On a farm in western Missouri, during the first half of the twentieth century, Matthew and Callie Soames create a life for themselves and raise four headstrong daughters. Jessica will break their hearts. Leonie will fall in love with the wrong man. Mary Jo will escape to New York. And wild child Mathy's fate will be the family's greatest tragedy.
Over the decades they will love, deceive, comfort, forgive - and, ultimately, they will come to cherish all the more fiercely the bonds of love that hold the family together.
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"What wonderful company The Moonflower Vine is! This novel, whose setting is rural Missouri in the early 20th Century, seems kind of old-fashioned at first, and yet, families today have many similar joys and challenges to those of the Soames family and their four daughters. Matthew, the father, is both a farmer and a teacher in a small country school. He and his wife Calllie watch as their girls grow up to make choices that do not always please them, just as today. This book is satisfying because it is well-written and contains universal themes--love of family and of the land, mistaken choices, forgiveness, and grace. The tone of the book is much like that of To Kill a Mockingbird. Highly recommended by Jane Smiley and me!" — Roberta (5 out of 5 stars)
"What wonderful company The Moonflower Vine is! This novel, whose setting is rural Missouri in the early 20th Century, seems kind of old-fashioned at first, and yet, families today have many similar joys and challenges to those of the Soames family and their four daughters. Matthew, the father, is both a farmer and a teacher in a small country school. He and his wife Calllie watch as their girls grow up to make choices that do not always please them, just as today. This book is satisfying because it is well-written and contains universal themes--love of family and of the land, mistaken choices, forgiveness, and grace. The tone of the book is much like that of To Kill a Mockingbird. Highly recommended by Jane Smiley and me!"
" A true classic, beautifully written with compelling characters you won't want to part with. If you like 'A Thousand Acres,' (which I actually loved even more than this) you'll love this too. "
" Lovely book! Beautifully written. Reminded me of the wonderful novels I read in high school of that same generation. I've recommended it to everybody. I am looking forward to reading her recently discovered novel Clair de Lune. "
" Will go on my Favorite Books All Time List. Best book I have read this year. "
" I particularly enjoyed the way this story was told, from each character's point of view. The descriptive passages were vibrant and nearly tangible. I was sad to learn that this was her only published work. Even so, a worthy legacy! "
" This book was written in the early 60's and was Carleton's only novel. I read it because it was highly recommended by Jane Smiley as helping her with her writing. Each sister tells the story from her point of view. There is a twist at the end (and I can usually spot "surpises") that I did not see coming so please don't read the last few pages before reading the book. "
" Good writing, and I was hooked, but got bogged down in this book. I finally forced myself to finish it. Not for the modern reader, but good material for literary snobs. "
" I really enjoyed this including the little shocker at the end. Great story. "
" This was the best book I have read in years. Quiet and epic at once. I can not believe this book hasn't been more widely read. Excellent character development and such a time piece. "
" Much food for thought in this well-written novel about a family on a Missouri farm beginning in the 1930s. Religion, sin, guilt and punishment are prominent themes, as is progress. "
" A classic now in reprint that I missed the first time around "
" I'm totally hooked. Hate to put it down! "
" Excellent book. Out of the ordinary. "
" Jetta Carleton was a good friend of Laura Beachy's grandmother and a bridesmaid in her wedding! Book Club was held at Bishop Spencer Place so Laura's grandma could tell us about her. Lovely!! "
" The description says it all.....This is a rediscovered American classic novel. Tremendous, I loved it. "
" Really quite a good book. Beautiful writing. "
" Amazing book. I'd like to read it again and perhaps even in a reading group, if I ever have the time. The book is timeless. The book was written in 1962 (?) and isn't dated or irrelevant. I loved it. "
" Wish there were more books to continue the story "
" This book kept my attention, but I didn't connect with it emotionally. The characters weren't well developed, and I found it hard to identify with any of them, especially Matthew, who I didn't care for. "
" The story of one family, told from different points of view, in rural Missouri early in the century. The book was a joy to have to read each night, though it wasn't terribly intellectually challenging. "
Natalie Ross is an actress and voice-over artist whose acting credits include multiple appearances in the television series All My Children, among others. She is an AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator.
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