Review: The Blackberry Bush

May •  28 •  2011

Title: The Blackberry Bush
Series: No
Genre: Young to New Adult- Contemporary
Author: David Householder
Publisher: Summerside Press
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Book: E-ARC sent by author

”Who are You, and what are you doing here?

Two babies—Kati and Josh—are born on opposite sides of the world at the very moment the Berlin Wall falls. You’d think such a potent freedom metaphor would become the soundtrack for their lives, but nothing could be further from the truth.

Despite his flawless image, Josh, an artistic and gifted California skateboarder, struggles to find his true role in the world, and his growing aggression eventually breaks him.

Kati, a German with a penchant for classic Swiss watches and attic treasure-hunting, is crushed with disappointment for never being “enough” for anyone—most especially her mother.

Craving liberation, Kati and Josh seem destined to claim their birthright of freedom together. After all, don’t the “chance” encounters transform your life…or are they really chance?”

I must say that I really enjoyed this book. I was capivated from the very beginning in how their life’s were intertwined and how it all came together  in the end. The plot was very good. I really enjoyed the feel of traveling into the past and seeing the characters then. All the secrets, and betrayals they habored, you really didn’t think how it would connect with the future characters but it did. It also makes you think a lot. It makes you see how even things done in the past can have such a profound effect in the future generations.
As for the characters, I thought they were amazing. Mr. Householder, did a great job capturing all of the characters in all of their stages of life. Young, Old, new. I really could relate to what they were going through. So many families went through so much during the war. It was a great refreshment to read it from all kinds of points of views.
Which brings me to my gripe. I really didn’t like the pov switching. For me, it did flow well, but you were constantly switching characters views over and over again. It was sort of nerving. I really wanted to stay in one person shoes for longer than a few pages. But, then again, after finishing it, I can see how the pov switches were nesscary.
The Blackberry Bush, is real, intense read like no other. The plot and writing is intense enough that is captures you right away. This book is definitely something you want to read if you enjoy war stories that are caught up in the web of secrets, betrayal and hurt.
I give it 4 BITES!
Happy Reading!

4 Comments

  1. This book sounds quite fascinating – I’d never heard of it before your review. I hate when POV changes are stilted and awkward though. Dual narratives only work for me if they are done really well.

  2. I don’t care for a book where the POV switches are not smooth. It really draws you out of a book. However, the rest does sound interesting. Hm… I will have to think about this one. Great review!

  3. Wow, this sounds like my kind of book. The characters appear to have a lot of depth. Thanks for the introduction and great review.

  4. Small Review
    May 30, 2011

    Thanks for your review! I have a copy waiting for me to read so I’m glad to hear you give it a good review.