In My Sister's Country

by Lise Haines

Book Overview

At first, their sisterly anger appears nearly comical. But the furious passion with which Molly and Amanda face each other-and the most susceptible men who fall inside their borders-marks In My... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0399148574
• ISBN13: 9780399148576
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Blue Hen Books
• Length: 295 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.6"
• Age Range: 14 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 9 and higher

Customer Reviews

A Must Read

This summer at a writer's conference, I heard Lise Haines read a savvy, somewhat zany and erotic scene from In My Sister's Country. I was so taken by Molly (the main character's)sensibility that when the reading ended, I was first in line at the book table. The rest of the book delivered the same payoff as the author's reading had promised.I spent the better part of the next two evenings inside of Molly's head as she tries to discover and come to terms with who she is. I was exhilarated and sad when I finished the novel. It's the kind of book you never want to end.

lyrical and lovely, a satisfying novel

I found this book to be both a compelling story and a treat to read; Haines' language is smooth and icy-clear, the book is filled with images so vivid they're impossible to forget. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a contemporary literary escape.

I was so enthralled, I read it in one sitting.

Thinking I only had a couple of hours to spend on the book, I found myself sitting down for 5 straight hours and reading it, cover to cover. When introduced to Molly, the 17-year-old leading character, I was intrigued by her independence, her fearlessness, and spirit. This is not your typical 17-year old. No family is perfect and Molly's is no exception. The twists and turns that take place in the relationships among and between Molly's parents, her older sister/guardian, and several other men in Molly's life keep one feeling as if anything is possible. Molly doesn't really seem to care about the outcomes of her actions but it's the history of where she comes from that helps define who she is yet not where she's going. I wish I'd had some of her self-esteem as a teenager . No matter what kind of circumstances Molly was in, I just kept rooting for her, wanting her to overcome everything and was relieved when she was able to do just that.

astute psychological tale

Their father abandoned them years ago and now their compliant mother is dying forcing the recalcitrant younger of the siblings, teenage Molly to move into the home of her older sister the manipulative Amanda. Except for economics, Molly hates this scenario, as she cannot forgive Amanda for her role in abetting their father in his psychological power games when he lived with them. Worse to Molly is Amanda is a chip off the old block as she needs to dominate their relationship. The sisters quickly find it easier to lie and pretend an understanding rather than any degree of honesty between them. This world of fabrication is fine to both Molly and Amanda until the seventeen-year old obsesses over her sibling's boy friend. Pondering her past when her home was allegedly a happy place to live, Molly sees nightmares and games families play turning her further into a rebel without a cause with no allies not even her friends. Chicago has probably never looked as scary as it is seen through the eyes of Molly, a deep character whose psychological woes are the centerpiece of this strong drama. IN MY SISTER'S COUNTRY is as astute of a psychological tale as a reader will find as Lise Haines takes the audience inside to the core of Molly and Amanda who see the same event relatively differently. Fans of taut character studies will relish Ms. Haine's triumphant look at a dysfunctional relationship, but the catch is that this is no joyful trek to the Central Park duck ponds.Harriet Klausner

A stunning writer....

After reading several books that I kind of had to force myself through, Haines' novel was a bracing compulsion-- I kept finding myself thinking about the character Molly throughout the day and wondering in which direction she might streak next. Lise Haines is a WONDERFUL writer. There were many places where I folded back corners of the book because of some observation that was so shocking, true and beautifully said that I wanted to read it over and over again.