Gail Anderson-DargatzRezensionen

I absolutely love the ending of this book. I love that everyone got the ending they deserved.

Don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that I will definitely read more of Gail Anderson-Dargatz's novels in the future.

I don't know why, but I had it in my head that this was a fun, light-hearted book, sort of in the way that [b:Amphibian|6452033|Amphibian|Carla Gunn|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328759365s/6452033.jpg|6642202] by [a:Carla Gunn|2922903|Carla Gunn|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1306197890p2/2922903.jpg] is. See, I tend to quickly read summaries of books, decide if it's of interest, and then add it to my "to read" list. I never again look at what the book is supposed to be about so that nothing is given away.

It must have been the title and the cover that made me think this book was entertaining. The content is way too heavy to be considered "light-hearted."

(Stop reading here if you want "nothing given away".)

Beth is a farmer's daughter to a poor family in rural country during WWII. They're so rural and back-country that it might as well be 100 years ago. Her father went crazy about a year prior and is prone to fly into rages unexpectedly. Her mother is part submissive, part willfully blind to the abuse he gives his family, the daughter in particular. The older brother is mostly "normal" until you find out he's got a thing for cows. Beth drops out of school after being stripped and tormented by the other kids. Even when she confesses to her mother what happened, her mother refuses to believe it "they're nice kids, they'd never do that." So Beth finds friendship with a local biracial Aboriginal girl and the two of them explore their sexuality together.
All the while, there's another local "crazy man" who's been possessed by the trickster Coyote and has a hunger for young children. Beth is haunted and stalked by Coyote.

It's all very dark and other-worldly. Not at all whimsical and fun. The writing captivated me and compelled me to keep reading, but the storyline also caused me some stress because of all the awfulness that went on.

Great Canadian literature, but don't let the cover & title fool you!

I received this book as a Librarything-giveaway. this novelette was simply written and a page turner. I read it in just over an hour. The language and vocabulary are quite simple and the chapters short so this will appeal to non-readers. The plot is riveting and the theme interesting. I will be recommending it to my 17 year old son who is not a big reader, but I think this will appeal to him

Set on a farm near a reserve in the interior of British Columbia during WWII, this is fifteen-year-old Beth Weeks' coming-of-age story. Her father was injured in the first war, presumably intended as an explanation of his brutish behaviour, but as this would have happened more than twenty years earlier I'm more inclined to think that it is his true nature. There is a large cast of characters, few particularly likeable, and most are in conflict with each other. While I liked Beth's mother and her scrapbook of collected recipes and household tips from which the title comes, I found the rest of the characters were overwhelmed by aberrants of one kind or another. Anderson-Dargatz had a choice of writing nostalgic memories of growing up in a farming community mid-century with the tragedies and sad occurences of normal life, but instead emphasized a dismal story of abuse, violence, misogyny and conflict. And despite some good writing, there was little sense of place. Disappointing.

I enjoyed the author’s previous books, especially The Cure for Death by Lightning and A Recipe for Bees, but I was disappointed with this domestic thriller.

Kira is engaged to Aaron, an older, financially successful man. She has a good life with a daughter Evie and a nice house. Her only problems are an anxious teen step-daughter Olive and Madison, Aaron’s second wife who is stalking Kira and Olive. Madison’s erratic behaviour has the emotionally fragile Kira desperately trying to protect her family. She flees and takes Evie and Olive to Manitoulin Island where she spent her youth and owns a cottage.

A major problem is that events make little sense. After having a child, Kira is worried about announcing her engagement with the man who is presumed to be the child’s father? Olive’s behaviour in Little Current stretches credulity. And such an anxious teen would just run into the bush? Kira, who has lived in the city for years, has a basic outdoor survival kit with her? A mother would leave her infant alone in the truck, not once but several times?! Someone breaks a window to get into a building and then locks the door afterwards?

Being familiar with Manitoulin Island, I loved the setting. The dark and stormy night cliché, however, I could have done without. It is so obviously used to create suspense, but it is so contrived. The flashbacks to Kira’s childhood when her mother poisoned Kira’s relationship with her father are so obviously a parallel to what is happening to Olive – I can picture the storyboard here.

Imagery is also forced and unnatural: “Spiderwebs, covered in dew and catching the low sun, were suddenly visible in the long, uncut grass of the yard, hundreds of them, thousands of them. They shimmered, vibrating in the morning breeze. Until now, I’d had no idea they were there – these traps, all these fucking traps” and “the heavy birds lifted into the air, flying so low as they passed that I could not only hear the whistling of their wings, but feel the rush of air dislocated by their labored flight.” And why the American spelling?

The characters are difficult to like or care about. Kira, for instance, is so scattered and reckless. Everyone seems shallow. The fact that more than one person blames problems on a difficult childhood suggests a general lack of maturity. The motivation of the villain for all behaviour is fear of abandonment?

The author’s attempt to write a thriller is not successful. The result is trite, contrived, and predictable. This seems a degradation of her writing skills.

Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).½

I learned about tiny homes! Cute quick read but interesting to know more about the tiny home movement. Made me take a closer look at them and am hooked!

A little gem of a book. Quite an interesting read. Creativity and resilience in action in this book. The story was quite compelling and page turning.

Short and sweet. When you are faced with a divorce, raising two daughters and trying to find affordable housing, going back to basics is what your life needs. A feel good story .

I was really hoping for more detail about tiny houses but the story focuses on the desperation of a mother caught in a seemingly un-winnable situation when she finds herself and her daughters facing homelessness. Until everything conveniently falls into place, of course. The author hand-waves away some issues that, in real life, would be a constant worry for these characters. Makes a nice point about how having "stuff" actually gets in the way of our relationships with each other but treats the real problems facing the main character too superficially.

This slim book tells the story of a divorced young mother and her quest to find appropriate housing for her daughters. The solution, since she is a skilled carpenter, is building her own "tiny house" on borrowed property. The book is quick and easy reading (an Orca Publishers specialty). There is lots of dialog, familiar mother-daughter disputes, and a touch of romance, but I had wished for more information about the house-building process.

Kann mich nicht erinnern ob es wirklich der Inhalt war der mir nicht gefiel, oder die Tatsache es handelt sich hier um die Übersetzung.

I appreciate the size of this story. So many authors can be long-winded when it isn't necessary. This was a very sweet, quick read. Thankfully I cannot relate to the content but I empathize with her struggle being without a partner, parent, and distant from siblings.

A year and a few months after my mom’s death, I’m finally able to read this book about a woman coping with her mother’s death. It’s also only a short time before I leave to visit my brother, whom I haven’t seen since before our mom’s death - and this story is about brothers and sisters, too.

This story was short and sweet and really focused on the roles we play in a family, as well as how important it is to look at our family members for who they are NOW vs when we were young.

Interesting story of the new "rage" of the Tiny House market. Well written and explains some of the hardships of life with the high cost of living.

This tiny book had a long set-up about building a tiny house for a single mother and her two young daughters. Unfortunately, that rather long set-up was followed by what seemed to be a very rushed ending that revealed nothing at all of the experience of constructing one of the little houses. I'm not even sure what age group this is aimed at, but I have a feeling that just about any age group will be equally bored by this one. There's just not enough flesh on the bone to make this one seem at all real.

I've seen a few of the tiny house shows so I was intrigued by this book. I didn't know it would be a tiny book, but it seems to fit. I thought there would be more about the building of the tiny house, but I liked the story okay.½

I had high hopes for this novella. Unfortunately the story was so scarce as to be barely there. Instead it read more as a narrative promotional for the tiny house movement. I love tiny houses but I didn't enjoy having the characters sell me on the benefits of tiny houses. I would have liked to see more character development. Sadie's daughter, Zoe, was the most interesting person in the story with her brattiness and self centered teenage manners. The rest of the names that floated around were little more than stereotypes - the irascible boss, the sour potential land lady, the ever loyal best friend, the selfish jerk ex husband, the patient potential new boyfriend. It was disappointing.

A quick read, set in modern times with themes surrounding divorce, housing shortages, women in nontraditional trades employment, and tiny houses. I enjoyed reading it. I would have recommended it to my 6th grade students when I was their teacher. I think the publisher recommends it for older students but I think Middle Schoolers could appreciate it.

3.5 Stars - No Return Address is a sweet and short albeit somewhat superficial read. A mum dies, a daughter is distraught and one year later she receives a mysterious package from HER MOTHER. It's a lesson in opening your heart and giving of yourself. It's a lesson in that there is more, much more than what YOU see.
This book, and other 'rapid reads' are perfect for the busy woman, a plane trip or a train ride!

I’ve read two of Orca Book Publishers “Rapid Reads” and each book is just a bit longer than a short story, a little over a hundred pages, which makes it perfect for traveling or a few quite moments when you want to relax and get into a good story.
The author drew me in quickly with her tale about an adult daughter who receives a package from her mother on the anniversary of her mother’s death. No knows where it came from, but inside are some directions from her mother to do something, and following her mothers directions could change her life depending on the choices she makes. I related to the characters, and enjoyed reading No Return Address so much that I’m giving it 4 little stars. It can be read by teens, YA, and the rest of us.

A short but sweet novella that deals with family, a past relationship, friendship, and the loss of a loved one. If you are looking for a heartwarming quick read this is the book to pick up.

This was a cute novella. Everyone wishes they could communicate with a loved one once they are gone. This story brings that little wish to Rhonda. On the one year anniversary of her mother's passing, she receives a package/letter from her mom. From there she re ignites lost relationships and strengthens a friendship, even from the grave Mom knows best

This book is an adult fiction short novel from the "Rapid Reads" series. The story is told in a simple, straightforward, chronological manner and moves briskly toward a logical and satisfying end. The story revolves around a package from a mother, mailed to her daughter; the kicker is, Mom died a year ago. This incident sets off a chain of actions and reactions that affect the lives of several people in a positive manner. The book contained a preview of another story which I would also enjoy reading!

This book is very well written and has some great moments but it is pretty bleak and I need a happy book now!I loved the descriptions of day-to-day life on the farm and the view of life in town as well. I enjoyed the inclusion of Native lore and magical realism very much as it felt true to the reality of having Native neighbors, friends and farmhands. I had previously read [b:Turtle Valley|2164768|Turtle Valley|Gail Anderson-Dargatz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320500180s/2164768.jpg|4435620], not knowing that is a "sort-of sequel" and wish I had known that beforehand and had it to read now as I don't remember it well and want to know what happens to the characters.

*SPOILER ALERT* -I am conflicted by the abuse in the book as I feel the book could have been just as good without (some of) it and I am finding that there is so much of it in literature lately that I am becoming desensitized to it - and I don't like that feeling. While I am very aware it is a horrific and prevalent problem, for me it is starting to feel like a writing cliché. I hate even writing this, but it is getting to the point where I will avoid books where this is part of the plot.

This was a short novella . It's a nice easy story to read . But I was a little bored by it . I've heard that her full length novels are better.