I just finished reading Surprise Packages, the third book in the series “The Company of Good Women.” I really enjoyed the first two books and looked forward to the third book coming out. It had been at least a year since I’d read the second book, so I was a little nervous about remembering some of the characters and being able to catch up on events. I felt the authors did a good job in reviewing those things as a reminder of things I had forgotten.
The story continues where it left off in the second book. The three women continue their friendship through e-mails and occasional personal visits. Their lives change as they experience their children leaving home, getting married and having children of their own. They experience health problems, challenges with children and many other issues of the times. The trials they face are those that women of today face and I could relate to them. They struggled with choices their children made, made it through Y2K and 9/11. They shared their experiences with each other, and loved and encouraged each other through it all.
Although there were moments where I wished I had re-read the other two books before I read this one, it didn’t take long to get caught up and my memory refreshed. I enjoyed reading this book and found myself picking it back up as soon as I could to find out what would happen next with these three very unique women. It wasn’t just a story to enjoy, but it made me think. There were issues of choices and consequences and hidden secrets. How did these things relate to my own life and what would I do in their situations? How can I keep myself from getting in a similar situation? I found it an interesting story and would recommend it to others.
Sounds like a good book!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shari! What a great review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving a literary nod in our direction. Sometimes Deenie pops in to say, "hello." Although I'm glad the series is wrapped up, I miss the constant companionship of those interesting characters.
ReplyDeleteNancy Anderson
A ditto to Nancy and Tristi's thanks, Shari.
ReplyDeleteRegarding 9/11: Nancy, Lael and I had originally planned to have the book span the years 1975-2000, but we shifted to 1980-2005 just so we could refer to the Twin Towers.
The feelings the characters had at being so far from home when that happened mirrored Lael's feelings--she was in St. Petersburg on that date, getting ready for her flight back to the U.S. Imagine seeing the images on TV and having to rely on someone to translate the newscast. And not knowing when you were going to get home! (Her return flight was cancelled.)
It was also interesting to be reminded of how even such a devastating event gradually fades into the background as we deal with everyday life. It's a "This too shall pass" kind of recognition.