Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Review: The Lost Hours by Karen White

Piper Mills has lived a life filled with loss. Her parents were killed when she was six years old, so she went to live with her grandparents. She was very close to her Grandfather, with whom she shared her love of horses and her drive to be an Olympic class show jumper.

Her relationship with her Grandmother was not close but Piper never felt the lack of that connection. When she was twelve, her Grandmother developed Alzheimer's disease and was placed in a nursing home. Driven Piper barely noticed her absence as she piled success on top of success, becoming a champion equestrian.

Her world quite literally came crashing down with a fall off of her horse during a competition. Piper was severely injured when the horse fell on her and for the next six years she quit riding, quit trying, quit living.

Until the death of her Grandfather shakes her out of her inertia. Piper comes into possession of some papers and heirlooms of her Grandmother's that, for the first time, spark her interest in learning about her Grandmother's past and make her regret her childish lack of care for the woman who had loved and raised her.

The mystery that Piper begins to unravel will take her into the family of her Grandmother's childhood friend, Lillian. Though she meets them under false pretenses, Piper begins to find the answers that she is looking for as well as the beginnings of her way out of the pain that she has lived with for so long.

The effects of loss, of various kinds, and of the process of grief and healing are at the heart of this powerful novel. It is a story that will remind you that the older generations will not be here forever. Treasure them, learn their stories, spend time with them and value them. All hours that have passed may be lost, but might not be wasted if we spend them wisely.

The Lost Hours made me long for one more day with my own wonderful Grandmother, even one more hour or minute. And I listened to many of her stories. But I know I have forgotten much of what she told me and I would give more than I now possess to hear her voice again.

You can learn more about the author, this book and her other novels at her website.

My thanks to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book Promotion for sending me this book for review!

15 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi Carey!

What a beautiful story, it sounds great.

Everyone should remember that our grandparents, parents, aren't going to be here forever. Time spent is not time wasted, but time preserved.

Dottie :)

Beth F said...

This sounds wonderful. Thanks.

S. Krishna said...

I loved this book, Karen White is such an amazing author! Great review!

bermudaonion said...

Oh, does that sound wonderful.

Nicole (Linus's Blanket) said...

I have two of her book and have not yet had the chance to read either one, but with each review I see I want to read them more and more.

Darlene said...

Wonderful review. I really liked this novel as well. It does make you stop and think how much the older generation should be valued. I'd give anything to have my grandmothers here.

Literate Housewife said...

I have this book on my couch right now! It's interesting that I've been thinking about both of my grandmothers a lot recently. One has passed and one is still with us. I need to make some time with her while I'm in Michigan.

LuAnn said...

Another book that has been getting a lot of publicity lately! It must be a good read.

Karen White said...

Thanks so much for the lovely review--I'm glad you enjoyed the book!

I dedicated this book to my maternal grandmother, whose stories populated my imagination when I was a child. She just turned 95 and has battled Alzheimer's for over a decade. I feel so blessed to have had her in my life for so long.

I do hope readers walk away from the book and call their grandmothers if they're still around! I wish every day that I could.

The Tome Traveller said...

Hi Karen! Thanks so much for stopping by! My Grandmother died several years ago after living with Alzheimer's for quite a few years. It was so sad and really a relief when she passed. But I do miss her so and your book really had me reflecting on her life and remembering our time together.

It is a lovely book, I'm so glad to have read it and participated in the tour!

Carey

Ladytink_534 said...

I really liked The House on Tradd Street so I may have to pick this one up. Thanks!

Zibilee said...

This one sounds so moving, thanks for the great review.

Anonymous said...
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Kaye said...

Wonderful review, Carey. This book sounds fabulous.

Anna said...

I reviewed this book a few days ago. I absolutely loved it. I'm glad you enjoyed it, too.

--Anna
Diary of an Eccentric


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New Hampshire, United States
Bibliophile, Anglophile, Traveller... I have been an avid reader all of my life, since I took the Dr. Seuss Dictionary away from my Mom when I was less than a year old because I wanted to read it myself. In college, where I earned my degree in English Literature, I was often asked "What are you going to do with it?" Now I finally have the answer to that question!!! Being employed as a Flight Attendant for twenty years has given me a lot of life experience and, better still, a lot of time to read. I love to travel for fun, too.