The Singing Trees by Boo Walker

Annalisa and Thomas come from two different worlds. Annalisa though poor is from a huge, loving Italian origin family all caring for each other and sometimes overpoweringly stifling. Annalisa unfortunately does not fit into the groove expected of her - to grow up, get a local job, get married and have babies. She wants more, especially after she saw her mother's life and how her mother's dreams were trampled by her father who did not allow her mother to have any life of her own. Annalisa finds Payton Mills closing in on her and only wants to get out to Portland, the closest city to her home to pursue her dream of the arts. To get tutored properly, to have a chance at being exposed and influenced by great artists and in turn to have a chance to showcase her own work. Annalisa knows she is good but she does need finishing touches and she is not going to get it in the backwaters of Payton Mills. Pursuing her dream with determination she succeeds to a point but then life threw a spanner in the works. She falls pregnant and with Thomas away on secondment in Vietnam, no backing at all from Thomas's family she is faced with bringing up Celia on her own. The story of Annalisa's grit and determination even with setbacks and practical difficulties not to give up on her dream, despite her never failing out of love with Thomas despite his so called indifference, the attitude of his family is admirable. Survival, putting aside feelings to reach your original goal is foremost in her mind and this she achieves very well. Love does happen but only after the bitter hatred and jealously of those who are supposed to be family is shown as the reason for Thomas and Annalisa's breakup. That was a shocker as it came from an unexpected source. The story set in 1969 with its overtones of Woodstock, hippies, a freer lifestyle, Vietnam and protests was an intriguing one. Sent by Lake Union Publishing for an unbiased review, courtesy of Netgalley.