Heartwood: A Novel Audiobook

" Excellent!! If you like Belva you will LOVE Heartwood! "

" Heartwood is a good book, average and typical of Belva Plain, but not quite as endearing as some of her earlier works. For the first 1/3 of the book, I was wondering if I would find a single character to like. Most of the characters were somewhat flat in the beginning, neither to be hated nor loved. The story line, in a nutshell, is one of old-fashioned, traditional values meeting the 20th century. Iris is a matriarch who despairs that her children are reaching tentacles into territory she finds alien, such as divorce, infidelity, and career women. I did enjoy the book and would recommend it, however there are others I wold recommend more highly. "

" After I got into this book I really liked it! I wouldn't say it wasn't one that I couldn't put down, but I can say I was anxious to find out what was going to happen to the characters. "

" Excellent book - excellent author. Haven't read one of her books in quite awhile. This kept my interest all the way through and by the end I didn't want it to end. Compelling family drama and very contemporary. "

" I have always enjoyed her books. We will miss her writing. "

" I have not read Belva Plain for decades, and I thoroughly enjoyed Heartwood, her final book. This is a story of a Jewish family centering on the women. Most of the story focuses on Laura and her quest to find herself. Iris, Laura's mother, must also learn many of life's lessons and know that love exists in many forms. The male characters in the book are undeveloped. Laura's husband seems like a weak, self-centered boy. His own mother admits Robbie's shortcomings. Theo, the patriarch, needed more detail. But in essence, the story highlights the many trials and joys that each family encounters. "

" This is Belva Plain's last book, published after her death in 2010. I have enjoyed all of her books. The story explores the gradual dissolution of a marriage and a complicated mother/daughter relationship. The book is a quick read with a predictable ending. "

" Low 3. This is an author that got me started on reading family sagas years and years ago so I wanted to read her final book. After writing so many books, her plots do get somewhat predictable. "

" This was my soap opera/beach book for the summer. It kept me entertained while I sewed and washed windows but was pretty shallow. "

" I love her books. This one points out we should never judge other people because something may come up in our own lives that will put a different take on them. "

" Have read all of Belva Plain's novels beginning with Evergreen....She definitely came full circle with Heartwood. She will definitely be missed. "

" Quick read but fit the bill after plowiong through Cutting for Stone and Fall of Giants. Light and enjoyable. "

" Love everything by Belva Plain, especially her books that incorporate characters and families from previous books. I feel like I actually know them. Too bad she passed away a year or two ago. Will just have to go back and reread all of her books instead. "

" Enjoyable. I have always like her books, and now this is her last as she passed away in 2010. "

" Belva Plain is a great writer, but she has definitely written better books. I am sad that this is her last book because she passed away. I kind of wonder if the story could have been improved if she had had more time to edit it... I noticed a lot of mistakes and things that didn't really make sense. "

" I remember now how much I liked Evergreen. I really wasn't interested in reading this book but my friend wanted me to read it. I am glad I did. I enjoyed the story of "Anna's" descendants and how her secret was revealed. "

" I have enjoyed all of Belva Plain's books, so far, and this is no exception. "

" Cute and heartwarming. A little boring, too. "

" I just didn't like it. "

" Not too bad a book, enjoyable to read but without any real surprises. "

" The first quarter of this book was pretty predictable--but then the signature Belva Plain twists and turns emerge to make another good read. "

" I Loved this book and will now reach out to more of Belva Plain's other novels. There were some unexpected turns in the book. "

" This was okay. Plain's later books never have the magic (for me) that her earlier ones do. Evergreen had characters that were layered and rich -- this book's characters were kind of flat. Does anyone really have sympathy for Robby? No, because he'd written as an unlikeable jerk. "

" Overwrought story, with the fully expected deus ex machina saving the character Laura from having to make a painful decision. "

" A doctor's life, covering about 50 years -- his family, the women he married, the children, his colleagues, his patients -- in the end, I think it was a sad read -- it was well written but I feel slightly depressed. I'm not sure about ever re-reading it. "

" Maybe the person you deraming of spending the rest of your life with is not destined to be with you, and you must learn to love the and accept the person destiny has chosen for you. "

" Usual theme, similar problems, well maybe I just thought that there's nothing special with how the writer wrote the story. "