Friday, June 13, 2014

A Long Time Gone by Karen White


Mothers staying, mothers leaving, daughters staying, daughters leaving.

When Vivian Walker returns after nine years, she happens upon the scene of an uprooted tree with human bones exposed.  She also finds her mother who is in the early stages of dementia.  Whose bones could they be?  Why did the skeleton have half of a necklace that when complete would say:  I Love You Forever.

Could Mathilda, the 104-year-old servant know the answer about the necklace? That necklace and its saying played a major part in the secret that had been kept all these years and a secret that no one really knew was a secret except one person.


A LONG TIME GONE is set in Mississippi and has that Southern charm along with Southern traditions and genuine, believable​ characters.  You will meet the women of the Walker family as each chapter is headed with one of the women's stories being told.  


The book moves back and forth ​from 1923 to 2013 following the Walker women with their secrets and their reasons for leaving and coming back to their families. 


You will love Chole; you will feel sorry for Vivian, and you will wonder what made Carol Lynn leave her children all those years ago and then return at random times and leave again.  The reason is quite interesting.

Ms. White again has written a beautiful family saga with emphasis on mothers and daughters.  A LONG TIME GONE had wonderful descriptions of characters, scenes, and feelings as well as reminding all of us that family is everything.


​I enjoyed A LONG TIME GONE because I like reading about Southern-style living and ​reading about families and the secrets they have carried through the years. 

The secret and the bones found is one of the major themes and a theme that has a great twist.  As the mystery of those buried bones became unraveled, the story took on an even better turn. 5/5


​I received this book free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.​


Have you read A LONG TIME GONE?  I would love to know what you think.

13 comments:

  1. Absolutely loved this book.

    Great read as all of Karen White's books.

    ENJOY if you read it, and let me know what you think.

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  2. Haven't read this one but would certainly like to.

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  3. I thoroughly enjoy Karen White's books...and this one is on my list.

    I love the Southern elements...and the mystical aspects, too. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. The lovely Karen White came to see me at one of my book events and gave me a signed copy of A LONG TIME GONE before it was released. Oh, how I loved this book!

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  5. Oh Mystica, I hope you do get to read it.

    It was wonderful.

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  6. You will love it, Laurel. As you can see I did. :)

    Thanks for stopping.


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  7. Oh how I loved the book too, Beth.

    Her books are always good. And yours are too of course.

    Thanks for stopping, Beth.

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  8. Wonderful review Elizabeth! I recently read this book and enjoyed it too.

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  9. THANK YOU, Pat.

    I am glad you enjoyed it too. Have you read any of her other books?

    They are wonderful as well.

    THANKS for stopping.

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  10. This sounds like a fantastic read although I can't imagine living to 104. Great review Elizabeth.

    http://cleoptralovesbooks.wordpress.com

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  11. Hi Elizabeth,

    Karen White is another new to me author, so I had great fun checking out her site, although she is an author whose work you seem to know quite well and obviously enjoy reading.

    I discovered that she actually comes from the US South, so has written about an area and its people, which she knows all too well. I generally find that books written by authors who have a good knowledge of their subject, can give their work much more depth and feeling, so I have added 'A Long Time Gone' to my list.

    As 'Cleo' pointed out in her comment however, the thought that I might live to be 104 is a terrifying one and not something which I even want to contemplate!

    Yourself and the many others who have given this book some excellent ratings and reviews, obviously enjoyed reading it, so thanks for the recommendation.

    Yvonne.

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  12. Thank you for stopping, Yvonne.

    I always enjoy your comments. They are always so thorough and interesting.

    Have a wonderful day.

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  13. Thanks for stopping, Cleo.

    I agree. Living to 104 would present a challenge unless you were in good health. :)

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