I just finished Prodigal Summer, by Barbara Kingsolver. I picked this book up twice and put it right back down again. However, the third time around I made a pact with myself to stick with it..no matter what. I am so glad I did! In hindsight, I have no idea why I had such a hard time with it the first two times. Here is the blurb from Barnes & Noble:

Over the course of one humid summer, as the urge to procreate overtakes the countryside, these characters find their connections to one another and to the flora and fauna with whom they share a place.

Rich and lush. Those are the two words that come to mind. The book takes us through three, interwoven stories about nature and love. We meet a ranger whose main task is to protect a mountain and the conflict between her and the hunter that threatens it. We also meet a young woman, overcome with grief, and how she struggles to make a life for herself on a farm. The last couple, consist of two elderly neighbors. Each trying to co-exist on their land that sits right next to each other.

There are some tender moments.. and a lot of funny ones. I found myself re-reading certain passages because they were written so beautifully. This would be a great book to kick-off summer. If you read it..let me know what you think of it.