Sisters come in all shapes and sizes. You can have a little sister who is close in age or maybe a big sister who is more than 20 years older than you. You can be ages apart, yet still close at heart. You can grow up sharing a room or not even sharing the same roof. You can live miles apart or just minutes away. No matter where you live or how old you are, you will always be sisters. This column is in celebration of sisters. Here are some of my favourite books about sisters.
The Girls by Lori Lansens. The story begins with – I have never looked into my sister's eyes. This is the story of Ruby and Rose, conjoined twins joined at the head. In their small home town they are simply known as The Girls. At twenty nine years of age, they are old for conjoined twins and as the end of their life nears, Rose begins to write their story. She enlists Ruby to write some of the chapters in her own words. Abandoned as infants by their unwed teenage mother, they are raised by Lovey and Stash Darlen. What follows is a story of a remarkable bond between two sisters, struggling to have a normal life and seeking joy where they can find it. This story will be in your thoughts long after you close the cover on the final page.
Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas. Set during the Civil War, Alice, a young bride is left on the family farm with only her stern mother-in-law for company, when her husband enlists. Newly pregnant Alice tries to win over her husband's mother. Lonely for her family Alice passes her spare time writing letters to her sister Lizzie. Her letters tell a story of food shortages, a sense of isolation and the difficulties assimilating into a small town. Her fondness for quilting leads to involvement in quilting bees and she slowly makes friends. After she becomes a murder suspect she finds support from an unexpected place, her mother-in-law. It is a tale rich with joys and sorrows.
Clara Callan by Richard B. Wright. Similar to Alice's Tulips this story is told through the letters between two sisters, Clara and Nora Callan, as well as Clara's journal entries. Set in the Depression, Clara, a school teacher lives in a small Ontario town, while Nora moves to New York to become a radio soap opera star. Although her career is doing well, through Nora's letters we come to see that life in the big city is not as exciting as you would expect. We follow Clara as she struggles through a series of twists of fate that almost shatter her life. In the end we discover that things are often not as they appear. This novel won the Governor General's Award in 2001.
What We Keep by Elizabeth Berg. After 35 years Ginny and Sharla are on their way to meet the mother who left them when they were young. With their mother facing a possible terminal illness, Sharla would like to make peace and asks Ginny to come with her. As she travels home, Ginny reflects on her childhood and events leading up to their mother's leaving, viewed through the eyes of a child. USA Today said What We Keep is about ties that are buried but not broken, wounds that are dressed but never heal, and love that changes form but somehow survives.
A Place Where The Sea Remembers by Sandra Benitez. This is the story of two sisters, set in the Mexican village of Santiago. Chayo has been trying to have a baby. When her younger sister Marta becomes pregnant she agrees to adopt the child, only to find herself pregnant. When she and her husband tell her sister that they've changed their minds, her sister puts a curse on Chayo's unborn baby. Later her remorseful sister tells her about the curse and tries to have it reversed. But is it too late? It's a story of love, betrayal and the relationship between the two sisters, set against a harsh backdrop. The library does not carry this book, but through our Interlibrary Loan service we can borrow it for you from out of town. It is well worth the short wait.
If you are interested in finding other novels about sisters, be sure to visit the Virtual Collection on our website. In NoveList you can do a search by selecting Search Our Database and choosing Describe A Plot. Then just enter the word sisters and add the limiter adult. Remember the Virtual Collection is available 24 hours a day. So if you're lying awake at night wondering what to read next, we're there at your fingertips.
A sister is someone you share a history with. As parents age and pass on, you may be the ones left sharing the family memories. She's someone you can vacation with or just go for a coffee with. No matter how far apart you live, your sister is just a phone call away and someone you'll carry in your heart forever. If you're ever looking for ideas for a mini-getaway, you and your sister could take a drive to Grand Marais. There you can visit My Sister's Place for lunch. It's a restaurant and the name always amuses me. Be sure to ask to have your photo taken and visit their photo wall while you are there. It's a lovely way to spend a day with a sister. Or maybe even a friend, who is as close as a sister.
I hope you have a chance to enjoy one of the books I've suggested. If you find one you like, be sure to recommend it to your sister. I think Christina Rosetti said it best when she said For there is no friend like a sister in calm or stormy weather. Now go hug your sister.
Karen Craib is a Library Technician at the Brodie Library - www.tbpl.ca
If you have a comment about today's column, we would love to hear from you.
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