Rainwater

Sue's selection for VLBC. Depresion era love story between a dying man and the mother of an autistic boy in small town Texas. Interesting treatment of a government program to save family dairy farms and cattle ranches by buying up cattle to be used for food distribution, Cattle deemed not worth transporting for food were slaughtered and buried. Echoes of Atticus Finch in character of David Rainwater and of son-of-large-landowner-villian from multiple classic westerns in the monstrous character of Conrad Ellis. Ella Barron is a woman of flinty resolve, maternal devotion, and fierce decency. I found this book interesting and affecting.

I think it’s a disservice to call Sandra Brown’s books romance. They are usually great character studies. Yes, there is romance, but not the fluff you see in most romance novels. Her characters are well developed and many faceted, with stories that go far beyond their romantic interests. This is a great book with the realities of a single mother trying to raise a special needs child and make her own way during a financially depressed time. Oh, and there’s some romance too. I loved it. I’m looking forward to reading more of her works.

Another excellent book by Sandra Brown. The ending brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story!

Ella Barron, single mom to Solly runs a boarding house. David Rainwater comes to stay and both his and Ella's life changes. This story is set within the great depression and the era known as the Dust Bowel. I have to say that I know very little about this time. I have read many books by Sandra Brown and this is not like her typical romantic suspense. The story is quite touching at times and one could say quite sad. There is s romance, this is no spoiler because after all the book is by SB. Theres a little more story because of the book not being a crime novel, although it does have a bit of a twist. This version I read was condensed because it is featured in a readers digest edition. How much was taken out I dont know but it hasn't seemed to make much difference. A nice read but not what Iwould expect from Sandra Brown.

In Texas during the Great Depression, a new boarder comes to stay at young single-mother Ella Barron's boarding house. His name is David Rainwater, and he has a tragic secret - he is terminally ill and has only a few more months to live. In addition to becoming well liked and respected both in town and amongst the other boarders, David begins to work with Ella's autistic young son Solly.This book was obviously written to be a heartwarming, sentimental story that plays on the reader's emotions. And, it did succeed. This is a touching story, with so many different elements, just about anyone is bound to relate with the characters. I normally dislike overly sappy books like this, and I refuse to touch another Nicholas Sparks for that very reason. This one is much the same.I had to laugh at the conversation in this book, particularly between the two most prominent characters, Ella and David. At first I didn't notice anything amiss, save that they tended to speak shortly and to-the-point. But after awhile, I noticed that everything they said seemed to go along these all too similar lines: someone is praised, and they reject it, and the other person rejects that, and so on until they just give up.Here is a (made up) example:Ella - You are so good to help me wash the dishes.David - No I'm not.Ella - Yes, you are good to do it.David - It's no big deal, actually, so it doesn't even matter.Ella - It matters to me.David - I'm doing this for myself. I needed something to do. So it isn't a favor, I'm not a good guy, okay?!Ella - You are such a good guy.David - *silence*This is not an actual conversation, but seriously, it isn't even that big of an exaggeration. And you find this exact same structure to whatever they say all through the book. Once I noticed it one time, I noticed it on every page the characters were together.A major plot point to this book is about the government helping farming families by culling some of their cattle. Apparently, farmers herds were growing too large, and they couldn't afford to feed and care for how many animals they had. They tried to sell their livestock, but there were no buyers, and so their cattle were starving and proving useless for meat selling.To help, the government stepped in and said they would buy a certain percentage of the farmer's cattle, and kill them (as they didn't exactly want to start a Presidential cattle herd). It makes sense, and it seemed logical.However, this book very heavily paints it as a bad thing. It is portrayed as government help gone wrong. But however much Brown kept telling us how the 'bad' government was coming to cruelly shoot down the poor animals, I just didn't see it this way. They weren't just sweeping in and murdering family pets, they were buying virtually value-less property and making a stronger herd for these farmers. It makes sense.Here, the farmers get a call from the government to set up a day to come by. (Notice - these people set up a day, completely willingly, with the government. No force, no unexpected running in and shooting everyone down). Then, they do the necessary deed and leave. But for some reason, all of these farmers feel the need to stand on their front porches and watch the cows be shot, with their own children and wives as well. One man takes out a gun. Another man tells us pitifully about how a calf was shot but not killed, and just laid there for hours bleeding and in pain. In other words, they wallow in self pity for a thing that they themselves arranged.The only negative aspect of the entire set-up is that a local troublemaker drops in on many of these government dealings, with his mind made up to stir up mischief. But he isn't a part of the government.I was hoping that the author would provide a historical note at the end, perhaps explaining why exactly she had such an unexplained, ominous view of the government aid, but there was not. Not surprising, as this is a bestseller, after all, and was handcrafted to be one.Another thing I found very off about this story was the element of romance. It was sweet, but David Rainwater is painted as such an honorable, self-sacrificial, good man, that it didn't seem to fit. He is certainly not selfish. He is, in fact, perfect to a fault. He knows that he is terminally ill, and will soon die. But even so, he leads Ella into developing feelings for him, and the two fall in love. He is the one to encourage this in the first place, when he says about the ending of "A Farewell to Arms," that however sad he knew the ending was going to be, he would never have deprived himself of the beauty of the story. He then asks Ella "would you?"Not once does David express guilt at cultivating a relationship with Ella, or try to push her away. It just seemed so out of character.As for the good points, I did like the homey, quaint atmosphere that this book imparted. It was rustic and sweet-tea sweet. The pacing was quick, and the book was briskly easy to get through.An average book. If you like Nicholas Sparks or other such sappy things and don't mind some amateur writing, you'll enjoy this book. But if you're searching for literature, look elsewhere.

I read a lot more fantasy/Sci-fi than I do literary fiction, but even I need a little variety every now and then. This was a Firstreads win, so I decided to finally give it a read. I'm glad to have read it now that I have, even if it is one of those Depression era novels where even the happy endings are heart rending and sad. Having said that I did generally like it. Mostly because Mr. Rainwater was every bit the honourable gentleman of my dreams. He was wonderful. It would be awful hard not to like him. I liked Mrs. Barron, Margaret and the Doctor too, but it was Rainwater who stole the show. Guess that's why the book's named after him, huh?

This is the first Sandra Brown novel I've read and according to the acknowledges is a departure from her normal stories. She can sure write though. The prose of this book is beautiful and evocative. She manages to relate a lot of emotion in relatively few words. Small movements on the part of the characters relay a lot of meaning. Even though I had a fairly good idea of where the plot was going to end up (one way or another) I still hung on every word until I got there. Would be more than happy to read another of Mrs. Brown's books.

On a totally unrelated point, I read the hardback edition and it is a beautifully put together book. I love the cover image and the addition of the little bit of fancy gold edging around the title and the deckle edging of the pages.

This book was different from most of Sandra Brown's book so I was slow to pick it out of my stack and read it. But once I started it I was hooked. The characters were all interesting and I think she did a great job of describing the times and how people were treated. Some of the book was sad but it is a story about surviving and learning about yourself and giving hope to others.

Good book, but. Not your usual Sandra Brown, until close to the end, this is a sweet little book. But. Brown completely squanders an opportunity for deeper place and character development in the mid-passages, choosing instead in a few sentences to sum up a month's worth of plot development. She does the same thing at the end, which could have been tortured passage for both characters, really testing their mettle--and their love--but she passes it off in a few sentences.And then there are the small things, like cars crossing yellow lines on dirt roads, which jerk the reader completely out of the story for a moment. I don't know about Texas, but in North Carolina and Georgia we don't paint our dirt roads!It may be different, in different parts of the South, but where I come from, persons speaking Black dialect do not employ "they's" for "their". In NC, "they's" was a contraction for "there is", commonly used in place of "there are" as well. For "their," people where I grew up used "they", as in, "ridin' in they car over to they house." In other words, both "there" and "their" are pronounced "they," and the "'s" is added for the contraction, not the possessive. Brown's usage was distracting. And finally, the story is supposed to be told second-hand by Ella's son. I can't imagine a woman raised in the first decades of the 20th century discussing her sex life in such detail with her son!In short, the book was less smooth and tight than it should have been--Brown is no novice author. But still, it was sweet. I enjoyed it, and I cried at the end, as we are meant to.

This book is very good. Very emotional and an excellent story. Fabulous characters and interesting setting. Highly recommended!

This is possibly her best work. She portrayed the depression and desperation of the people of that time.

This was sooo good! I can't believe this is Sandra Brown's book! Very, very, good!

Beautifully written story which could have been depressing but managed to be hopeful in the end. I'm not a Sandra Brown fan, but found her description of Depression era hardships, racial conflicts, and the difficulties of dealing with a "special child" to be heartbreaking while at the same time affirming the basic goodness of humankind. would recommend.

In this poignant, beautifully written novel, Brown takes a detour from her usual contemporary romantic suspense thrillers and gives readers a moving, historical cinematic-styled story. Now, I should mention that this is the first story I have read by the author, so I cannot speak to the author's writing shift except to say that it was mentioned in the forward as something different the author undertook to write in between two contracted books. The end result is a solid piece of historical literary fiction. Yes, there are some elements of sexual tension/ romance between Ella and David (cannot expect a romance novelist to keep characters chaste, even in a genre-shift), but these are secondary elements as Brown focuses on some tough issues such as poverty, bigotry, corruption, racism and bullying. Ella's 10-year-old son Solly is an idiot savant (keep in mind, autism was not recognized as a medical disorder until 1942, 8 years after the setting for this story) so the story also focuses on Ella's struggles as a single parent to care for and raise Solly at home in an era where individuals like Solly were shut away in institutions.While the story is wonderfully written and has a quiet, contemplative story-telling aspect that I tend to love, it doesn't get full marks from me. I found the characters to be on the wooden side, lacking the depth and development I would have loved to see. Also, parts of the depression era setting are just a bit too perfect and orderly. Great for a cinematic experience but somehow seems just a little too perfect, right down to the planned tear-jerker ending for this bittersweet tale. Overall, a quick reading, historical literary fiction that may appeal to readers looking for books set during the Great Depression (this one is set in 1934).

I was sent a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.This is the first time I've read a Sandra Brown book and romance is not normally my go-to genre but this is claimed to be different from the author's usual fare.I found it to be a well-crafted story written in an easy to read style which flowed perfectly. I found it really difficult to put down and finished it over two days.From early on in the book you just know that it isn't going to end happily but by then it has sucked you in to the narrative and even though you feel you know exactly where it is going it still has time to deliver a twist right at the end.I'm so glad I decided to read this one as it was a welcome change from the usual thrillers and detective novels I usually read.

Book on CD performed by Victor SlezakIn 1934 in central Texas, Ella Barron runs a boardinghouse. She’s a particular woman in the way the cleans and runs her home. She respects the privacy of her tenants and expects the same in return. She is devoted to her only son, 10-year-old Solly, who does not speak and is prone to “fits” or tantrums. Doctor Kincaid introduces her to David Rainwater, the doctor’s distant cousin, who is seeking a quiet, peaceful place for a few months. This is an interesting look at small town prejudice and bullying in tough times. The Depression hit everyone hard. Some wealthy individuals weathered it with little disturbance; a few greedy people saw a way to profit from the distress of others. Many lost their homes / farms / jobs, and lived in shanty towns, staving off hunger by the generosity of others and their own hard work. Everyone in the boardinghouse is intrigued and charmed by Mr Rainwater, who has fine manners and a pleasant, calm disposition. Only Ella knows the truth, for Dr Kincaid has confided that Rainwater is dying. New to town, he still manages to have a great influence, leading by example in the face of bigotry, bullying and a corrupt sheriff. He also finds ways to penetrate Solly’s isolation, identifying the routines that capture the boy’s attention and help to calm him. Ella and Rainwater are drawn to one another, despite her instincts to remain aloof and apart from her tenant. Brown is best known as a romance writer, and there is some romance here. But it is more of an historical fiction work than a traditional romance, despite the sexual tension between the two main characters. Brown does a credible job of exploring some important issues, though she does tend to rely on some of the romance tropes and stereotypical characters. She also does a fine job of describing the landscape of central Texas during the Depression. I could almost feel the gritty dust in the air and was reminded of visiting my grandparents and having the chore of “watering the street” to keep the dust down on hot summer afternoons. Victor Slezak does a fine job performing the audio. His voice tends towards the bass register, so he’s great when voicing any of the male characters, but he manages a credible voice for the many women in the novel as well. At first, I thought his pace was too slow, but I quickly came to think it was perfect for this work.

Wonderful book. Best book I've read in a long time.

Mix up a small town, a dignified stranger, racial tension, an adult bully with arrested development, and a beautiful single mother with an autistic son, and there is plenty of opportunity for conflict. The ending is predictable and inevitable, but the plot carries the reader along anyway.

Sweet love story

This story, inspired by actual events during the Great Depression, takes place in 1934 in the small town of Gilead, Texas. Ella Barron runs a boarding house. Money is tight, yet Ella works hard to keep her place full. She splits her daily time working and caring for her disabled 10-year-old son, Solly. The local doctor brings her a new boarder, David Rainwater, who is dying of cancer.

Once-productive farms in Texas are now barren wastelands. Farmers have gone bankrupt, and for many who remain, the only option left is to ask for federal aid. Roosevelt's Drought Relief Program offers farmers financial help where cattle are purchased at a fair price and hauled away, and the meat is distributed to hungry people nationwide. It's a program formed of honorable intentions, yet it’s flawed in its execution. The animals deemed “not worthy for consumption” are shot it place and buried even though homeless families are starving in the same vicinity. As the government trucks arrive at each of the families’ farms, Ella and Mr. Rainwater ride out to see what's happening. Once Mr. Rainwater sees the injustice to the hungry people of the town, he is determined to do something. He is the one who will lead the charge to help them passively fight for the right to feed the hungry.

The central focus of this well-written novel is definitely the classic love story. Ella and Mr. Rainwater are courageous and admirable and you can't help but root for them, even knowing it probably won't be a happy ending. The book touches on a myriad of subjects, including racism, poverty and pacifism. It's a fast read about a horrible time in U. S. history and I found it completely different than other other book the author has written.

really liked this book.It was one of those quiet stories that slowly drew me in and then it barreled to the end and...it was over.Rainwater tells the story of a sad and lonely boarding house owner with an autistic son in the middle of the dust bowl. Into this sorry life strolls Mr. Rainwater. He is the new boarder in Mrs. Barron's boarding house and he is dying. That is a secret shared with Mrs. Barron when Mr. Rainwater's doctor cousin delivers him.And that is how it begins. The two circle around one another polite, at arms length, waiting for something. And then the government begins shooting cows at the neighboring dairy farms to provide a little money for the farmers. But, those shots set off something else in the town and eventually in Mrs. Barron, Solly (her son) and Mr. Rainwater. There is a predictable strand to this story - but it is comfortable and sweet.So - I would definitely recommend this one!

Sandra Brown out did herself this book is an incredible piece of work! The characters are so well painted and I think not only is it a great read but also also brings awareness to Autism! ***Although I personally worked for two years with Autistic teen boys I never had an opportunity to meet up with a Savant as Solly was. I always wanted to though. I can really relate to how Ella had to handy the fits and how Ella and Rainwater used something so simple as spools or two nickles to pacify Solly. How routines and schedules work well and how they don't like certain things like a mess, having wet clothes, spilling food on themselves, anything out of order may bother them. Autistics have some sort of repetitive thing they do ie: Solly's was tapping his shoes together in the beginning as well as his newer learned habit to line up the dominoes in numerical order.I have seen autistic persons that are obcessed watching cars drive, digging with a certain shaped stick and when it breaks making the stick again, watching certain parts of movies many times by rewinding a tape just to laugh again. It was very interesting while it lasted but alas it was a hard back breaking job to work with the teen boys and I would better our Character Ella was worn plumb out everynight!

I found myself drawn into the lives of Ella and the other people in historical romance set in a small southern town during the Depression. Great on audio

Such a nice change of pace from her other novels (not that they're bad, quite good really), it's nice to read something different. I've recommended this book as a book club selection to my co-worker.

Rainwater by Sandra Brown is a heart wrenching story set on the depression era. There’s plenty of drama running in this story, where Brown demonstrates her ability in capturing the setting and the time period, which makes this book an excellent read if you are looking for a change of pace.

As a diehard fan of Sandra Brown’s work, I couldn’t wait to dig into Rainwater. An historical fiction novel set during the Great Depression, Rainwater is a departure from the romantic suspense for which Brown is most known. I enjoyed it very much. The time period came alive in the storytelling. The main characters were sympathetic while being very strong. The love story at the heart of the novel was more than a romance. It was the story of a deep, intense love involving sacrifice and courage. Brown succeeded in writing an emotional novel without being sappy. She also portrayed racial tensions and economic hardships with a deft hand. It helped that the story was told through flashback by a family member. Having the story narrated years after the fact made the tragedies and struggles less immediate and easier to deal with, especially at the book’s conclusion. I was touched by the story and the family devotion and love portrayed therein.

How could I not read this? I need to hear about women raising their handicapped children, going about daily life. So I read of Ella, her industriousness with laundry or baking despite sweat dripping down her face. I feel guilty for my own lethargy in this current humid heat wave.Her son congratulates himself "Good job, Solly," and my heart breaks hearing my own son's efforts to communicate with limited word retrieval ability.1934 is a period I am not very familiar with, a time when the courtesy and generosity of ordinary citizens contrasts with the belligerance and prejudice of a few.

Good book, but. Not your usual Sandra Brown, until close to the end, this is a sweet little book. But. Brown completely squanders an opportunity for deeper place and character development in the mid-passages, choosing instead in a few sentences to sum up a month's worth of plot development. She does the same thing at the end, which could have been tortured passage for both characters, really testing their mettle--and their love--but she passes it off in a few sentences.And then there are the small things, like cars crossing yellow lines on dirt roads, which jerk the reader completely out of the story for a moment. I don't know about Texas, but in North Carolina and Georgia we don't paint our dirt roads!It may be different, in different parts of the South, but where I come from, persons speaking Black dialect do not employ "they's" for "their". In NC, "they's" was a contraction for "there is", commonly used in place of "there are" as well. For "their," people where I grew up used "they", as in, "ridin' in they car over to they house." In other words, both "there" and "their" are pronounced "they," and the "'s" is added for the contraction, not the possessive. Brown's usage was distracting. And finally, the story is supposed to be told second-hand by Ella's son. I can't imagine a woman raised in the first decades of the 20th century discussing her sex life in such detail with her son!In short, the book was less smooth and tight than it should have been--Brown is no novice author. But still, it was sweet. I enjoyed it, and I cried at the end, as we are meant to.

I really liked this book. Have tissue ready for the end. Just a great story!

I read the e-book version. I may have missed something. The discussion questions in the back mentioned an epilogue that my version did not have and desperately needed. It would have tied everything together. The book starts at when Solly is a grown man talking to two people in his antique store and ends abruptly as a child. Definitely something VERY important was missing. Not normally a fan of romance, this one was a cut above, but definitely lacked closure without the epilogue to tie things together. I doubt any editor would have allowed Sandra Brown to leave the ending like that.

I loved this book and since I'm usually not a romance fan, I don't know what that says. The time period was fascinating (and brutal) and her Sandra Brown's characters felt immediately real to me. I missed everyone when I was finished. I'm mailing it to my grandma tomorrow!