Between The Tides

Terrific Beach Read!:
This was the first of Henry's novels that I've picked up, but now I can't wait to try her others! I loved every aspect of this book- from the well-developed characters, to the vivid descriptions of the inner turmoil in dealing with the past and present. Spectacular imagery really made it easy for me to feel that I was right there watching the whole thing. *slight spoiler below* Although I did see the "secret" coming for quite awhile, and I thought the explanation for the revelation (eye color, blood type) was a little fantastical, I still very much enjoyed this novel.

A Thoroughly Enjoyable Read:
It is perhaps the quickest read of this year. I read this in two and half hours. I've read her other books and this one is not as good as her others, but it still provides a delightful read. This book will definitely appeal to the booklover in you, filled with lots of quotes and titles of books that the main character's dad had talked about. It is just perfect to kick off summer vacation with! This book focuses on Catherine "Cappy" Leary, whose life changed drastically in her twelfth summer in a tragic accident. After the accident, her family uprooted and moved back to her parents' hometown within a very short period of time. Catherine grieved all those years blaming herself for the family move as well as for the tragic accident. She had given up her "second mother," a warm and vibrant woman named Ellie, who was married and had two boys, Boyd and Sam. Catherine had a loving relationship with her father and a distant one with her mother. She had a best friend named Piper and life was just bursting at the seams. Then tragedy hit and it hit hard. Now that Catherine is thirty years old and an orphan as her father had died nine months previously. In his will, he stated he wanted his ashes scattered over the river in that little South Carolina town that she had grown up in. Returning to the town that she has never forgotten, Catherine meets her past and learned the dark secrets that were her dad's and others'. Even at the age of thirty, it is never too late to grow up. In the process, she realizes the truth about herself and the truth about her father's protege, Forrest, whom she used to date years before she started dating the college basketball recruiter. The story is choppy in places and the ending is too rushed, but other than that, it provided a wonderful story for a stormy night. It is definitely a quick read and a delightful one. 6/3/08

Excellent!!!:
I knew nothing of this author before getting this book as a book club choice. I was completely taken in by every aspect of the book. A great read, a perfect choice for a book club or individual reading. She uses wording that paints wonderful pictures in the mind...yet leaves just enough for you to finish the picutre yourself. I really loved it because it did show how children carry things that happen to them or involving them into adulthood. And how things could have been different had adults realized these things and dealt with them at the time. Yes, things are hard for children to understand, but that is where parents and adults really need to take the time to see things through the childs eyes. A wonderful book.. I highly encourage you to read it.

Bravo!:
My first book by this author and I've already gone back for more. I loved this story.

Between The Tides:
This was a wonderful book. Patti Callahan Henry writes beautifully. Kept me spellbound...as have all her books. Mary Pichette