Far From the Tree

Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant

Della Frazier is widowed after being married more than 40 years to Will Frazier. Their daughters, Celeste English and Roni Frazier, don't understand their mother or each other. Celeste is married to a doctor and has a grown daughter. Roni left Buffalo for New York City after high school to be a model and/or actress, and has been there ever since.

But each of the women are hiding secrets. Della refuses to discuss her past before she and Will settled in Buffalo. Celeste's marriage is coming apart. Roni's life is coming apart as she can't find steady jobs. While cleaning, Celeste discovers a deed in among her father's papers. It is for property in North Carolina that Will Frazier left to be divided between his daughters. The property was Della's childhood home.

Celeste decides to visit Prosper, North Carolina, to check out the property. Della protests, trying to keep Celeste away. Roni follows her sister down, intent on protecting her rights and getting the property sold quickly. Neither daughter can guess the secrets waiting in Prosper about their parents' past. Della does not want to imagine what will happen when those secrets start being discovered.

This is an excellent novel about three women who rediscover themselves. Each is a distinct personality and comes alive. As the climax of the book came and the final secrets unfolded, I found myself crying. I often found myself wanting to shake them, especially Celeste. As the girls became adults the family had parted. The visit to Prosper ties it back together. This is realistic in its emotions and the women's foibles. There is a remark at the end that they would never be a "feel good" type family. At the end, though, they appreciate and rejoice in each other.