Miller's Valley

This book reminded of a similar situation that happened in the Land Between the Lakes years before I was born. I loved this story!

Miller’s Valley by Anna Quindlen is told from Mary Margaret’s (Mimi) point of view. Mimi is a young girl growing up in Miller’s Valley where the government wants to move everyone out the valley (where it floods the homes when it rains) and flood it creating a reservoir. We get to see how Mimi grew up, her family, and her home life (the book starts when she is eleven years old). Mimi’s Aunt Ruth lives in a cottage behind the main farmhouse. Aunt Ruth never leaves her cottage. She does not do cooking and expects meals to be brought to her. She also has to have someone do the shopping. Mimi’s mother, Miriam is a nurse and her father, Buddy runs the family farm. Her brother, Tommy goes off to fight in the Vietnam War and returns a different man. We get to see Mimi grow up in Miller’s Valley, live her life, go to school, get married, and then, ultimately, come back to Miller’s Valley. I thought Miller’s Valley would be more than the life of one girl growing up in a small town. I found Miller’s Valley to be boring. The story is told in the first-person perspective (which I really dislike). It was more like reading a diary than a novel. I had a very hard time staying awake to read it. There is no depth to the book. The book is simple and easy to read, but there is no spark. This book does not leave with any impression when you are done reading it (except glad it is over). I give Miller’s Valley 2.5 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Miller’s Valley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the novel.

I am an avid reader and I have never written a review. But Miller's Valley touched upon so many emotions that I cried through the entire last chapter. I just have to share my opinion of this book. I didn't give it a full five stars because I thought (I don't want to give too much information away) that one sad incident in Mimi's life was not handled very well. But kudos to the author for bringing a flawed but colorful family into our hearts.

This is a beautifully written story. It grabbed me from the first page and I couldn't put it down. A must read!

A coming of age tale of a young woman determined to become someone other than a small town girl, and to have a plan, instead of having life just happen to her.