Guest Review: TRUE COLORS by Kristin Hannah

True Colors

by Kristin Hannah

ISBN-10: 0312364105

ISBN-13: 978-0312364106

Hardcover, 400 pages

St. Martin's Press

February 3, 2009

Reviewed by Cynthia Murphy

Kristin Hannah is among the best when it comes to grand, melodramatic sagas. Her latest novel, True Colors, is no exception. It features her usual combination of romance and tragedy. This time Hannah examines the bond between sisters and how men affect this bond.

True Colors follows the Grey sisters after the death of their mother. Eldest sister Winona is an overweight bookworm who feels out of place at her family’s horse ranch, Water’s Edge. Middle daughter Aurora assumes the role of family peacemaker. Youngest daughter Vivi Ann is the family’s golden child. It seems she can do no wrong in their father’s eyes, and she loves the family ranch. The sisters’ bond seems strong until Vivi Ann falls in love with Winona’s old friend (and secret crush) Luke Connelly. When Vivi Ann cheats on Luke with ranch hand Dallas Raintree, the bond between her and Winona begins to break. Things begin to improve after Vivi Ann and Dallas marry and start a family, but then he is charged with the murder of a local woman. Although she is the town’s best attorney, Winona refuses to take his case. This temporarily severs her bond with her sisters. Dallas is convicted of the murder. He loses numerous appeals and gives up hope of returning to his family. He divorces Vivi Ann while he is in prison. Vivi Ann blames Winona for Dallas’s imprisonment, and their bond appears to be severed. However, the sisters gradually rebuild their relationship over the years.

Things change when Vivi Ann’s son asks Winona to help clear his father’s name. Winona agrees to help, but it leads to a new rift between her and Vivi Ann. In her attempts to clear Dallas, Winona finds a new form of inner strength. She decides to stop seeking her father’s approval and simply live life on her own terms. She also forms a strong bond with her nephew, Noah. Ultimately, the bond between the Grey sisters proves to be stronger than any outside forces.

True Colors is heavy on the drama, but Kristin Hannah does balance things a bit with sharp dialogue. Winona has some rather witty lines, and Noah’s journal entries feature a combination of anger and humor. At times, the level of sadness is almost overwhelming. It seems as if Winona will never find happiness in her own life. Similarly, Vivi Ann drifts along in a downward spiral for several years after Dallas’s incarceration. Things don’t seem to get on an even keel for the sisters until the final third of the book.

As usual, Kristin Hannah creates compelling characters. Winona and Vivi Ann are particularly well-crafted. I do have a complaint about the development of Aurora. Her character is highly underdeveloped. Aurora goes through an acrimonious divorce somewhere in the middle of the novel, but her story never gets told. Passing references to the nasty divorce and her husband’s mistress appear throughout the second half of the book, but Hannah never reveals the details of Aurora’s life. Their father also seems to be an underdeveloped character. The source of his bitterness never becomes apparent. Part of his anger clearly stems from his wife’s death, but there are deeper issues involved as well.

The romance between Vivi Ann and Dallas is beautifully written. Hannah does know how to write a sweeping romance. Hannah portrays a much less passionate affair with Winona and Mark Michaelin. When their arc ends, it really doesn’t seem like much of a loss. Hannah also portrays young love between Noah and Mark’s daughter, Cissy. There is something very sweet and innocent about their relationship.

True Colors explores the bond between sisters. The Grey sisters face challenges to their relationship as men come and go from their lives. At times, the family seems to be split into warring factions, but the bond is never completely broken. The Grey sisters emerge from each event stronger than they were before. Fans of romance and melodrama won’t be disappointed by True Colors.