Review by Booklist Review
Headed by Anna, the 112-year-old matriarch, five generations of Keller women live among the olive groves of Northern California. Because of their unique ability to live long, healthy lives, a researcher is studying their genetic makeup to discover the secrets of their longevity. As a result of the study, long-kept family secrets rise to the surface. More drama ensues when Erin, the youngest, arrives pregnant and in need of help, and Deb, Erin's mother, returns home after 20 years in prison for murdering her husband. Soon tensions rise, and old grudges reignite, resulting in unexpected turmoil. Santo paints a moving portrait of an extraordinary, yet flawed, family. Although in many ways the younger women benefit from the wisdom of the older generations, they experience a loss of autonomy from never truly taking charge of their families, causing each successive generation to be less grounded than the one before. An impressive debut that explores the importance of family, the destructiveness of secrets, and the ultimate liberation of the truth.--Price, Kerri Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Anna Keller's most ardent wish is to be the oldest person in the world. She's 112 and her chances are pretty good. In fact, five generations of Keller women (mother Anna, daughter Bets, granddaughter Callie, great-granddaughter Deb, and great-great-granddaughter Erin) live together in California's Sacramento Valley, and a geneticist is coming to study their longevity. Although the women appear ordinary, they defy the odds with their unusual life span, and each has secrets that both define and threaten to derail their idyllic existence. When Erin, the youngest Keller, arrives, pregnant and alone, at Hill House after being in Italy for two years, her unexpected return stirs up long-dormant feelings among the women and brings all their guilt, remorse, and secrets to the surface. Her mother, Deb, will be up for parole soon, and Erin is determined to help her secure her release from prison. VERDICT Santo's debut offers a compelling look at five strong women. While the geneticist's findings, which are interspersed throughout the book, could prove distracting to some readers, overall this solid novel will appeal to fans of women's fiction. [See Prepub Alert, 5/5/12; library marketing; 100,000-copy first printing.]-Cynthia A. Price, Francis Marion Univ. Lib., Florence, SC (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
