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Digging In
Listening Length: 7 hours and 18 minutes
In author Loretta Nyhan’s warm, witty, and wonderful novel, a widow discovers an unexpected chance to start over—right in her own backyard.
Paige Moresco found her true love in eighth grade—and lost him two years ago. Since his death, she’s been sleepwalking through life, barely holding on for the sake of her teenage son. Her house is a wreck, the grass is overrun with weeds, and she’s at risk of losing her job. As Paige stares at her neglected lawn, she knows she’s hit rock bottom. So she does something entirely unexpected: she begins to dig.
As the hole gets bigger, Paige decides to turn her entire yard into a vegetable garden. The neighbors in her tidy gated community are more than a little alarmed. Paige knows nothing about gardening, and she’s boldly flouting neighborhood-association bylaws. But with the help of new friends, a charming local cop, and the transformative power of the soil, Paige starts to see potential in the chaos of her life. Something big is beginning to take root—both in her garden and in herself.
In author Loretta Nyhan’s warm, witty, and wonderful novel, a widow discovers an unexpected chance to start over—right in her own backyard.
Paige Moresco found her true love in eighth grade—and lost him two years ago. Since his death, she’s been sleepwalking through life, barely holding on for the sake of her teenage son. Her house is a wreck, the grass is overrun with weeds, and she’s at risk of losing her job. As Paige stares at her neglected lawn, she knows she’s hit rock bottom. So she does something entirely unexpected: she begins to dig.
As the hole gets bigger, Paige decides to turn her entire yard into a vegetable garden. The neighbors in her tidy gated community are more than a little alarmed. Paige knows nothing about gardening, and she’s boldly flouting neighborhood-association bylaws. But with the help of new friends, a charming local cop, and the transformative power of the soil, Paige starts to see potential in the chaos of her life. Something big is beginning to take root—both in her garden and in herself.
8 pages, Audio CD
First published April 1, 2018
About the author
Loretta Nyhan
12 books494 followersI was a reader before I was a writer, devouring everything I could get my hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and the instructions booklet for building the Barbie dream house. Later, my obsession with reading evolved into an absolute need to write. After college, I wrote for national trade magazines, taught writing to college freshmen, and eventually found the guts to try fiction.
I'm the author of the upcoming All the Good Parts (Lake Union, 2016) and Digging In (Lake Union, 2017). Previous published novels include I’ll Be Seeing You and Empire Girls (MIRA Books).
When I'm not writing, I can be found knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things my high school self would have found hilarious.
I live in the Chicago area with my two teenage boys.
I'm the author of the upcoming All the Good Parts (Lake Union, 2016) and Digging In (Lake Union, 2017). Previous published novels include I’ll Be Seeing You and Empire Girls (MIRA Books).
When I'm not writing, I can be found knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things my high school self would have found hilarious.
I live in the Chicago area with my two teenage boys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,436 reviews
September 24, 2022
"Everything can be learned, you know? Some people learn sooner, others later. Not a big deal if the outcome is the same."
Guys, this book wrecked me. I've been a fan of Loretta's writing since her previous novel, All The Good Parts, was released. I was left itching for more of her witty charm and boy, did I find it here. Her novels are emotional for sure, but they still manage to deal with tough themes in an upbeat and hilarious way. When I pick up one of her books, I feel as though instead of reading the book, she's relaying it to me over a glass of wine. It gives the impression we're just two good friends curled up on the couch and she's telling me the latest tale that's manifested in her brain. It's rare for this to happen for me, but when it does, these books receive an automatic 5 star rating and glowing review.
Before I jump into the book itself, I think it's important to note that you're getting as authentic of a story as possible when it comes to Digging In. Nyhan has written in detail about the experience on her Goodreads review of this book (found here), but I'll give you the spark notes version. A few years ago the author's husband left to play a round of golf and had a fatal heart attack right on the green. She took this experience and turned it into a novel about how to find yourself again when the unthinkable happens and how to work through grief when it feels as if there's nowhere to go from there. If you are the type of reader who connects with fiction that is propelled by real experiences, this alone should put the book on your TBR.
"That's the beauty of a garden," she said. "Some stuff works, some stuff doesn't, and some stuff you think isn't working ends up producing the following year. Keeps you living in a constant state of suspense, so whatever comes, you're grateful for it."
If you decide to pick up Digging In, you'll find our main character Paige is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband Jesse two years after the tragic car wreck that took his life. Her teenage son Trey is struggling in his own way too, and the mother-son relationship is taking it's toll as well. The struggle is real all around folks. Paige has most certainly hit rock bottom when she suffers another tough loss and her job is on the line. After a hazy night of weepy drinking, she wakes up with a pounding headache and a giant hole in her backyard. What follows is a journey of new beginnings-new friendships, new hobbies, new opportunities, and new love. There is a whole lot of self healing, along with a healing that bleeds out into a myriad of other relationships too. By the end of the book, you're left in a place of healthy, hopeful bliss, a place only Nyhan could take us to.
While this novel is for everyone, I do think a number of seasoned mothers and 40-somethings will really appreciate the themes and connect with the characters. There's so much relatable here to the hard working female who has done her job well for decades, only to find herself being pushed out by the younger, fresh crowd. I know the overall theme of grief sounds heavy and depressing, but honestly it was a joy to read this story! I did shed a few tears, but the majority of the novel's tone is upbeat and flat out hilarious. I was doubled over laughing, I was crying, and I was moved. I'm not sure what else I could want from a story, and for that reason alone I will sing Digging In's praises from the highest rooftop to anyone who will listen. Highly, HIGHLY recommended if you enjoy a feel good novel about love and loss.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy.
Guys, this book wrecked me. I've been a fan of Loretta's writing since her previous novel, All The Good Parts, was released. I was left itching for more of her witty charm and boy, did I find it here. Her novels are emotional for sure, but they still manage to deal with tough themes in an upbeat and hilarious way. When I pick up one of her books, I feel as though instead of reading the book, she's relaying it to me over a glass of wine. It gives the impression we're just two good friends curled up on the couch and she's telling me the latest tale that's manifested in her brain. It's rare for this to happen for me, but when it does, these books receive an automatic 5 star rating and glowing review.
Before I jump into the book itself, I think it's important to note that you're getting as authentic of a story as possible when it comes to Digging In. Nyhan has written in detail about the experience on her Goodreads review of this book (found here), but I'll give you the spark notes version. A few years ago the author's husband left to play a round of golf and had a fatal heart attack right on the green. She took this experience and turned it into a novel about how to find yourself again when the unthinkable happens and how to work through grief when it feels as if there's nowhere to go from there. If you are the type of reader who connects with fiction that is propelled by real experiences, this alone should put the book on your TBR.
"That's the beauty of a garden," she said. "Some stuff works, some stuff doesn't, and some stuff you think isn't working ends up producing the following year. Keeps you living in a constant state of suspense, so whatever comes, you're grateful for it."
If you decide to pick up Digging In, you'll find our main character Paige is struggling to cope with the loss of her husband Jesse two years after the tragic car wreck that took his life. Her teenage son Trey is struggling in his own way too, and the mother-son relationship is taking it's toll as well. The struggle is real all around folks. Paige has most certainly hit rock bottom when she suffers another tough loss and her job is on the line. After a hazy night of weepy drinking, she wakes up with a pounding headache and a giant hole in her backyard. What follows is a journey of new beginnings-new friendships, new hobbies, new opportunities, and new love. There is a whole lot of self healing, along with a healing that bleeds out into a myriad of other relationships too. By the end of the book, you're left in a place of healthy, hopeful bliss, a place only Nyhan could take us to.
While this novel is for everyone, I do think a number of seasoned mothers and 40-somethings will really appreciate the themes and connect with the characters. There's so much relatable here to the hard working female who has done her job well for decades, only to find herself being pushed out by the younger, fresh crowd. I know the overall theme of grief sounds heavy and depressing, but honestly it was a joy to read this story! I did shed a few tears, but the majority of the novel's tone is upbeat and flat out hilarious. I was doubled over laughing, I was crying, and I was moved. I'm not sure what else I could want from a story, and for that reason alone I will sing Digging In's praises from the highest rooftop to anyone who will listen. Highly, HIGHLY recommended if you enjoy a feel good novel about love and loss.
*Many thanks to the author for providing my copy.
Read
February 7, 2018I don't know how to rate my own book. Some days, I'm like...five stars, baby! You've got it going on! Other days? I could maybe--maybe--muster up one measly star. Writers are fickle. And very self-critical. Also, maybe a little nutso from working alone all the time.
What I can say is that I'm very proud of this book. I give my pride in it five stars. Abso-freaking-lutely.
The initial idea for this book came from an article I read about ten years ago. A local woman worked for the Chicago Tribune in the marketing department. She saw the writing on the wall, and knew she was going to get the heave-ho. She pre-empted that by turning in her resignation, going home and thinking...now what? She decided to dig up her backyard and plant vegetables, a one-woman CSA. People bought tickets all summer to come and pick what they wanted. She made enough money to buy herself some precious time. She was mid-life and wanted to figure out what she really wanted to do. I have no idea what happened to her, but the story lit a slow-burning fire in the house of my imagination, one that flared off and on over the years.
After finishing my previous novel, ALL THE GOOD PARTS, I had some ideas for my next book bumping around in my brain, but this memory kept rising, elbowing the others to the side. I started writing Paige's story, tooling along quite nicely, until...
My husband left to play a round of golf on a sunny Saturday morning in May of 2016. He never came home. Massive heart attack. Gone at age 45.
We'd been married almost twenty years. Happy years. I loved him and he loved me, and we always had each other's backs. The devastation nearly did me in. I couldn't write a word. Heck, I could barely manage basic things, like cooking and driving and laundry. Grief messed with my brain, turning me into a zombie for four or five months. The energy I could muster went towards easing our boys into this new, very different life, one they never asked for and never, ever would have wanted.
About five months after Tom died, I went to the bookstore, where I ran into a friend and fellow writer.
"How's the writing going?" she asked.
"Terrible," I said. "I can't write a thing. The words won't come."
She hugged me. "It's because you only have one story in your head right now. So that's what you need to write."
So that's what I did. I wrote about how to find yourself again after tragedy. I wrote about feelings of isolation and loneliness, about guilt and fear, and, ultimately, about discovering the strength to live again. These are some heavy things, but, believe me, this book is not a downer. Humor is the key to finding joy in life. And being able to feel that joy is essential in moving forward after loss.
I hope you enjoy Paige's story. I hope you're entertained, and moved, and that it makes you think a little bit. Maybe, if you've experienced the devastation of losing someone close to you, it'll offer some comfort. Now, that's worth five stars to me.
XOXO,
Loretta
What I can say is that I'm very proud of this book. I give my pride in it five stars. Abso-freaking-lutely.
The initial idea for this book came from an article I read about ten years ago. A local woman worked for the Chicago Tribune in the marketing department. She saw the writing on the wall, and knew she was going to get the heave-ho. She pre-empted that by turning in her resignation, going home and thinking...now what? She decided to dig up her backyard and plant vegetables, a one-woman CSA. People bought tickets all summer to come and pick what they wanted. She made enough money to buy herself some precious time. She was mid-life and wanted to figure out what she really wanted to do. I have no idea what happened to her, but the story lit a slow-burning fire in the house of my imagination, one that flared off and on over the years.
After finishing my previous novel, ALL THE GOOD PARTS, I had some ideas for my next book bumping around in my brain, but this memory kept rising, elbowing the others to the side. I started writing Paige's story, tooling along quite nicely, until...
My husband left to play a round of golf on a sunny Saturday morning in May of 2016. He never came home. Massive heart attack. Gone at age 45.
We'd been married almost twenty years. Happy years. I loved him and he loved me, and we always had each other's backs. The devastation nearly did me in. I couldn't write a word. Heck, I could barely manage basic things, like cooking and driving and laundry. Grief messed with my brain, turning me into a zombie for four or five months. The energy I could muster went towards easing our boys into this new, very different life, one they never asked for and never, ever would have wanted.
About five months after Tom died, I went to the bookstore, where I ran into a friend and fellow writer.
"How's the writing going?" she asked.
"Terrible," I said. "I can't write a thing. The words won't come."
She hugged me. "It's because you only have one story in your head right now. So that's what you need to write."
So that's what I did. I wrote about how to find yourself again after tragedy. I wrote about feelings of isolation and loneliness, about guilt and fear, and, ultimately, about discovering the strength to live again. These are some heavy things, but, believe me, this book is not a downer. Humor is the key to finding joy in life. And being able to feel that joy is essential in moving forward after loss.
I hope you enjoy Paige's story. I hope you're entertained, and moved, and that it makes you think a little bit. Maybe, if you've experienced the devastation of losing someone close to you, it'll offer some comfort. Now, that's worth five stars to me.
XOXO,
Loretta
March 22, 2018
My mother, God rest her soul
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken...
—Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Alone Again Naturally"
4.5 stars for this one.
I loved this! What a great story.
Jesse was a part of Paige's life since eighth grade, and he was her only love. Often it was the two of them against the world, and she always knew she could count on her husband and their marriage. Then one day, an accidental tap of a highway median, and it was all over—he left her alone with their teenage son, Trey.
"Forever. Till death do us part. The thing is, no one tells you what to do when the parting happens. And they forget to explain that when death is sudden, the parting is actually a ragged tear, not a clean separation. It leaves all the ends unfinished, and they just unravel and unravel and..."
That was two years ago, yet she's still drifting through life. The house is in disrepair, the yard is a shambles—much to the chagrin of her uptight neighbor, whose anger seems excessive despite the number of dandelions and other weeds that have popped up. Trey, now a high school senior, is getting increasingly frustrated with his mother's antics, preferring the stability of a friend's house. And even though she used to be able to coast at her advertising job, a new boss has changed the dynamic at work, leaving Paige and her colleagues to compete for their jobs.
"Death was final, but grief wasn't; it was a dirty street fighter who rose again and again even when I thought I had successfully knocked it to the ground. King of the sucker punches."
One night, staring at the condition of her lawn, remembering Jesse's obsession with ensuring it was perfect and reeling from her neighbor's anger at her neglect, she starts to dig. Putting her hands in the dirt feels therapeutic, but she makes a mess. As the hole gets bigger, she decides she's going to turn the entire backyard into a vegetable and herb garden, which again runs her afoul of her neighbor and others in her perfectly ordered and manicured community. Yet for the first time, she doesn't really care.
She's determined to make her garden work, but she's barely holding it together otherwise. Her son is hurting and angry, her boss is disappointed and wondering if he should cut her loose, and her homeowners' association is on her tail, but little by little she realizes she's the only one who can rescue her life. With the help of friends old and new, and the interest of a kind policeman, she starts to take root into her new reality, no matter how difficult it may be.
Even though you've seen this story before, in Loretta Nyhan's hands, it's so engaging, enjoyable, and poignant. Paige is a tremendously sympathetic character, yet she has her flaws, and it's fascinating as she realizes that some of the things that brought her so much comfort throughout her marriage might have left her at a disadvantage now. But as much as she just wants to put her head in the sand and just mourn Jesse forever, she knows she must pull herself and her life together, for her sake as well as her son's.
The way each person deals with grief in this situation is very different, but some of the emotions Paige experiences I've seen in my mother as she has navigated life since my father's death nearly four years ago. Incredibly, Nyhan was in the middle of writing this book when she lost her own husband, which certainly increases the poignancy of this book and Paige's story. There certainly are moments which might bring a tear to your eye, but this isn't a maudlin book in any way—it's warm and immensely readable, and I nearly read the entire book in a day.
Lake Union Publishing made this available through Amazon's First Reads program. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
Couldn't understand why the only man
She had ever loved had been taken
Leaving her to start
With a heart so badly broken
Despite encouragement from me
No words were ever spoken...
—Gilbert O'Sullivan, "Alone Again Naturally"
4.5 stars for this one.
I loved this! What a great story.
Jesse was a part of Paige's life since eighth grade, and he was her only love. Often it was the two of them against the world, and she always knew she could count on her husband and their marriage. Then one day, an accidental tap of a highway median, and it was all over—he left her alone with their teenage son, Trey.
"Forever. Till death do us part. The thing is, no one tells you what to do when the parting happens. And they forget to explain that when death is sudden, the parting is actually a ragged tear, not a clean separation. It leaves all the ends unfinished, and they just unravel and unravel and..."
That was two years ago, yet she's still drifting through life. The house is in disrepair, the yard is a shambles—much to the chagrin of her uptight neighbor, whose anger seems excessive despite the number of dandelions and other weeds that have popped up. Trey, now a high school senior, is getting increasingly frustrated with his mother's antics, preferring the stability of a friend's house. And even though she used to be able to coast at her advertising job, a new boss has changed the dynamic at work, leaving Paige and her colleagues to compete for their jobs.
"Death was final, but grief wasn't; it was a dirty street fighter who rose again and again even when I thought I had successfully knocked it to the ground. King of the sucker punches."
One night, staring at the condition of her lawn, remembering Jesse's obsession with ensuring it was perfect and reeling from her neighbor's anger at her neglect, she starts to dig. Putting her hands in the dirt feels therapeutic, but she makes a mess. As the hole gets bigger, she decides she's going to turn the entire backyard into a vegetable and herb garden, which again runs her afoul of her neighbor and others in her perfectly ordered and manicured community. Yet for the first time, she doesn't really care.
She's determined to make her garden work, but she's barely holding it together otherwise. Her son is hurting and angry, her boss is disappointed and wondering if he should cut her loose, and her homeowners' association is on her tail, but little by little she realizes she's the only one who can rescue her life. With the help of friends old and new, and the interest of a kind policeman, she starts to take root into her new reality, no matter how difficult it may be.
Even though you've seen this story before, in Loretta Nyhan's hands, it's so engaging, enjoyable, and poignant. Paige is a tremendously sympathetic character, yet she has her flaws, and it's fascinating as she realizes that some of the things that brought her so much comfort throughout her marriage might have left her at a disadvantage now. But as much as she just wants to put her head in the sand and just mourn Jesse forever, she knows she must pull herself and her life together, for her sake as well as her son's.
The way each person deals with grief in this situation is very different, but some of the emotions Paige experiences I've seen in my mother as she has navigated life since my father's death nearly four years ago. Incredibly, Nyhan was in the middle of writing this book when she lost her own husband, which certainly increases the poignancy of this book and Paige's story. There certainly are moments which might bring a tear to your eye, but this isn't a maudlin book in any way—it's warm and immensely readable, and I nearly read the entire book in a day.
Lake Union Publishing made this available through Amazon's First Reads program. Thanks for making this available!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2017 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2017.html.
March 30, 2018
I’ve read some strong reviews for this one, but I must admit that I found it ok but didn’t love it.
Payge is in her mid forties, has been a widow for 2 years, and she’ll still trying to find her footing. Her relationship with her 17 year old son is shaky and her job with a small advertising agency seems to be hanging by a thread. The story bumbles along somewhat predictably, as Payge sinks to new lows, and slowly makes her way uphill to a better place. Along the way, she digs up a crazy garden and makes new friends.
Despite the starting point, the tone of this novel is quite light. Humorous and sentimental — it has a definite romcom feeling. To me, the best part of Digging In was the afterword, in which the author describes losing her own husband at age 45, and how she and her two sons were helped and supported by family and friends. With that context, the book seems like the author’s own attempt to cope with her grief. I have a lot of sympathy and can understand the need for a immersive project, but I didn’t love the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
Payge is in her mid forties, has been a widow for 2 years, and she’ll still trying to find her footing. Her relationship with her 17 year old son is shaky and her job with a small advertising agency seems to be hanging by a thread. The story bumbles along somewhat predictably, as Payge sinks to new lows, and slowly makes her way uphill to a better place. Along the way, she digs up a crazy garden and makes new friends.
Despite the starting point, the tone of this novel is quite light. Humorous and sentimental — it has a definite romcom feeling. To me, the best part of Digging In was the afterword, in which the author describes losing her own husband at age 45, and how she and her two sons were helped and supported by family and friends. With that context, the book seems like the author’s own attempt to cope with her grief. I have a lot of sympathy and can understand the need for a immersive project, but I didn’t love the book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
April 1, 2018
Based solely on the blurb I figured that Digging In would be a fairly heavy read, following Paige as she works through her grief after losing her husband. While grief is definitely at the core of this novel, it wasn’t depressing or bleak, instead it was full of humor, wit and heart which was just such a breath of fresh air.
Sadly, Nyhan lost her own husband so she has firsthand experience in the way a widow may feel and behave, and while she acknowledges that her situation wasn’t exactly like Paige’s, the authenticity is heavily apparent, Paige was incredibly well drawn. This isn’t a story about a bereaved woman who does everything perfectly and makes no mistakes. It’s a realistic portrayal of a woman living the unthinkable who is just doing her best. She’s trying, and at the end of the day, who can’t relate to someone who is simply trying to do their best?
This was an effortless read, I flew through it and loved every single page. Yes, there were sad moments especially watching Paige’s son, Trey deal with the loss of his father two years on, his struggle broke me. But ultimately this was full of life, vitality and humor, the messy side of life, the things that aren’t pretty, but it was honest and really beautifully done.
Digging In in three words: Wise, Witty and Affecting.
Sadly, Nyhan lost her own husband so she has firsthand experience in the way a widow may feel and behave, and while she acknowledges that her situation wasn’t exactly like Paige’s, the authenticity is heavily apparent, Paige was incredibly well drawn. This isn’t a story about a bereaved woman who does everything perfectly and makes no mistakes. It’s a realistic portrayal of a woman living the unthinkable who is just doing her best. She’s trying, and at the end of the day, who can’t relate to someone who is simply trying to do their best?
This was an effortless read, I flew through it and loved every single page. Yes, there were sad moments especially watching Paige’s son, Trey deal with the loss of his father two years on, his struggle broke me. But ultimately this was full of life, vitality and humor, the messy side of life, the things that aren’t pretty, but it was honest and really beautifully done.
Digging In in three words: Wise, Witty and Affecting.
January 28, 2021
Paige’s husband died two years ago. They had the kind of marriage that people dream about but rarely succeed at. He’d been her only love since eighth grade. She’s been at her job for years, so, except for taking care of her teenage son, she doesn’t have to work very hard to go through the motions of living until there’s a shakeup at work, layoffs look imminent, and Paige has to figure out a way to hold on to her job. Feeling that she’s not in control of anything, she looks at her neglected lawn. She begins by thinking she’ll just clean it up. Instead, she decides to make her entire backyard into a garden.
Beginning by digging up the entire backyard alarms her neighbors who site all manner of home association violations. But when she starts to plant, new friends appear to help out, and Paige finds healing in the soil.
Beginning by digging up the entire backyard alarms her neighbors who site all manner of home association violations. But when she starts to plant, new friends appear to help out, and Paige finds healing in the soil.
April 6, 2018
Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing for providing my copy of DIGGING IN by Loretta Nyhan - all opinions are my own.
Paige once lived harmoniously with her husband and teenage son in a nice, safe life. But after her husband’s sudden death, Paige’s grief takes ahold of her. They lived in their own world for so long, but that world shattered, leaving emptiness, loneliness, and pain. Now, for the past two years Paige has been sleepwalking through life, inadvertently neglecting her job, her son, and herself. You might be thinking, “wow, this sounds depressing”, but surprisingly it really isn’t. It’s heartfelt and real, but not overly sad. Yes, what happens is sad, but the magic is that Lyhan can write about loss with so much emotion in every sentence, all without making it feel depressing.
The characters in DIGGING IN are real, relatable, and have so much heart. I really love Paige! Her character is witty, clever, interesting, and fun. She made me laugh and smile without even realizing it. Basically, it was like talking to an old friend, which made it such an easy and enjoyable read.
This story is about hope and starting over, specifically when life hands you a really awful card and all you can do is just keep breathing. I usually gravitate towards dark stories with sinister themes, so this certainly isn’t my typical read, but let me just tell you, this book surprised me and I loved it. Also, I have to mention that I tend to go into a book blind and avoid reviews, so when I read the acknowledgements, I was taken aback. First chills, then sadness but also admiration because Nyhan does an amazing job writing this book under such heartbreaking circumstances.
Paige once lived harmoniously with her husband and teenage son in a nice, safe life. But after her husband’s sudden death, Paige’s grief takes ahold of her. They lived in their own world for so long, but that world shattered, leaving emptiness, loneliness, and pain. Now, for the past two years Paige has been sleepwalking through life, inadvertently neglecting her job, her son, and herself. You might be thinking, “wow, this sounds depressing”, but surprisingly it really isn’t. It’s heartfelt and real, but not overly sad. Yes, what happens is sad, but the magic is that Lyhan can write about loss with so much emotion in every sentence, all without making it feel depressing.
The characters in DIGGING IN are real, relatable, and have so much heart. I really love Paige! Her character is witty, clever, interesting, and fun. She made me laugh and smile without even realizing it. Basically, it was like talking to an old friend, which made it such an easy and enjoyable read.
This story is about hope and starting over, specifically when life hands you a really awful card and all you can do is just keep breathing. I usually gravitate towards dark stories with sinister themes, so this certainly isn’t my typical read, but let me just tell you, this book surprised me and I loved it. Also, I have to mention that I tend to go into a book blind and avoid reviews, so when I read the acknowledgements, I was taken aback. First chills, then sadness but also admiration because Nyhan does an amazing job writing this book under such heartbreaking circumstances.
November 10, 2017
I want to scream from the rooftops, "I love this book!" What a delightful, funny, authentic, and rather wise story about the healing power of gardening and the struggle to re-root yourself after crippling loss. Paige is an extraordinary heroine: smart, funny, kind, outspoken, quirky. You feel the rawness of her grief, but there's no sentimentality, and she has cracking good lines, such as: "I'm trying to bring me back" or "I pressed the 'Pause' button on life, and then lost the remote."
The supporting cast of characters is equally wonderful and off-beat: Officer Leprechaun who's first line to Paige had me in hysterics; Trey, the teenager who struggles to understand why his mother is tearing up their back yard and refuses to learn how to drive; the grumpy neighbor with his own issues; and Paige's ragtag crew of new friends--coworkers in her dysfunctional office and the organic gardener with carrots in her hair. If you want to find humor, hope, and pure entertainment, this is the book for you. Did I mention that I loved it?
The supporting cast of characters is equally wonderful and off-beat: Officer Leprechaun who's first line to Paige had me in hysterics; Trey, the teenager who struggles to understand why his mother is tearing up their back yard and refuses to learn how to drive; the grumpy neighbor with his own issues; and Paige's ragtag crew of new friends--coworkers in her dysfunctional office and the organic gardener with carrots in her hair. If you want to find humor, hope, and pure entertainment, this is the book for you. Did I mention that I loved it?
March 1, 2018
There’s something special in this book, hidden between the pages yet shared with us at the same time. Author Loretta Nyhan has shared a humorous yet realistic vision of one woman’s reborn hope and persistence, even when faced with the collapse of everything that meant something to her.
This is the situation facing Paige. Her husband is gone, and the company she has worked at for years is heaving with new (and somewhat off-the-wall) changes. Her teenage son is experiencing difficulties, and like many parents, she is not sure what words and actions will fix his issues. Nor does she know how to fix her own.
I began reading this book and didn’t realize how wrapped up I was in the story until I found myself at the final chapter. This is a smart, entertaining book that never gets sassy and deals with adult issues just as we would experience them: with humor, anger, straight-forward thinking, and sometimes a touch of wonder that we did so well at something new. Five stars.
This is the situation facing Paige. Her husband is gone, and the company she has worked at for years is heaving with new (and somewhat off-the-wall) changes. Her teenage son is experiencing difficulties, and like many parents, she is not sure what words and actions will fix his issues. Nor does she know how to fix her own.
I began reading this book and didn’t realize how wrapped up I was in the story until I found myself at the final chapter. This is a smart, entertaining book that never gets sassy and deals with adult issues just as we would experience them: with humor, anger, straight-forward thinking, and sometimes a touch of wonder that we did so well at something new. Five stars.
June 29, 2018
Digging In was an interesting audio book to listen to.
The beginning definitely grabs your attention due to an unexpected death.. but then it kinds of takes a turn into a little bit boring and weird. This book follows Paige Moresco, who is just trying to deal with life after her husband's sudden death. Her son is pushing her away and she might end up losing her job. Basically, her life has gone from bad to worse in like 3.5 nanoseconds.
Besides all of that, the community she lives in is filled with a bunch of snobby jerks. They know all about what she went through and just sort of offer her backhanded compliments instead of really asking if she needs help. They tell her that they know people who could help her.. but they never really ask about what the hell is going on. She's finding ways to cope and to eventually move on.
Her coping mechanism: a garden. I honestly loved this idea and I was stoked to see what was going to happen. This new thing in her life made her so happy but everyone else thought she was drunk or ruining her back yard. Again, no one is really offering to help with this whole entire thing and just assuming the shit out of her.
The characters in this book were really hard to connect to. I liked Paige and I sort of didn't like her. However, I do like that Paige definitely grew throughout the book and learned to grieve on her own.
Overall, it was an okay kind of book. I wish I would've liked the characters more.. but they really annoyed me.
The beginning definitely grabs your attention due to an unexpected death.. but then it kinds of takes a turn into a little bit boring and weird. This book follows Paige Moresco, who is just trying to deal with life after her husband's sudden death. Her son is pushing her away and she might end up losing her job. Basically, her life has gone from bad to worse in like 3.5 nanoseconds.
Besides all of that, the community she lives in is filled with a bunch of snobby jerks. They know all about what she went through and just sort of offer her backhanded compliments instead of really asking if she needs help. They tell her that they know people who could help her.. but they never really ask about what the hell is going on. She's finding ways to cope and to eventually move on.
Her coping mechanism: a garden. I honestly loved this idea and I was stoked to see what was going to happen. This new thing in her life made her so happy but everyone else thought she was drunk or ruining her back yard. Again, no one is really offering to help with this whole entire thing and just assuming the shit out of her.
The characters in this book were really hard to connect to. I liked Paige and I sort of didn't like her. However, I do like that Paige definitely grew throughout the book and learned to grieve on her own.
Overall, it was an okay kind of book. I wish I would've liked the characters more.. but they really annoyed me.
October 9, 2018
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, but Amagoodreadszon won't let us have half stars because reasons
9 OCTOBER 2018 Kindle price drop to $1.99!
**I own this Kindlebook, so if anyone wants to borrow it, send me a PM with your Amazon-account email and you're welcome to it**
Supervillain Chelsea Humphrey made me read this paean to the overweight, overtired, overworked Average Soul taking up space the Skinny Bastages think is rightfully theirs in a shrinking economy.
At almost every turn, I felt the severe pain of the older worker not yet eligible for retirement (forget about able to afford retirement, very very very few ever will be so blessed) but labeled Not Wanted by the irritatingly chipper and voraciously ambitious backstabbing little twidgees snapping at our heels.
At every turn, I felt the agonies of the partner left behind (the love of my life died 26 years ago come May and no, I'm not over it and frankly don't expect to be) as she moves on willy-nilly with life. Not living, just life. Lying down and waiting to die sounds so good...but...nope, just can't, it feels too much like something our departed love would be really, really pissed off with us about.
And I was *revolted* by the slavish fad-following seen at every turn!
But I want a chocolate beet cake. Like, you know, NOW.
9 OCTOBER 2018 Kindle price drop to $1.99!
**I own this Kindlebook, so if anyone wants to borrow it, send me a PM with your Amazon-account email and you're welcome to it**
Supervillain Chelsea Humphrey made me read this paean to the overweight, overtired, overworked Average Soul taking up space the Skinny Bastages think is rightfully theirs in a shrinking economy.
At almost every turn, I felt the severe pain of the older worker not yet eligible for retirement (forget about able to afford retirement, very very very few ever will be so blessed) but labeled Not Wanted by the irritatingly chipper and voraciously ambitious backstabbing little twidgees snapping at our heels.
At every turn, I felt the agonies of the partner left behind (the love of my life died 26 years ago come May and no, I'm not over it and frankly don't expect to be) as she moves on willy-nilly with life. Not living, just life. Lying down and waiting to die sounds so good...but...nope, just can't, it feels too much like something our departed love would be really, really pissed off with us about.
And I was *revolted* by the slavish fad-following seen at every turn!
But I want a chocolate beet cake. Like, you know, NOW.
April 30, 2018
I was given a copy of this book from Amazon Publishing #partner for an honest review. If I was judging a book by its cover I would think this one would be humorous and a bit quirky. It was that and so much more. Paige is dealing with her grief over the sudden death of her husband and soul mate two years ago. Her teenage son Trey is struggling with the loss of his dad. Mother and son are both trying to navigate their grief and find their place in the world. Unfortunately they are drifting away from each other. Paige is also managing issues with the job she has had for 17 years at an ad agency. The new boss wants to run the company differently and since Paige is one of the older employees it looks like her job may be cut to make room for younger more motivated staff. On a whim Paige decides to take up gardening. This puts her on a collision course with some of her neighbours. As Trey watches his mother make changes and try new things he feels even more isolated from her. The book is a quick read and I really enjoyed it. The secondary characters are interesting and bring quirkiness into the story. There is humour in the book but also sadness as you see Paige and Trey struggle. Paige’s character is strong, well developed, and likeable. Sadly in the acknowledgements we learn that while writing this book the author's husband unexpectantly passed away and she had to step back from writing for a while. This makes Paige’s story even more poignant.
May 16, 2018
Diggin In is my first Loretta Nyhan novel.
It's about a 42-year-old, Paige Moresco, who had lost her husband in a car accident. The two of them and their son, Trey, had a settled, rule-filled, predictable life. Paige finds herself not caring, aimless, and about to lose her job. She takes her frustrations on her garden, which she digs out and starts to rebuild.
This was a good story, albeit one I read before. The characters were well drawn, it's just that the writing felt flat at times, so my engagement peeked and waned and occasionally flat-lined.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
It's about a 42-year-old, Paige Moresco, who had lost her husband in a car accident. The two of them and their son, Trey, had a settled, rule-filled, predictable life. Paige finds herself not caring, aimless, and about to lose her job. She takes her frustrations on her garden, which she digs out and starts to rebuild.
This was a good story, albeit one I read before. The characters were well drawn, it's just that the writing felt flat at times, so my engagement peeked and waned and occasionally flat-lined.
I've received this novel via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
May 10, 2018
Narrated by Mary Robinette Kowal I quickly became caught up in this heartwarming and captivating story that mirrors the author's own journey after the unthinkable happens.
I was slightly worried I would need truffles for this story. I've been married thirty years and cannot even begin to fathom life without my mate. While Nyhan did make me tear up she also had me rooting for Paige Moresco, her son Trey, and the secondary characters we met along the way. I laughed, got angry, cheered and smiled as Paige began her journey by digging holes in her backyard and upsetting the balance in her suburban community. Her curmudgeonly neighbor added humor, frustrations and a bit of a mystery. A local police officer called in over complaints about Paige's backyard offers something a little more.
The writing is wonderful with a flow that pulls the reader in and holds them captive. This translated beautifully into audio. Mary Robinette Kowal captured Paige, the tone, and emotions of the story.
Paige's husband passed two years ago and she and her senior high school son, Trey are simply moving through their days and not really living. When her boss shakes things up at the advertising company where she has been employed for the past seventeen years it sets her already fragile world spinning. One night after a little too much win she begins digging up her backyard. She has no purpose other than she likes the feel of the earth in her fingers, but slowly through work, strangers, and need we witness Paige transform along with her backyard. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I was slightly worried I would need truffles for this story. I've been married thirty years and cannot even begin to fathom life without my mate. While Nyhan did make me tear up she also had me rooting for Paige Moresco, her son Trey, and the secondary characters we met along the way. I laughed, got angry, cheered and smiled as Paige began her journey by digging holes in her backyard and upsetting the balance in her suburban community. Her curmudgeonly neighbor added humor, frustrations and a bit of a mystery. A local police officer called in over complaints about Paige's backyard offers something a little more.
The writing is wonderful with a flow that pulls the reader in and holds them captive. This translated beautifully into audio. Mary Robinette Kowal captured Paige, the tone, and emotions of the story.
Paige's husband passed two years ago and she and her senior high school son, Trey are simply moving through their days and not really living. When her boss shakes things up at the advertising company where she has been employed for the past seventeen years it sets her already fragile world spinning. One night after a little too much win she begins digging up her backyard. She has no purpose other than she likes the feel of the earth in her fingers, but slowly through work, strangers, and need we witness Paige transform along with her backyard. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 4, 2018
An enjoyable read, and certainly touching in places, especially considering the author is writing from personal experience, but it never really sank its teeth into me, if you know what I mean. Definitely not bad, though.
March 29, 2018
What a delightful, sparkling and hopeful story. I had no idea what I was walking into. When Ashley at Amazon Publishing brought me this copy, I think she knew this wasn't my usual type of read... and then told me it was worth it and it absolutely IS!
The only thing I could even nitpick at is that I felt Paige was portrayed older than her forty-three years of age. Maybe it's because that is exactly how old I am and she felt older to me. We're also completely opposite people. I know I look young for my age, I definitely act younger, never been married and no kids so......... basically I couldn't really relate to her. HOWEVER, I absolutely fell in love with her. Her snarkiness, her wit, her will to thrive in a company she's been at for years now over powered by young thoughts and new action plans. YOU GO GIRL! In this power hungry world of ours, people do tend to feel outdated and struggle with having to start over once you hit your 40s. I've already done it a couple of times and thankfully things have worked in the positive but I GET IT - it's hard out there!
I think this book will resonate with anyone who has dealt with any kind of loss, looking to find a way to work through the grief and dealing with all types of personalities. Maybe this will resonate more for women in their 40s, or mothers and widows who have been THROUGH IT. Either way, you get an incredible story.
You know what REALLY did it for me? The acknowledgments from the author. I'm telling you, readers, if you don't read these in the books that you do pick up, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. The author talks about how she had to deal with her own husband's unexpected death and how it stopped her from continuing to write this book for quite some time. So a lot of her own experiences leap off of these pages - even if her and Paige's occurrences were completely different. Reading about this just launched this book up to one of my favorite reads so far this year. It was exactly what I needed right now.
Love is unexpected. Love is powerful and all consuming. Love HURTS. Grief is horrible, whether dealing with the end of a relationship or the actual loss of a living human being. Learn to grow. Learn to forgive. Learn to hold on while letting go. Learn to LIVE.
All the tomatoes and stars for this emotional, yet funny, read. DIG IN.
Huge thank you to Amazon Publishing and Lake Union for this amazing read.
The only thing I could even nitpick at is that I felt Paige was portrayed older than her forty-three years of age. Maybe it's because that is exactly how old I am and she felt older to me. We're also completely opposite people. I know I look young for my age, I definitely act younger, never been married and no kids so......... basically I couldn't really relate to her. HOWEVER, I absolutely fell in love with her. Her snarkiness, her wit, her will to thrive in a company she's been at for years now over powered by young thoughts and new action plans. YOU GO GIRL! In this power hungry world of ours, people do tend to feel outdated and struggle with having to start over once you hit your 40s. I've already done it a couple of times and thankfully things have worked in the positive but I GET IT - it's hard out there!
I think this book will resonate with anyone who has dealt with any kind of loss, looking to find a way to work through the grief and dealing with all types of personalities. Maybe this will resonate more for women in their 40s, or mothers and widows who have been THROUGH IT. Either way, you get an incredible story.
You know what REALLY did it for me? The acknowledgments from the author. I'm telling you, readers, if you don't read these in the books that you do pick up, you're doing yourself a huge disservice. The author talks about how she had to deal with her own husband's unexpected death and how it stopped her from continuing to write this book for quite some time. So a lot of her own experiences leap off of these pages - even if her and Paige's occurrences were completely different. Reading about this just launched this book up to one of my favorite reads so far this year. It was exactly what I needed right now.
Love is unexpected. Love is powerful and all consuming. Love HURTS. Grief is horrible, whether dealing with the end of a relationship or the actual loss of a living human being. Learn to grow. Learn to forgive. Learn to hold on while letting go. Learn to LIVE.
All the tomatoes and stars for this emotional, yet funny, read. DIG IN.
Huge thank you to Amazon Publishing and Lake Union for this amazing read.
May 2, 2018
Well this is just great.
I completely love this book.
I love the characters.
Honestly, I just wanted it to keep going.
I completely love this book.
I love the characters.
Honestly, I just wanted it to keep going.
October 10, 2018
Being a passionate gardener, I was really looking forward to this story. I've read many fictional books that focus on cooking, but none on gardening.
It started out strong, but then went downhill fast. The characters were flat, the story long winded without real direction. I got to about 85% of the book, and just started flipping the pages to get to the end. Why torture myself when there are tons of really "good reads" to sink into.
The good news, is I didn't buy it. It came with my Kindle unlimited subscription. Though, I have to say, I'm beginning to re-evaluate that subscription given most of the books have been mediocre.
It started out strong, but then went downhill fast. The characters were flat, the story long winded without real direction. I got to about 85% of the book, and just started flipping the pages to get to the end. Why torture myself when there are tons of really "good reads" to sink into.
The good news, is I didn't buy it. It came with my Kindle unlimited subscription. Though, I have to say, I'm beginning to re-evaluate that subscription given most of the books have been mediocre.
April 25, 2018
Oh my!!! Many more than five stars. When a book tells a moving and delightful story and brings insight to its reader, it is a miracle. This book with a garden at its center is Paige’s story of rebirth after the death of her husband. While reading it, I realized that I came to my love of all things garden related as a way to deal with many losses in my life. Nothing as dramatic as Paige’s story but my own. This book opened doors to me. Great story!!!
December 12, 2018
I just realized I've read nearly everything Nyhan has published. I feel I can say I've got a decent grasp on her writing style now. One of the things that amazes me about her solo adult books, as opposed to those that were co-written, is that I find her main characters exceptionally aggravating but I enjoy the overall stories. My feelings were no different in this case.
We start with the tepid Paige who used to have a life she loved but then everything crumbled and now she's trying to keep her house, her job, and her sanity. Most of the time, I wanted to shove her into the hole she'd dug in her backyard.
Paige's new boss is taking their small advertising company in a new direction and plans to cut two employees, the bills are piling up, she and her neighbor have an increasingly combative relationship, and things are going south with her restless teenage son. It's all too much so Paige takes up "gardening" as a way to have control over something. In doing so, she finds a secret, she makes new friends, she becomes a little more … confident? no, maybe just a little less hot mess, and a man appears because of course. You can figure out the trajectory of this story and, if you know me, you understand that it is not the type of story I usually seek nor do I typically enjoy.
Also to consider: My inability to suspend disbelief over how growing plants works in places that aren't Colorado. I know this is all on me simply due to personal experience, despite having heard otherwise from everyone who isn't from a bad-dirt area, but it just seems fantastical that asparagus, rhubarb, and new potatoes would all be ready at the same time. Like, those are three very separate crops in my yard and I could not get past the readiness of all vegetables all the time.
However, it was neither the story nor the characters, and certainly not the gardening, that intrigued me. Rather, all the issues running in the background impressed me, made me think, and made me feel a solidarity with the state of Paige's world, though not with Paige, herself.
I just love what Nyhan does in her novels, how she takes a seemingly innocuous genre and explores deeper concerns we don't often seriously examine in "chick lit." The typical themes of grief, of a woman's role after she's lost her husband, and of female friendship abound but running alongside those are the topics of older women in the workplace, GenXxers and Millennials working together, and corporate culture vs back-to-nature. Nyhan gently pokes fun at the self-help/personal success industry while giving kudos to young people who are working hard to get their important messages heard. She shows the multiple sides of a business created with compassion and traditional values transitioning to the new, hip, success-oriented generation. Even the standard themes that so often populate women's fiction have a new spin with making friends later in life and how love after the loss of a partner doesn't have to come in the form of romance.
But, seriously, HOW were asparagus, rhubarb, and new potatoes all available at the same time? I really need to spend a season in a good-dirt state to see how things grow because this is just too unbelievable to me.
If you've read anything else by this author, make sure to read the acknowledgements in this one. You'll see where she gets a lot of her character names which is delightful and charming.
We start with the tepid Paige who used to have a life she loved but then everything crumbled and now she's trying to keep her house, her job, and her sanity. Most of the time, I wanted to shove her into the hole she'd dug in her backyard.
Paige's new boss is taking their small advertising company in a new direction and plans to cut two employees, the bills are piling up, she and her neighbor have an increasingly combative relationship, and things are going south with her restless teenage son. It's all too much so Paige takes up "gardening" as a way to have control over something. In doing so, she finds a secret, she makes new friends, she becomes a little more … confident? no, maybe just a little less hot mess, and a man appears because of course. You can figure out the trajectory of this story and, if you know me, you understand that it is not the type of story I usually seek nor do I typically enjoy.
Also to consider: My inability to suspend disbelief over how growing plants works in places that aren't Colorado. I know this is all on me simply due to personal experience, despite having heard otherwise from everyone who isn't from a bad-dirt area, but it just seems fantastical that asparagus, rhubarb, and new potatoes would all be ready at the same time. Like, those are three very separate crops in my yard and I could not get past the readiness of all vegetables all the time.
However, it was neither the story nor the characters, and certainly not the gardening, that intrigued me. Rather, all the issues running in the background impressed me, made me think, and made me feel a solidarity with the state of Paige's world, though not with Paige, herself.
I just love what Nyhan does in her novels, how she takes a seemingly innocuous genre and explores deeper concerns we don't often seriously examine in "chick lit." The typical themes of grief, of a woman's role after she's lost her husband, and of female friendship abound but running alongside those are the topics of older women in the workplace, GenXxers and Millennials working together, and corporate culture vs back-to-nature. Nyhan gently pokes fun at the self-help/personal success industry while giving kudos to young people who are working hard to get their important messages heard. She shows the multiple sides of a business created with compassion and traditional values transitioning to the new, hip, success-oriented generation. Even the standard themes that so often populate women's fiction have a new spin with making friends later in life and how love after the loss of a partner doesn't have to come in the form of romance.
But, seriously, HOW were asparagus, rhubarb, and new potatoes all available at the same time? I really need to spend a season in a good-dirt state to see how things grow because this is just too unbelievable to me.
If you've read anything else by this author, make sure to read the acknowledgements in this one. You'll see where she gets a lot of her character names which is delightful and charming.
March 20, 2018
A cute story but I was mostly moved by the Acknowledgments at the end of the book. Congrats to Nyhan on her accomplishment under very difficult circumstances.
March 25, 2018
Sorry folks but didn't do a thing for me. Seemed flat from start to finish. It had a couple of bright spots, but not enough to save it for me. I hope you like it better than I did
July 30, 2018
3.5 stars. This book was highly recommended but I found it on the slower side until the very end. The last few chapters and the authors real life experience improved my rating.
March 23, 2018
This is a great book. Paige is an amazing character. There were some frustrating personalities throughout the story and I was impressed with how Paige would handle people and situations. It gave me a lot to think about.. she was always a bigger person than I imagine I would have been had I been in a similar position. This book will stick with me.
I will definitely look forward to reading more of her books.
I will definitely look forward to reading more of her books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2018
A mistake
I think I bought this book by mistake. It isn't nearly like anything I'd choose and it was middle of the road writing. Just finished it because of Catholic guilt
I think I bought this book by mistake. It isn't nearly like anything I'd choose and it was middle of the road writing. Just finished it because of Catholic guilt
April 17, 2018
At the end of the book, I learned that this hard-won story was born, in part, from the author’s personal experience, making it even better—and the story was already excellent! And though I don't have a green thumb, I enjoyed reading about the main character's gardening triumph and her crotchety old neighbor who I grew to like. This book is the perfect length for a flight with a longish layover.
December 22, 2018
Since Paige lost her husband (childhood sweetheart and love of her life) two years ago, her life has been in shambles. One day, not knowing what to do, she starts digging in her back yard, turning the whole thing into a massive vegetable garden. Can Paige transform her garden and herself? I have zero green thumbs, but this book made me want to pick up a shovel and try. A heartwarming novel about second chances.
March 4, 2018
There was a lot to like in this book. It had that genuine feel, not forced or artificial. I was looking for something light-ish to read while this broken knee healed, and got this from the first reads program on Amazon. Glad I picked this one, not the science fiction! It had a depth that I hadn't expected, but with a light touch, even on tricky subjects.
What really drove home the author's skill was reading the afterward, where she tells that halfway through this book about a woman whose husband dies suddenly, and her life after, her own husband died suddenly. While her experience was not that of the central character in the book, it helps reinforce that the writing was authentic.
Ms Nyhan-- I'm truly sorry you have had to live the nightmare of every happily married woman. However, thank you for a splendid book.
What really drove home the author's skill was reading the afterward, where she tells that halfway through this book about a woman whose husband dies suddenly, and her life after, her own husband died suddenly. While her experience was not that of the central character in the book, it helps reinforce that the writing was authentic.
Ms Nyhan-- I'm truly sorry you have had to live the nightmare of every happily married woman. However, thank you for a splendid book.
March 15, 2018
Digging In by Loretta Nyhan is the type of book I rarely read. There were two factors which influenced my choice, one it was a free Kindle First book and secondly it was about a woman, Paige Moresco who decides to dig up her back yard and put in a garden, this is something I have actually done so I wanted to read about an experience with it.
Paige's reason for digging up her yard is quite different than mine. Her life is falling apart, her husband died unexpectedly in a car accident, her boss passed away as well and his idiot son took over the business and her adolescent son is acting out. She started digging out of shear frustration and it made her feel better.
It is a cute story despite the sound of it and I generally don't do cute. The characters, though not multidimensional grew on me and by the end of the book, I quite liked them.
Here is a quote that I found quite meaningful:
“I want to know what the other kind of change is. The kind that isn’t slow.” Tears burned at my eyes, hot and quick. “It’s the kind that pulls you by the hair. The unexpected jolt. It’s merciless, and it doesn’t allow you to change cell by cell, cushioning the blow with time. It smacks you into a new reality. It forces you to examine things you’d rather leave under a rock.”
I think that this book if you get it at the right price and need a bread from heavy reading is good light entertainment.
One other thing which brought it up a few notches for me is that the author's husband passed away from a heart attack in his mid-forties and I expect that it was quite cathartic for her to write this book.
Paige's reason for digging up her yard is quite different than mine. Her life is falling apart, her husband died unexpectedly in a car accident, her boss passed away as well and his idiot son took over the business and her adolescent son is acting out. She started digging out of shear frustration and it made her feel better.
It is a cute story despite the sound of it and I generally don't do cute. The characters, though not multidimensional grew on me and by the end of the book, I quite liked them.
Here is a quote that I found quite meaningful:
“I want to know what the other kind of change is. The kind that isn’t slow.” Tears burned at my eyes, hot and quick. “It’s the kind that pulls you by the hair. The unexpected jolt. It’s merciless, and it doesn’t allow you to change cell by cell, cushioning the blow with time. It smacks you into a new reality. It forces you to examine things you’d rather leave under a rock.”
I think that this book if you get it at the right price and need a bread from heavy reading is good light entertainment.
One other thing which brought it up a few notches for me is that the author's husband passed away from a heart attack in his mid-forties and I expect that it was quite cathartic for her to write this book.
March 4, 2018
This is one of the best books I have read this year. Charming, humorous and wise- it is a fantastically pleasurable read. Do not miss it. I just ordered her earlier book.
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