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Courtney Miller Santo's compelling and evocative debut novel captures the joys and sorrows of family—the love, secrets, disappointments, jealousies, and forgiveness that tie generations to one another
Meet the Keller family, five generations of firstborn women living together in the same house on a secluded olive grove in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. Anna, the family matriarch, is 112 and determined to become the oldest person in the world. Strong in mind and firm in body, she rules Hill House, the family home she shares with her daughter Bets, granddaughter Callie, great-granddaughter Deb, and great-great-granddaughter Erin.
While the Keller women are bound by blood, living together has not always been easy. And it is about to become more complicated now that Erin, the youngest, is back, alone and pregnant, after two years abroad with an opera company. Her return and the arrival of a geneticist who has come to study the family's unusual longevity ignites explosive emotions that these women have kept buried and uncovers revelations that will shake them all to their roots.
Anonymous
Posted August 14, 2012
I had read the free excerpt of this book and decided to buy the full length version. It was very well written, proof read and edited, which was very nice. Many down loadable books are so bad about erratta, it becomes annoying. I was going to write about the plot, but this story is so delightfully complex and the lives of the multi generational women so tightly inter- woven, it was difficult to write about, without giving away the best parts of each life. Mim, Anna, Elizabeth, Calliope, Deborah, Erin and Erin's child, each held thier secrets and suffered love, loss, fear, disappointment and anger, while always searching for the special something each human looks for, to prove they have worth and purpose, a reason for being created. This book me laugh, cry and celebrate along with this diverse group of women, who all lived in the same house most of their lives. I loved this book. I think there is a second one and I am going to purchase it as well. This one, I archived for a reread.
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17 out of 17 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.prsnyder67
Posted August 17, 2012
The Roots of the Olive Tree is an extraordinary book that revolves
around the lives of five generations of the Keller family. The author
takes us through their past and present lives with well-developed
characters and a solid plot line that catches your attention and keeps
you reading, even when you need to put the book down. The use of the
Olive roots and the strength of a family bond is a beautiful metaphor
and used brilliantly in the story. Courtney Miller Santo has written a
unique and eloquent story and I would recommend this read to any genre
of reader. This is a moderate paced book, however, it keeps you
wanting more and the desire to know what is to come next.
7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 18, 2012
Overall a good book. A little hard to follow at times, but once I realized the woman's names were alphabetical by age, it got easier to keep track of who was who. Sometimes it felt like the author would get ahead of herself,I would be confused, but then she would explain a few sentences later.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 19, 2012
I Also Recommend:
I am so glad that I discovered this book. The characters have great
personalities and they keep the story interesting.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 9, 2013
I would have given 5 stars but i dont feel like the story was finished. Left a too many loose ends.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 11, 2013
"Very good!" She said, sranding up and shaking Primrosepaw off gently. "You can use being small to your advsntage, and you've obviously got that down! Have you ever learned tree fighting?" Lilybreeze
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted September 30, 2012
Very detailed characters. I loved the interaction between the five generations. Kept me interested as little family secrets kept cropping up until the very end. Good book!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 14, 2012
THIS BOOK WAS INTERESTING IN SUBJECT MATTER. THE AUTHOR HAS A RICH IMAGINATION, THE STORY MOVED ALONG NICELY, BUT I FELT IT SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE OF A NON FICTION FEEL TO IT DUE TO THE SUBJECT MATTER. IT WAS JUST A BIT SYRUPY AND SOAP OPERAISH FOR MY TASTE. THE ENDING GAVE ME THE IDEA THERE COULD BE A SEQUEL. HAVING LIVED IN CALIFORNIA I DID ENJOY THE STORIES OF THE OLIVE TREES AND SOME OF THE FACTOIDS TO MAKING OLIVE OIL. THE TREES ARE QUITE BEAUTIFUL IN A NON TRADITIONAL WAY.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Roots of The Olive Tree by Courtney Miller Santo I was first attracted
to this book because of the name, olive tree in the title. Coming from a
family of nurserymen this would be right up my alley. Love the proverbs
and how they are useful to the olive pickers. This is a story about 5
generations of women and there is a geneticist coming to find out why
they live so long. He hopes to find out all their secrets. Love hearing
about the olive trees, nursery/grafting and why their products are so
useful. Picking olives sounds to me like what knitting does for me, very
calming. Such great treasures in the attic. One of the best books out of
hundreds I've read this year. So fascinating to learn all about the DNA,
the mutations and what they can attribute it to. Love hearing about the
location of where the book takes place as it's new to me. Like how each
of the 5 sisters got a large devoted part in this book. At the end it
just all the mysteries come together and there are no longer any secrets
to uncover. For a book to be worthwhile to me it has to do two things:
1. take me away to a new place, describe it so well that i can feel
myself there. This book has done that to the point where I can reach up
and feel the olives as they ripen, walking the rows of trees. and 2.
learn something new. This book has done that as well. Techniques of
grafting the tree branches and the treasures they find in the attic. One
of the top 2 books out of hundreds I've read since Jan.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 15, 2012
This savory story invokes the spirit of sisterhood and motherhood within the theme of longevity, asks whether time has less significance the more you have of it, and explores the way that might shape familial relationships. The stories of Anna, Bets, and Erin were the most satisfying with the best secrets to reveal. I loved the metaphor of the olive grove- very well done with some lovely descriptive passages. It's sweet and a bit racy, endearing and somewhat unexpected. Roots of the Olive Tree is a taste of bold, fruity sweetness with a slightly bitter finish; it will make an excellent gift for all of the women in my life. I highly recommend it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 14, 2012
From the very start, walking into the orchard with Anna, I was hooked. This is a magical story, almost sacred in it's gentle telling. Each woman in the family of women in Roots of the Olive Tree has a story, she has her secrets, her pains, regrets, joys and hopes. Don't get me wrong, there's violence too and love and death and life. I could not figure out how it would and and I didn't want it to, but it was so perfect, yet I want more. Highly recommend this author's first book and can't wait to see what's next from her!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted August 14, 2012
This is a story about family and real relationships that unravels in a way that keeps the reader engaged and wanting more. I remember the day, as a young adult, that I had a revelation about my own mother: I suddenly realized that she had feelings and hope and dreams that I had been oblivious to my entire life! This story is about removing the filter and recognizing those overlooked “real person” aspects of those around us who we take for granted based on their roles in our lives. What a gift! Aside from the secrets revealed, the most interesting thing about the book is the way that elements of the supernatural (longevity and olive oil, the relocation of an entire town, a mythical turtle) are related and engrained in everyday reality. Think of Gabriel García Márquez. The setting is also beautifully related and becomes a character in its own way. If you’re from a family of storytellers, you’ll love this.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 10, 2013
I thought this was poorly written book. The characters were underdeveloped and the story line was very difficult to follow. Would not recommend this book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.'The Roots of the Olive Tree' is a lyrical and beautifully written story about a family's saga through the women that hold the secrets and heart throughout the years. It tells the tale of Anna, the matriarch, along with her daughter, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter, and also her great-great-granddaughter. The author expertly weaves together tales and memories from each of the women's lives, along with the history of the town and the home that holds them all together - Hill House. The writing is so incredibly vivid and descriptive with an abundant talent that it's almost unbelievable that this is her debut novel. The story delves into the personal details, family secrets, family ties and the love that holds them all together throughout the generations. The writing is incredibly well done and expertly weaves together several smaller story lines and manages to cross time barriers with seamless perfection. This is a fantastic novel that bridges several genres including literary fiction, historical, women's fiction, chick lit, and general fiction. It's well constructed plot and the effortless flow of the writing will surely appeal to fans of all genres. A highly recommended novel for those who wish to delve into the love, secrets, lies, and family ties that bind us all together.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Anonymous
Posted April 12, 2013
Writing puts you in the house with the characters. Enjoyable read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 23, 2013
Interesting story of five generations of women living together.
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Posted January 7, 2013
Primrosepaw ran around her, tripping her legs, then leaping one he back.
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 14, 2012
The author jumped around so much I couldn't stay interested. Couldn't finish.
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Posted November 29, 2012
A car is crashed, and he is running to hide page 3
0 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
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Posted November 25, 2012
Hard to get into. Hard to understand what the author was trying to say. Did not like the ending.
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Overview
Courtney Miller Santo's compelling and evocative debut novel captures the joys and sorrows of family—the love, secrets, disappointments, jealousies, and forgiveness that tie generations to one another
Meet the Keller family, five generations of firstborn women living together in the same house on a secluded olive grove in the Sacramento Valley of Northern California. Anna, the family matriarch, is 112 and determined to become the oldest person in the world. Strong in mind and ...