Introducing A New Favorite Author; Elizabeth Berg

When Reading Keeps You Awake At Night

Do you ever get so engrossed in reading a book that you have to keep reading to the end and then it keeps you awake all night? That is exactly what happened to me when I read, "What We Keep," by Elizabeth Berg.  There is something about the characters in this story that grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. Perhaps it was the flashbacks to her youth that we experience with now adult Ginny as she flies across the country to meet up with her older sister, Sharla. These sisters have not seen their mother for 35 years and  are bringing a long estrangement to its end for reasons that are discovered as the book progresses. Or perhaps I was haunted by the character of the mother, Marian Eastman who, as a former wife and mother of the late 1950's, bears the 35 year burden of having made choices that allowed both glorious freedom and sad bondage at the same time. Or, it could have been the mysterious Jasmine Johnson who moves next door to the Eastman family becoming an impetus to life changes in the family that will never be forgotten. Maybe, it was a little bit of all of this, that kept me turning page after page to the end and then.....trying to process the story for hours afterward. 

There is something that is so delicous about reading late at night, sinking deeply into both the pillows and the pages and savoring the story that beckons to you. And it is equally amazing to find an author like Elizabeth Berg who can bring both story and character to life in such a charming way. I discovered Berg's book at our local library and have found that she is a prolific writer. So, there will be many more books to read. How I managed to miss her books until now I don't know but, if you are interested in learning more about her and seeing a list of her books, I am linking to her website. Be sure to let me know if you decide to read some of her books, or if you are already familiar with this author!

Until Next Time,
Debbie