This is the first book I have read of yours, and I was hooked all the way through. I was pleased that I could recommend it to my bookclub friends and family, until I got to the Lesbian idea inserted near the end. I'm sorry to say this ruined the book for me. It is hard to find a good book without trash in it, and I thought this would be one. I'm so sorry to be wrong. The writing and the story were fabulous, but I wish writers didn't feel like they have to put things like this in to make the book good. It would have been great without the mention of this topic.

well darlene, you're almost from the victorian times (or shall I say middleages) with that kind of attitude.
lesbian love is LOVE too. if you're not able to worship love you are missing something.
and DON'T call it trash.
it's mean, cruel, heartless & stupid to call people's choices of love trash.
think about it.
or try to explain why it is "trash", while doing this you just might find out yourself, there are no arguments to be found! :)

@kate: this book was sooooo beautiful!!! I really love it!!

Totally agree with Juniper, we think we should consider the feelings of people when we make a comment. Kate made an effort to write their books and you called them trash, that´s just not fair at all. Consider that, if you just don´t like the book that´s ok but don´t call it trash just because it include an idea you don´t share.

p.d: Kate keep writting! you´re great!

Darlene you are entitled to your opinion as is everyone. Your own beliefs have influenced you on the ending of the book. Too bad, you yourself say how much you liked it and wanted to recommend it to friends and book clubs, but the ending....... This is an excellent, well written book. Maybe the ending wasn't to your liking, but to call it trash because it contains an idea that you are uncomfortable with is very harsh. Love is love...and if we are lucky enough to find it in our lives, we are truly blessed. Tollerance and understanding is a virture we should all have. Love Kates books!!! Can't wait till the next one comes out.

Well said Brenda, Sandra & Juniper! Including lesbian love in this story makes it more realistic. Whether you like it or not, it did happen in the past, it was just kept secret. For me, it added yet another dimension to the characters and the social limits of the time.
I just love Kate's books and can't wait for the next one!
Sue

I agree totally with you all. Kate's writing is wonderful!! I loved every minute of it. Just because you dont condone another persons way of living is no reason to talk bad about the book. Its part of life, as Kate said above. You need to get an open mind, and stop living in the dark ages, which by the way, there were Lebians then too.

I agree with you Darlene, I was honestly surprised that there were lesbians in the book, and although I am a religious person and against what is against human nature I did not feel this point ruin the entire book for me. People think that being civilized is by accepting what is wrong and celebrating it, just ignore them.

Dina-
god MADE lesbians, they are his work just as narrow minded people like you are also his work.
and oh, try tolerance that is supposted to be a christian value- look it up in your little bible! :)

Thanks Juniper for expresing so clearly such a truth. A pity there are still so ignorant and uncivilized people, and they call themselves good christians...

I loved this book! I may have to go back and read it a second time as I am confused on a couple of things.At the end of the book when we discovered that Juniper actually help deliver a baby boy...who was the baby boy? I was surprised at the lesbian parts, although the book had hinted at it earlier. At one point, I also thought of incest but that ended up being part of how the "mud man" story had come to be. Was Lucy pregnant before she got married and was it Raymonds?