anneke_b's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't really have high hopes for this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this story about some interesting women in different stages in their lives. I
lazygal's review against another edition
2.0
Galilee (known as Gal) Garner is a 38-year-old biology teacher who breeds roses as a hobby. She's a loner, with her only friend being the art teacher at her private school. And she's on dialysis a few times a week, thanks to not only having had her kidneys die when she was a child but having rejected two donated kidneys; her doctor has her on the transplant list, but there are some blood flow problems to contend with first. The parents at her school are not happy with her, because in addition to teaching AP Biology, she's one of the hardest grader in the school - frequently failing more than half her students when they don't meet expectations on her tests. Gal is one of those curmudgeons, blunt to the point of rudeness, never allowing for ambiguity or softness in her transactions. One day her niece, Riley, appears. Becky, Riley's mother and Gal's older sister, has suddenly been transferred to Hong Kong and sent Riley to stay with Gal.
This is a book that asks the rather cliched questions: will Gal soften? will Riley settle in and enjoy living with Gal? will Becky and Gal reconcile? will Gal get a new kidney? etc. With only one exception, those questions are all answered in the way one would assume. If the author had been a little bolder with her choices, this would have been a more enjoyable book.
There's a lot in here about how to breed roses, which was interesting. The discussions of how to breed them, care for them and what the different types in some ways mirror Gal's year pre- and post-Riley's arrival, and the somewhat cutthroat nature of the rose shows was a little surprising.
A minor quibble: AP exams are in May, not June (though that might be one of the the things that changes between now and official publication).
ARC provided by publisher.
This is a book that asks the rather cliched questions: will Gal soften? will Riley settle in and enjoy living with Gal? will Becky and Gal reconcile? will Gal get a new kidney? etc. With only one exception, those questions are all answered in the way one would assume. If the author had been a little bolder with her choices, this would have been a more enjoyable book.
There's a lot in here about how to breed roses, which was interesting. The discussions of how to breed them, care for them and what the different types in some ways mirror Gal's year pre- and post-Riley's arrival, and the somewhat cutthroat nature of the rose shows was a little surprising.
A minor quibble: AP exams are in May, not June (though that might be one of the the things that changes between now and official publication).
ARC provided by publisher.
rachel_abby_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Gal is a 36 year old biology teacher trying to breed her own special rose. She's big on personal responsibility, and not very patient with those who don't show it in themselves. Also, she has bad kidneys, with several failed transplants in her past, so she's on dialysis every other night. In the middle of all this fun comes her niece: 15 and sent to live with Gal while her semi-irresponsible mother is working a job in the Far East. One more thing Gal's gotta do. . .
I had a hard time warming up to Gal. She isn't very merciful regarding other people's human foibles, and isn't open to the suggestion that she might have a few, herself. (I also think she's an introvert with social awkwardness - not flaws in and of themselves, just personality traits.) She does gain some personal insight over the course of the book, but it's hard won, for sure.
Reading it, and being frustrated with Gal, it did occur to me that the things that drove me nuts about her could well reflect some of my own flaws (exaggerated, I hope?). I do tend to think I'm pretty smart, and I am keen on personal responsibility, but I hope that I am more aware of my own flaws, and gentle with the weaknesses of others.
A nice break after finishing "Quiet."
I had a hard time warming up to Gal. She isn't very merciful regarding other people's human foibles, and isn't open to the suggestion that she might have a few, herself. (I also think she's an introvert with social awkwardness - not flaws in and of themselves, just personality traits.) She does gain some personal insight over the course of the book, but it's hard won, for sure.
Reading it, and being frustrated with Gal, it did occur to me that the things that drove me nuts about her could well reflect some of my own flaws (exaggerated, I hope?). I do tend to think I'm pretty smart, and I am keen on personal responsibility, but I hope that I am more aware of my own flaws, and gentle with the weaknesses of others.
A nice break after finishing "Quiet."
robinsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
A book I mentioned in the Book Expo's Librarian Shout 'n Share session.
While this appears to be a "how-to" manual, it's actually a well-crafted novel of a woman's life. Despite having chronic kidney disease, "Gal" has carved out a life for herself while going between dialysis, teaching AP biology to high school students, and breeding new rose hybrids, but her strict life develops a kink when her 15-year-old niece comes to live with her. This novel has fabulous well-drawn characters and a story that will leave you moved.
Due to published in August 2012.
While this appears to be a "how-to" manual, it's actually a well-crafted novel of a woman's life. Despite having chronic kidney disease, "Gal" has carved out a life for herself while going between dialysis, teaching AP biology to high school students, and breeding new rose hybrids, but her strict life develops a kink when her 15-year-old niece comes to live with her. This novel has fabulous well-drawn characters and a story that will leave you moved.
Due to published in August 2012.
wheatengator's review against another edition
4.0
Overall this was a enjoyable, comfortable read. The writing was solid. I THINK this was her first novel and I am impressed. Character development might have been a little weak but again, nothing severe. It might have been a little predictable but it was well-told and I def appreciated some of the friendship issues.
maryrobinson's review against another edition
3.0
Personal/family drama about prickly biology teacher waiting for a kidney transplant. She grows roses to show and hopes to hit it big with a rose that can go commercial. She’s as prickly as her roses but she grows too as she takes care of a teenage niece dumped on her doorstep. Somewhat predictable but still kind of nice.
Really liked that she is a complex character with some real flaws that don't magically disappear at the end.
Really liked that she is a complex character with some real flaws that don't magically disappear at the end.
jjmagenta's review against another edition
2.0
Readable fiction however the first couple of chapters writing about the breeding of the roses were by far the best.
skyroxy's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet little story, easy to read but very good for it's genre. This is the second book I have read from Margaret Dilloway and I would read a third. I liked the ending.