When Emily goes through a break up with Josh, she heads back to Bainbridge Island in Seattle to see her Aunt Bee. On her arrival, Emily is soon met with secret after secret from the past. Some secrets are as old as the year 1943. Emily's Grandma Esther kept a red diary in March of 1943 while living on Bainbridge Island. These secret entries have much to do with the life Emily, her mother, Aunt Bee, Jack and his grandfather, Elliott and other people live in the present.
The VIOLETS OF MARCH by SARAH JIO is an intricate family saga. I began to realize while reading the novel secrets never dissipate like smoke. Until secrets are unlocked and talked about in the open with the people involved life holds an emptiness, a lack of closure. Secrets are breathing organisms. Until revelation people lag under the heavy weight of the unknown. This is what happened to Emily and all the others involved in the world of 1943.
I thought it fascinating to think of who becomes the discoverer of old truths, lies and old jealousies, infidelities, guilt and never dying love. In this case, Emily is the one who tears down the walls and enters past worlds bringing those worlds forward to the present. All of us have family trees. Who in our family will disturb the silently growing wood violets to bring forth more harmony and forgiveness to our relationships now?
SARAH JIO is a fantastic storyteller. At times I did wish for a small diagram of a family tree in the beginning or back of the book. Since there is not one, I kept my eyes nailed to the page. I read a bit slower. Then, I would stop reading not wanting to mistake a boyfriend for a husband or a sister for a mother, etc.
I can not close without mentioning Evelyn, Aunt Bee's, best friend. Emily proves her strength by doing what Evelyn asks of her. Evelyn is carrying a life ending secret. What Emily knows about Evelyn will break her Aunt's heart again. Evelyn takes Emily in her confidence immediately. To me, Emily is a very strong woman. She lets nothing break her down and tear her asunder. She walks with the past and present weaved together inside her mind and heart as she strives to makes sense of it all. It is a grand story I would not have wanted to miss.
