This powerful new novel by the bestselling author of Black and Blue, One True Thing, Object Lessons, and A Short Guide to a Happy Life begins when a teenage couple drives up, late at night, headlights out, to Blessings, the estate owned by Lydia Blessing. They leave a box and drive away, and in this instant, the world of Blessings is changed forever. Richly written, deeply moving, beautifully crafted, Blessings tells the story of Skip Cuddy, caretaker of the estate, who finds a baby asleep in that box and decides he wants to keep her, and of matriarch Lydia Blessing, who, for her own reasons, decides to help him. The secrets of the past, how they affect the decisions and lives of people in the present; what makes a person, a life, legitimate or illegitimate, and who decides; the unique resources people find in themselves and in a community—these are at the center of this wonderful novel of love, redemption, and personal change by the writer about whom The Washington Post Book World said, “Quindlen knows that all the things we ever will be can be found in some forgotten fragment of family.”
have you ever read a book so good that you didn't read anything else for a couple of days just to keep that feeling you get when you read a piece of literary art? This was one of those books for me.
To say I truly enjoyed it would be an understatement.
Claudia B. (Claudia) from FORT COLLINS, CO wrote on 3/17/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
What a lovely, lovely book. Touched my heart and funny bone. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Amy H. (emksmama) from KOKOMO, IN wrote on 2/24/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
A beautiful, moving, well crafted novel that will leave you pondering the deeper meaning of what "family" means, and how love can grow between the most unlikely people. Savor the descriptions, the prose, and the feeling in every line.
Debbie R. (readingfool) from CUMBERLAND, RI wrote on 1/16/2007...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Blessings tells the story of Skip Cuddy, caretaker of the Blessings estate, who finds a baby asleep in a box and decides he wants to keep her, and of matriarch Lydia Blessing, who, for her own reasons, decides to help him. The secrets of the past, how they affect today's decisions and lives, what makes a person, a life, legitimate or illegitimate and who decides--these are at the cneter of this wonderful novel of love, redemption and personal change.
Dawn K. (dawnjk) from BUDA, TX wrote on 10/29/2006...
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
This novel begins when a teenage couple drives up, late at night, headlights out, to Blessings, the estate owned by Lydia Blessing. They leave a box and drive away, and in this instant the world of Blessings is changed forever. Skip Cuddy, caretake of the estate, finds a baby esleep in that box, and decides he wants to keep her. Matriarch, Lydia Blessing, for her own reasons, decides to help him. The secrets of the past and how they effect the decisions and lives of people in the present, what makes a person - a life, ligitimate or illigitimate and who decides; the unique resoources people find in themselves and in a community.
Rate These Member Reviews
Christine Marie W. (CowgirlFromHanna) from HANNA, IN wrote on 12/28/2006...
Excellent book
Diane D. from MOUNT VERNON, NY wrote on 9/11/2006...
Enjoyable, easy read. Characters are likeable - good book
Leslie K. (satine5353) from SACRAMENTO, CA wrote on 7/10/2006...
I did not enjoy it as much as her others but it was still a good read with decent writing.
Sandra F. (matsmom) from MONTGOMERY, AL wrote on 6/27/2006...
An unusual yet captivating story of love and commitment.
Maureen H. (Maestra) from FRANKLIN, IN wrote on 6/25/2006...
Decent story of what makes a family.
Lynlie C. (lynliep) from RUSSELLVILLE, AL wrote on 4/2/2006...
powerful, moving. Very good read.
Andie J. (Andie) from CHESAPEAKE, VA wrote on 12/16/2004...
This was a wonderful story about an abandoned baby and an old woman who had to deal with her past. It was a real tender story and yet Anna had to really get down to brass tacks too.