THE GOOD DAUGHTERS: REVIEW AND BONUS ENTRIES

GIVEAWAY ENDED
THE GOOD DAUGHTERS

BY JOYCE MAYNARD

MY REVIEW: 

THE GOOD DAUGHTERS by Joyce Maynard is the second of her books I have read and I really enjoyed it maybe even more than her earlier LABOR DAY. It is the kind of book you will want to read and not put down, so plan ahead. Although Ruth Plank and Dana Dickerson were born on the same day in the same hospital, that is just about all the girls have in common as far as their families and lifestyles go. 

Ruth is a good girl and grows up to be an artist with a deep artistic flair and imagination. Her home area is about the only thing she has ever known as she remained near home and family for most of her life. Dana, on the other hand is a scientist and her family were always on the move so her dream would be to have some place to permanently call home. That being said, Dana yearly spends time near Ruth, and their families get to know one another and the girls interact throughout their lives.

Although they are different in most every way, they both want to find out where they truly belong as they both have always felt they were different and didn't quite fit in where they were. One other thing they have in common is their love (albeit a different kind for each of them) for Ray, who happens to be Dana's older brother.

Maynard tells their story by alternating who is narrating every other chapter. The comparison is interesting as it followed them as young children to their adulthood. The girls both relate about times of happiness and sadness alike. Neither is close to their mother and although one comes from a large farm family and the other a largely dysfunctional one, they both have more in common then you might think. Their search for peace and their place in the world leads to a story that pulls you in and most importantly makes you care for these finely drawn characters. 

The story winds around and without giving much more away, leads readers to a satisfying conclusion that I am fairly sure you will figure out early on, or at least suspect. However, it doesn't make the read any less compelling as you want to follow along just to watch how the climax of the story does come together. THE GOOD DAUGHTERS makes for a good story that I thoroughly enjoyed and recommend.

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MEGAN AND MY FRIENDS 
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 2 COPIES OF THIS WONDERFUL
NEW BOOK TO GIVE AWAY.

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