**spoiler alert** Ms Hilderbrand’s ability to capture the complex contradiction of human emotion is one of the reasons I enjoy her books. If one has s**spoiler alert** Ms Hilderbrand’s ability to capture the complex contradiction of human emotion is one of the reasons I enjoy her books. If one has spent some time on the planet, and experienced hardships vs a cookie-cutter life then they can understand that many times our options aren’t walled off from one another. Emotions seep through those walls. Good and evil aren’t always the different rooms we hope they will be. Murder & stealing are pretty easy to avoid for most people; but they aren’t accompanied by the compelling longings of the heart when love is involved. A majority of us experience some conflict & regret during our lives. For Clendenin, he has to live missing all the joy of his child’s life before she is an adult. That’s a brutality of choices he made at a time when our brains aren’t fully formed. . Yet, he suffers the self-loathing of the choices, daily. The balm is to once again have the all-acceptance of his one true love. To have the redemption of knowing Agnes throughout the rest of his life. Yet in the end, even though he was given his dream job & he gets to be a father- those gifts can never patch the grief in his soul.
To those who feel life is simplistic, I suppose they are lucky; for the rest of us that’s just not the reality. Also, I have to wonder about readers who cast their personal morals onto fictional characters. Reading exposes us to all types of people from antiquity to present. If we didn’t read about these folks then we would really be missing out- both on the history of humanity and what can be learned from it. Ethics that we apply to our choices has little to do with individuals in imaginary stories. Were this true, then no one would read fairy tales about the wicked stepsisters, the wolf lying await for a red cloaked little girl or the redeeming salvation of a fairy godmother.
The reality of experience is contradiction and how we navigate it. This is the stuff The Matchmaker is made from. To capture that experience on paper (she writes on legal pads) is Elin Hilderbrand’s gift....more
I thought I was reading an actual biography, but when I realized this was a work of fiction I was no longer interested. What bothers me is not knowingI thought I was reading an actual biography, but when I realized this was a work of fiction I was no longer interested. What bothers me is not knowing what is real and what isn’t. If it’s not an actual biography then how do I know what is true and which parts are created by the author? That disappointed me. If anyone can suggest a biography of Ms. McDaniels, I’d love to read more about her. What an awful time she went through, post GWTW. Her work is immortalized through the film, and for that, I’m thankful. ...more
I’ve read several of Ms Hilderbrand’s books, and I think this is the best one! I didn’t want it to end- or at least I only wanted it to end one way anI’ve read several of Ms Hilderbrand’s books, and I think this is the best one! I didn’t want it to end- or at least I only wanted it to end one way and it probably wouldn’t have ended that way. Some people may think they know what happened after the last page of the book, but I prefer to leave it open. I realize not every Hilderbrand fan will agree with me, and that’s ok. It’s certainly not reality; but it’s definitely what I needed it to be right now. Thank you Ms Hilderbrand - for taking me away from the harsh, bright light of reality that is April 2025. Namaste....more
So far this seems like an excellent book and so much of it applies to me and my one parent who abused me. However, I didn’t finish it because my bioloSo far this seems like an excellent book and so much of it applies to me and my one parent who abused me. However, I didn’t finish it because my biological father was a 5 star narcissist and I think a book re narcissists as parents would serve me better at this time. I do think he was emotionally immature, for sure- he got stuck somewhere. However his deal with me wasn’t as much about the immaturity as was the narcissist and abuser. ...more
Just finished my first Elin Hilderbrand; but it won’t be my last- wow! This was such a fun & relaxing book. I’ve never been much into the Romance genrJust finished my first Elin Hilderbrand; but it won’t be my last- wow! This was such a fun & relaxing book. I’ve never been much into the Romance genre, but I truly believe Ms Hilderbrand elevates it! No steamy descriptions of throbbing body parts with the roaring fire shining onto the couple. Not cliched at all. The characters are realistic. I’m so glad this audiobook was available at my public library. It was fortuitous it was available without a wait. That’s why I selected it- that and I loved the reader’s voice from the sample & the description sounded interesting. Starting my next one right now! ...more
This really isn’t my type of book, but it was interesting. What an engaging tale he spun! I’m sure to some people it was fantastic! I’m glad I read itThis really isn’t my type of book, but it was interesting. What an engaging tale he spun! I’m sure to some people it was fantastic! I’m glad I read it, but I doubt I’ll read any more of his books since I’m not very fond of this genre. ...more
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