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Wish You Well
by David Baldacci
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Warner Books (2001-09-01)
ISBN: 0446610100
EAN: 9780446610100
Dewy Decimal #: 813.54
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
SKU: 04076
Condition: Collectible: Very Go
Comments: First edition book, in great condition
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
David Baldacci has made a name for himself crafting big, burly legal thrillers withlarger-than-life plots. However, Wish You Well, set in his native Virginia, is a tale of hopeand wonder and "something of a miracle" just itching to happen. This shift from contentiousurbanites to homespun hill families may come as a surprise to some of Baldacci's fans--but they canrest assured: the author's sense of pacing and exuberant prose have made the leap as well.The year is 1940. After a car accident kills 12-year-old Lou's and 7-year-old Oz's father and leavestheir mother Amanda in a catatonic trance, the children find themselves sent from New York Cityto their great-grandmother Louisa's farm in Virginia. Louisa's hardscrabble existence comes as aprofound shock to precocious Lou and her shy brother. Still struggling to absorb theirabandonment, they enter gamely into a life that tests them at every turn--and offers unimaginablerewards. For Lou, who dreams of following in her father's literary footsteps, the misty, craggyAppalachians and the equally rugged individuals who make the mountains their home quicklybecome invested with an almost mythic significance:They took metal cups from nails on the wall and dipped them in the water, and then sat outside anddrank. Louisa picked up the green leaves of a mountain spurge growing next to the springhouse,which revealed beautiful purple blossoms completely hidden underneath. "One of God's littlesecrets," she explained. Lou sat there, cup cradled between her dimpled knees, watching andlistening to her great-grandmother in the pleasant shade...Baldacci switches deftly between lovingly detailed character description (an area in which his debtto Laura Ingalls Wilder and Harper Lee seems evident) and patient development of the novel'scentral plot. If that plot is a trifle transparent--no one will be surprised by Amanda's miraculousrecovery or by the children's eventual battle with the nefarious forces of industry in an attempt tosave their great-grandmother's farm--neither reader nor character is the worse for it. After all,nostalgia is about remembering things one already knows. --Kelly Flynn
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Amazon.com Review
David Baldacci has made a name for himself crafting big, burly legal thrillers with larger-than-life plots. However, Wish You Well, set in his native Virginia, is a tale of hope and wonder and "something of a miracle" just itching to happen. This shift from contentious urbanites to homespun hill families may come as a surprise to some of Baldacci's fans--but they can rest assured: the author's sense of pacing and exuberant prose have made the leap as well. The year is 1940. After a car accident kills 12-year-old Lou's and 7-year-old Oz's father and leaves their mother Amanda in a catatonic trance, the children find themselves sent from New York City to their great-grandmother Louisa's farm in Virginia. Louisa's hardscrabble existence comes as a profound shock to precocious Lou and her shy brother. Still struggling to absorb their abandonment, they enter gamely into a life that tests them at every turn--and offers unimaginable rewards. For Lou, who dreams of following in her father's literary footsteps, the misty, craggy Appalachians and the equally rugged individuals who make the mountains their home quickly become invested with an almost mythic significance: They took metal cups from nails on the wall and dipped them in the water, and then sat outside and drank. Louisa picked up the green leaves of a mountain spurge growing next to the springhouse, which revealed beautiful purple blossoms completely hidden underneath. "One of God's little secrets," she explained. Lou sat there, cup cradled between her dimpled knees, watching and listening to her great-grandmother in the pleasant shade... Baldacci switches deftly between lovingly detailed character description (an area in which his debt to Laura Ingalls Wilder and Harper Lee seems evident) and patient development of the novel's central plot. If that plot is a trifle transparent--no one will be surprised by Amanda's miraculous recovery or by the children's eventual battle with the nefarious forces of industry in an attempt to save their great-grandmother's farm--neither reader nor character is the worse for it. After all, nostalgia is about remembering things one already knows. --Kelly Flynn
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Customer Reviews
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An awesome departure from normal for Baldacci.
Rating  (5)
Date: 2008-10-22
David Baldacci is usually well known for his political thrillers, but "Wish You Well" is an incredible book, even though it's a totally different genre. It's a wonderful coming-of-age story for the two main characters, Lou and Oz Cardinal, who are sent to live on an Appalachian farm with their great-grandmother.
The characters in the story are beautifully written and have great depth to them. You will laugh and cry with them as the story unfolds. There are many events that shape the lives of the two young children. And true to Baldacci's style, "Wish You Well" will still grip your attention to the last page.
A great read for anyone, even if you don't like David Baldacci.
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Wonderful story!
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-07-23
This is my first Baldacci book. I picked it up at a local swap meet, and I'm so glad I did. I loved this story about a young girl and her brother who go to live with their great-grandmother in the Virginia mountains! It really touched my heart. It also made me hungry...I now have a real craving for some homemade bread with butter! I'm definitely keeping it in my collection of best books to read.
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Wishing well..
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-07-19
Wish You Well
Our story starts out with a family, mother, father, daughter and son. They are going for the day to have a picnic before they move to California so father can pursue his writing career there. Currently they live in New York City. On the way back, mother and father are discussing moving and mother wants to go live in Virginia where father grew up -- Father doesn't want to ever go back. They end up having an accident, which kills father and hurts the mother. The children end up going to Viriginia, taking their mother whom keeps her eyes shut and doesn't speak anymore; thinking if they wouldn't have been argueing maybe the accident wouldn't have happened.
Moving to Virginia Oz and Lou meet lots of characters, the great-grandmother Louisa, Eugene, Diamond, Cotton and some not so nice. A big gas company pressures Louisa to sell her property, but she says she will never leave the mountain. She has a stroke and it leaves her stuck in the hospital, unable to communicate, just like mother. The gas company takes her to court, even though she is unable to communicate saying that she is mentally unfit and can't take care of the children either. Will she be able to save her land? Will mother (Amanda) ever walk and talk again?
This book was so enthralling I couldn't put it down. Lou is a strong young lady and one of my favorite characters. You will love this book!
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Wonderful, Wonderful
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-06-18
This is a wonderful story. It had me crying and laughing.. It was a completely departure from his other books. I truly enjoyed every page.
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Best of David's Books
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-05-31
Even though this book was published eight years ago, I decided to read it. Boy am I glad I did. This is one of the most beautifully written and heartwarming stories I've read. I just had to tell every one that if they enjoy REAL people who work hard for a living and get by using the brains God gave them then you will LOVE this book. This is about the triumph of the human spirit and decent folk helping their neighbors.
You will not be disappointed!
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