Product DescriptionWhen teenage hockey player Joe Andreson and his widowed mother move to Minneapolis, Joe falls under the seductive spell of Kristi Casey, Ole Bull High’s libidinous head cheerleader. Joe balances Kristi’s lustful manipulation with the down-to-earth companionship of his smart, platonic girlfriend, Darva. But it is Kristi who will prove to be a temptation (and torment) throughout Joe’s life.
Years later, Joe can’t believe that life has deposited him in the aisles of Haugland Foods. But he soon learns that being a grocer is like being the mayor of a small town: His constituents confide astonishing things and always appreciate Joe’s generous dispensing of the milk of human kindness. The path Kristi has charged down, on the other hand, is as wild as Joe’s is tame. But who has really risked more? Who has lived more? And who is truly happy? As Joe discovers, sometimes people are lucky enough to be standing in the one place where the view of the world is breathtaking, if only they’ll open their eyes to all there is to see.
Praise for The View from Mount Joy:
“A delightful journey . . . full of humor and poignancy and the potential for joy in everyday life.” –The Charlotte Observer
“Deeply satisfying . . . Bursting with the same deliciously deadpan dialogue that is now a Landvik trademark . . . [The View from Mount Joy provides] quite possibly Landvik’s most lovable character to date.” –Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Pervaded by the same tenderness readers loved in Landvik’s other books The View from Mount Joy . . . Should inspire interesting book club discussions.” –St. Paul Pioneer Press
“[Landvik] has an easy, engaging narrative style laced with humor.” –The Boston Globe
“Landvik’s latest homespun homage is pure bliss.” –Booklist
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Joyful!
I loved this book; I haven't enjoyed reading a book this much in a long time. I want Joe to be my friend and neighbor, and I want his grocery store in my town!
Light reading, sure, but its ultimate themes of joy, hope, and happiness, and the bumps along the way, make for a pleasurable story.
Rating: - The View From Mount Joy
Lorna Landvak has long been one of my favorite authors, but I was very disappointed in this book. Too much use of the "F" word and too much teen-age sex.
I won't be recommending this to any of my friends.
Rating: - I was on Mount Joy
This was my first Landvik book, and I loved it! I fell in love with all the characters, even Kristi (well, sort of...). I cried several times, and smiled even more.
There were a few places where I thought she was insulting the reader's memory and intelligence by giving an unnecessary reference or explanation, but hey, she didn't ask me to be her editor (next time, Ms. Landvik, I'd be happy to).
Since I'm from Minnesota and graduated high school in '75 it was a perfect summer ... Read More
Rating: - Don't waste your time
I have copied the following from another review. I so wanted to report EXACTLY the following sentiment after finishing the book. Because I am a great fan of the author's PREVIOUS books, I felt obligated to read to the end, looking, HOPING she could somehow redeem herself. Silly me, never happened. Here is the review with which I agree in its entirety:
I have read and enjoyed all Lorna Landvik's previous novels, but The View From Mount Joy was completely different. Loaded with sex, which ... Read More
Rating: - Easy read
This book, while a bit schmaltzy at times, was an easy, enjoyable read. The story was quick and absorbing and the characters were well developed. My only issue with the book was the same as some other reviewers in that it was a bit difficult keeping track of the time line. Years would span between chapters and you would have to wait for the author to mention somebody's age to figure out how much time had gone by. Overall, good story w/ interesting premise.
- Joyful!
- The View From Mount Joy
