Title: The Beach Trees
Author: Karen White
Publisher: NAL Trade
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Paperback: 432 pages
ISBN: 978-0451233073
Genre: Fiction
From the Publisher:
From the time she was twelve, Julie Holt knew what a random tragedy can do to a family. At that tender age, her little sister disappeared-never to be found. It was a loss that slowly eroded the family bonds she once relied on. As an adult with a prestigious job in the arts, Julie meets a struggling artist who reminds her so much of her sister, she can’t help feeling protective. It is a friendship that begins a long and painful process of healing for Julie, leading her to a house on the Gulf Coast, ravaged by hurricane Katrina, and to stories of family that take her deep into the past.
My Review:
Told alternatingly between characters and between time periods, The Beach Trees by Karen White is a beautiful story of two women, Julie Holt, and Aimee, the great-grandmother to Beau, the son of Monica, who left a beach house (and son) to Julie upon her death. The setting is Biloxi, Mississippi where we learn of the destruction left behind by Hurricane Katrina and how that event touched so many lives through the eyes of the main characters. The story is as uplifting as it is heartbreaking, it is as mysterious as it is affirming and White expertly crafts the characters, all real and flawed in their own ways, while simultaneously transporting readers into the setting in nearly flawless descriptive language. I recommend The Beach Trees to readers looking for a heartwarming story of friendship, love and families with elements of intrigue, tragedy, loss, and redemption. The Beach Trees would make for an excellent book discussion choice.
After playing hooky one day in the seventh grade to read Gone With the Wind, Karen White knew she wanted to be a writer—or become Scarlett O’Hara. In spite of these aspirations, Karen pursued a degree in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, after leaving the business world, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a writer and wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. This book was nominated for the prestigious RITA award in 2001 in two separate categories. Her books have since been nominated for numerous national contests including another RITA, the Georgia Author of the Year Award and in 2008 won the National Readers’ Choice Award for Learning to Breathe.
Karen currently writes what she refers to as ‘grit lit’—southern women’s fiction—and has recently expanded her horizons into writing a mystery series set in Charleston. Her tenth novel, The Lost Hours, will be released in trade paperback by New American Library, a division of Penguin Publishing Group, in April 2009.
Karen hails from a long line of Southerners but spent most of her growing up years in London, England and is a graduate of the American School in London. She currently lives near Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and two teenaged children, and a spoiled Havanese dog (who appears in several of her books), Quincy. When not writing, she spends her time reading, singing, playing piano, chauffeuring children and avoiding cooking.
Further information about author Karen White may be found on her website.
For more reviews of the book, please follow the book tour.
I received an copy of The Beach Trees by Karen White from TLC Book Tours to be a part of this tour and offer my honest review of the book. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned book.
This looks intriguing, especially for the setting!
It was very well done Rebecca and I am glad I read it.
I have seen so many great reviews for this book. I like how the author brought in the destruction from Hurricane Katrina into the story. It is a great metaphor for rebuilding not only a home but a relationship. I will be putting this on my summer reading wish list! Great review!
Exactly. Enjoy the book, I know I did.
As a fan of Karen’s books, I am looking forward to this one. It is on my stacks waiting for me!
I think it was the first one of her books I had read and it was wonderful.
I received this book last week, and I’m eagerly anticipating my journey through it. I first ventured into Karen White’s The House on Tradd Street, followed by On Folly Beach. I loved Falling Home, soon after. And then discovered The Lost Hours. Her characters, her settings, and the timely issues woven into her novels have kept me coming back for each new book. Thanks for sharing.
I will look into her other books, I truly enjoyed this one.
I’m really looking forward to reading this one!! I have enjoyed all of her books that I’ve read to-date!!
It was really good and I look forward to her other books.
Still trying to get the earlier books! this sounds very good also.
I have not read her earlier books, but I will.
This really does sound like a beautiful book! I am really looking forward to reading it!
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on the book.
This one sounds really interesting!
The Beach Trees was splendid!
I have yet to read a book that incorporates Hurricane Katrina into the story. This one sounds like a great read for a beach weekend – I’ll definitely pack it for my next trip.
This was a very good book and not at all light and fluffy.