A Blackberry Winter is when cold weather descends on the Pacific Northwest in the spring during the time blackberries are blooming. It's called a Dogwood Winter in other U.S. areas. Sarah Jio writes of two of these events in her novel - one occurred in the 1930s and another present day. Set in Seattle, each chapter switches between these two different eras featuring Vera Ray, a woman whose child is missing, and Claire who has also lost a child. I did find it difficult switching between the two as I'd be engrossed in one chapter and had to readjust to the other character when the chapter ended. The two periods were so different and yet Ms. Jio gives us a glimpse into the lives of two women struggling with the loss of a child - Vera who also has to deal with the lack of employment at the time and Claire who is floundering in her marriage. This would make a great book club read.Reading guide here
