Review of A Walk Through the Grapes
Posted: 16 Jun 2024, 04:39
[Following is a volunteer review of "A Walk Through the Grapes" by David Jackson.]
David Jackson recounts his vintage tale of Jace Grazer, a man who learned the hard way that you can take the boy out of the vineyard, but you can't take the vineyard out of the boy. Home again in Willowcreek after a two-year hiatus, Jace hoped for an effortless homecoming, not a tangle with a family drama stickier than grape jelly. Oliver is more like a sour grape than a neighbour, and Jace keeps his hands full when he has enough to deal with learning the ropes of family life. Amidst all the grapevine gossip and vineyard shenanigans, Jace discovers that the only way to make wine from sour grapes is with a lot of patience and lightheartedness. This is a novel that dwells on emotional themes like family, responsibility, reunion, and all the attendant complexities of homecoming.
I love the way the book gets into the tragedy in the family. The accident that takes place is not just a sudden blow; it acts as the catalyst for the bomb of hidden truths and emotions that challenge the bonds that kind of flimsily hold this family together. It reminds me that life can be fleeting, and the consequences for each and every moment in time can be pain, guilt, and hidden truths. It forces the characters in the novel to face a painful yet healing journey.
I also like that while reading the book, the storyline makes me ask, "How will this all end up?" It gave me a believable story of a family determining its way amidst the confusion and chaos they may not be able to come out of. This book storyline teaches everyone who can lay hands on it to face the truth, however hard it is because you can never start overcoming your challenge until the reality of the situation dawns on you. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
I also do not dislike A Walk Through the Grapes because it portrays dysfunctional family relationships in a pleasing way. The author did well in creating Jace's relationships with his family members. From a personal point of view, the interpersonal relationships are realistic and believable, thus describing the issues and providing insight into the real-life relationships of family members. The rites of passage, like falling out with his father and the quest to win back his sister, are very real. That lends richness and emotional weight to what otherwise would have been a pretty simple story. Indeed, the treatment of these family issues in the book was delightful and served only to enhance the realistic feel and deep nature of the story that it told.
I gave this book a favourable 5 out of 5 stars. It's a complex yet raw portrayal of family and homecoming, but more importantly, it's about the skeletons that truly do rattle the closet. These characters are real and relatable, and their struggles felt authentic to me, so it was hard to put them down. It is recommended to anyone who enjoys good family drama.
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A Walk Through the Grapes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
David Jackson recounts his vintage tale of Jace Grazer, a man who learned the hard way that you can take the boy out of the vineyard, but you can't take the vineyard out of the boy. Home again in Willowcreek after a two-year hiatus, Jace hoped for an effortless homecoming, not a tangle with a family drama stickier than grape jelly. Oliver is more like a sour grape than a neighbour, and Jace keeps his hands full when he has enough to deal with learning the ropes of family life. Amidst all the grapevine gossip and vineyard shenanigans, Jace discovers that the only way to make wine from sour grapes is with a lot of patience and lightheartedness. This is a novel that dwells on emotional themes like family, responsibility, reunion, and all the attendant complexities of homecoming.
I love the way the book gets into the tragedy in the family. The accident that takes place is not just a sudden blow; it acts as the catalyst for the bomb of hidden truths and emotions that challenge the bonds that kind of flimsily hold this family together. It reminds me that life can be fleeting, and the consequences for each and every moment in time can be pain, guilt, and hidden truths. It forces the characters in the novel to face a painful yet healing journey.
I also like that while reading the book, the storyline makes me ask, "How will this all end up?" It gave me a believable story of a family determining its way amidst the confusion and chaos they may not be able to come out of. This book storyline teaches everyone who can lay hands on it to face the truth, however hard it is because you can never start overcoming your challenge until the reality of the situation dawns on you. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
I also do not dislike A Walk Through the Grapes because it portrays dysfunctional family relationships in a pleasing way. The author did well in creating Jace's relationships with his family members. From a personal point of view, the interpersonal relationships are realistic and believable, thus describing the issues and providing insight into the real-life relationships of family members. The rites of passage, like falling out with his father and the quest to win back his sister, are very real. That lends richness and emotional weight to what otherwise would have been a pretty simple story. Indeed, the treatment of these family issues in the book was delightful and served only to enhance the realistic feel and deep nature of the story that it told.
I gave this book a favourable 5 out of 5 stars. It's a complex yet raw portrayal of family and homecoming, but more importantly, it's about the skeletons that truly do rattle the closet. These characters are real and relatable, and their struggles felt authentic to me, so it was hard to put them down. It is recommended to anyone who enjoys good family drama.
******
A Walk Through the Grapes
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon