Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins
The Ups and Downs of Building a House (10/28/2016)
The premise is pretty amazing. Not a lot of women - or men, for that matter - would drag their four kids, including a two-year-old, out to the woods to build their dream house.
This story will appeal to people interested in construction as a large portion of the narrative is dedicated to the actual process of building the house, step by step.
I don't agree with the title, "How a House Built a Family" as they were already tightly bonded and committed to each other. Her children proved themselves to be strong, capable and incredibly tolerant throughout the entire story. They are far closer to perfect than most children - or adults.
Perhaps this is why I was somewhat troubled by the "fall" sections. The family's history with one of her troubled former husbands is revealed in a melodramatic manner which felt a bit exploitative.