Tale of a lifelong friendship between two women in a coastel Oregon town.
VERY Very enjoyable read
A nice meandering little story about well-meaning people who sometimes make poor decisions. I recommend it.
I've read two other books by Diane Hammond--"Hannah's Dream" and "Friday's Harbor: A Novel"--and enjoyed both so I requested "Going to Bend" on paperbackswap.com. I was disappointed in this book--it seemed very bleak. The two main characters--Petie and Rose--are 30-something adults who have been friends since grade school. Both grew up poor but Petie had a much more traumatic life. The author gives hints about it but the truth isn't revealed until near the end. I suspect the author's intent was for the reader to admire the characters--especially Petie--for keeping going even when life is a continuous struggle.
I don't recall the size of "Hubbard," the town where most of the book is set, other than it is a small town. Everyone seems to be poor/struggling. There wasn't much going on in the book. After a while, I just wanted to be done with it and did finish it. I may read another of Hammond's books--per a Google search she's written three others (Homesick Creek, Seeing Stars, and Keiko's Story) which hopefully will be better than Going to Bend.
I don't recall the size of "Hubbard," the town where most of the book is set, other than it is a small town. Everyone seems to be poor/struggling. There wasn't much going on in the book. After a while, I just wanted to be done with it and did finish it. I may read another of Hammond's books--per a Google search she's written three others (Homesick Creek, Seeing Stars, and Keiko's Story) which hopefully will be better than Going to Bend.
Best friends since childhood, Petie Coolbaugh and Rose Bundy have always lived in the small coastal town of Hubbard, Oregon. Despite Rose's loving personality, the only man in her life is a loner fisherman who is rarely around, while Petie's rough edges keep almost everyone at arm's length: the daughter of the town drunk, Petie has always had it tough, and her marriage isn't cutting her any breaks. Lately, with kids to raise, Petie and Rose have been struggling to make ends meet, so when a couple of city slickers from Los Angeles arrive and open an upscale cafe, the 2 friends get some much-needed work making fresh soup. Of course the owners immediately take to the easygoing Rose, but it takes the blossoming of an unexpected romance, threatening to crack Petie's hard shell, to prove that love often comes in the most unexpected ways.
I just loved this book, couldn't put it down!
I just loved this book, couldn't put it down!
