildemara, quarantined to her room with tuberculosis. Carolyn bonds with her oma Marta, who moves in to care for the household. As tensions between Hildie and Marta escalate, Carolyn believes she is to blame. When Hildie returns to work and Marta leaves, Carolyn and her brother grow up as latchkey kids in a world gripped by the fear of the Cold War.
The book follows Carolyn to college, and then to the heady counterculture of San Francisco. When she reemerges two years later, more lost than ever, she reluctantly turns to her family to help rebuild a life for her and her own daughter, May Flower Dawn. Like Carolyn, Dawn develops a closer bond with her grandmother, Hildie, than with her mother, causing yet another rift between generations. But as Dawn struggles to avoid the mistakes of those who went before her, she vows that somehow she will be a bridge between the women in her family rather than the wall that separates them forever.
Spanning from the 1950s to present day, Her Daughter’s Dream is the emotional final chapter of an unforgettable family saga about the sacrifices every mother makes for her daughter—and the very nature of unconditional love. Rivers says that this book is largely autobiographical, allowing her to explore the relationships in her family and to come to a better understanding, not only of her mother and grandmother, but also herself. She answered questions in an interview provided to blog tour writers:
How has exploring the relationship between your mother and grandmother helped you understand yourself?
Writing about Marta made me decide to let go, forgive and move on. For whatever reason, Grandma couldn’t and missed out on so much joy in her last years. Sometimes people deeply hurt as children take offense where none was intended…. As I examine my own life, I see how much I’ve been forgiven. How can I not extend God’s grace to others?
Where may we connect with you further or to purchase a copy of Her Daughter's Dream?
I would love for you to visit my web site at www.FrancinceRivers.com, browse through the various events and other resources available, as well as sign up for my mailing list. You may also join me on my Facebook page, please click here.
You have a couple of opportunities to win a copy of Her Daughter’s Dream. The Virtual Book Tour Facebook page is giving away THREE copies of the book and the Christian Speaker Services blog will give away ONE copy. Be sure you enter today as the tour ends Monday.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by the Tyndale House Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
Labels: book review, generations
