Official Review: Late Harvest Green by Lois Requist

[Kelebogile Mbangi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Late Harvest Green" by Lois Requist.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Late Harvest Green is one of the most engrossing historical fiction books that I have ever read! Its author, Lois Requist, narrates the tale of an Idaho farm family spanning from 1955 to 1998. However, we go even further back in time through the main character's memories. Themes include loss, love, family relations, and war.

Late Harvest Green opens with a tragic loss. At just 47 years of age, Denver Johnson has lost his wife, the love of his life. He has watched her spirit gradually whither away for years now. The death of their son, who was off at war, was too great a loss for her. Now, she has passed away, leaving his life in shards. Noreen, a waitress at the local cafe, takes a keen interest in him and volunteers to come over on her days off to help him around the house. She gives Denver the nudge he needs to pick those broken shards up and piece them back together.

The characters are so well fleshed out that it is evident that the author of Late Harvest Green is someone who has lived life and gained experience and insights into human behaviour and psychology. The characters have compelling backstories and as the story unfolds, we see their personalities evolve, some for the better and some for the worse. My favourite character had to be Noreen. She is unassuming and giving. Throughout childhood, her mother had engrained in her the idea that she is a C-plus person, nothing special, and that she would only ever get what she needed by "pulling, tugging, and insisting upon it." As I got to know Noreen better through the pages of this skilfully written book, I came to believe that Noreen was instead an A-plus person. Perhaps, the searing C-plus rating given to her by her mother had given her the necessary push and drive to be the best she could be. You see, I loved the way this book made me stop and wonder - wonder about love, loss, relationships, and the like.

I love that Late Harvest Green sketches out how ordinary people throughout the 20th Century reacted to inventions, changes in social attitudes and thinking, and changes to their world in general. A few examples was Denver adapting to shop-bought cottage cheese after having eaten homemade cottage cheese all his life, his reaction to the invention of radio, then years later to TV.

I could go on and on about all the things I loved about this book. Instead, I'll simply give you my rating. I believe this stellar historical fiction book deserves nothing less than 4 out of 4 stars. Aside from its great content, it has been immaculately edited. If you enjoy steadily paced books that involve your emotions, and if you love historical fiction books that give you the layman's perspective then Late Harvest Green is for you!

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Late Harvest Green
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[kandscreeley]

Interesting. So many of us are just used to these inventions; we don't think about what it would be like when they first came out. It sounds like this story would be quite educational and very entertaining. Glad the characters are so well done. Thanks for the information!

[FOOD AND HOUSING]

This book is worth four stars because the author seen how people are when they go through changes. That changed can altar a peson social and emotional responses. And having home remdies can revise and environment.

[HRichards]

Sounds interesting. I'm generally not interested in books from this time period, but the write up intrigues me.