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Christa Polkinhorn
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An Uncommon Family: An Emotionally Gripping Story of Love and Forgiveness (Family Portrait Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Christa Polkinhorn (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 111 ratings
In the heart of Zurich, Switzerland, three lives scarred by loss and betrayal collide, setting the stage for a journey of healing, love, and redemption.

Six-year-old Karla, yearning for the mother she lost too soon, finds solace in her burgeoning talent for painting. Anna, grappling with the wounds of her ex-husband's deceit, becomes both a mentor and a maternal figure to Karla. Meanwhile, Jonas, a widowed artist and teacher, hides behind his grief, carrying a secret from his past that threatens to unravel everything.

As Anna and Jonas nurture Karla's gift, their connection deepens into a fragile romance. However, their newfound bond faces an impasse when Anna stumbles upon Jonas's secret. Determined to mend their fractured relationship, young Karla devises a daring plan with the help of a friend. Yet, as her scheme spirals out of control, Karla is forced to confront hard truths about love and the complexities of life.

An Uncommon Family is a poignant tale of loss, lies, and betrayal—and a testament to the transformative power of love and forgiveness. Spanning Switzerland, New York City, and Guadalajara, this story invites readers on a heartfelt journey of resilience and hope.
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    Family Portrait
  2. Print length
    295 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    May 27, 2011
  5. File size
    1.0 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

A rich and emotive story around three principal characters, each with their own troubled pasts. Although each of the characters bears an entirely different burden to the others, all three become inextricably linked in the unfolding story of an unlikely union. This is a story described in a beautiful literary prose style, the narrative detailed and lyrically descriptive.
- Gareth Stokes, Author, UK

Ultimately, the novel reminds us there are many ways to create a family. Polkinhorn's book really touched my heart (and at times made me cry), and I recommend it highly! I look forward to reading more of this gifted author's work.
- Susan Dormady Eisenberg, Member of the Author's Guild & Author of The Voice I Just Heard

This book is no lightweight by any means. The main themes of the story are trust, betrayal, honesty, loss, and love. Applicable in some degree to each of the three, the handling and development of these themes was top notch.If you like stories of ordinary people thrown together into uncommon situations, I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I recommend it highly and look forward to reading Polkinhorn's next installment.
- Larry Enright, award-winning author of The Jennifer Project, Four Years from Home, A Cape May Diamond

I liked Christa Polkinhorn's way of developing the characters. Each of them is flawed in their own way. No one is perfect. I also like the primary setting, Zurich, which I've never been to, but would like to go there after reading An Uncommon Family. Christa Polkinhorn created a story for each character, complete with secrets, and then brought those stories together.
- Helen Ginger award-winning author of Angel Sometimes

About the Author

"Born and raised in Switzerland, I have always had the desire to explore the world outside of my beautiful but tiny country. I traveled in Europe, China, Japan as well as South America. Now, I live and work as writer and translator in southern California. My interest in foreign cultures informs my work and my novels take place in several countries. I published a volume of poetry (The Path of Fire). Now, I write and publish contemporary fiction with a focus on family drama/love stories(The Family Portrait trilogy)and family drama/suspense (The Wine Lover's Daughter series). Aside from writing and traveling, I am an avid reader and a lover of the arts,dark chocolate, and red wine."

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0053005NO
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookworm Press (May 27, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 295 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 111 ratings

About the author

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Christa Polkinhorn

Christa Polkinhorn

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Born and raised in Switzerland, Christa Polkinhorn has always had the desire to explore the world outside of her beautiful but tiny country. She traveled in Europe, China, Japan as well as South America. Now, she lives and works as writer and translator in southern California. Her interest in foreign cultures informs her work and her novels take place in several countries. She published a volume of poetry (The Path of Fire). Now, she writes and publishes contemporary fiction with a focus on family drama/love stories (The Family Portrait trilogy) and family drama/suspense (The Wine Lover's Daughter series). Aside from writing and traveling, she is an avid reader and a lover of the arts, dark chocolate, and red wine.

Visit the author on her website and blog: https://www.christa-polkinhorn.com

Christa Polkinhorn can also be found on Facebook as Christa Polkinhorn and Author Christa Polkinhorn as well as on Twitter and Instagram as cpolkinhorn.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
111 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story flow engaging, with one review highlighting its ability to mine complex human emotions and interactions. Moreover, they appreciate the well-drawn visual landscape and beautiful writing style, while the characters feel totally real to them. Additionally, customers describe the book as fascinating reading, with one review noting how it makes readers care about the characters.

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18 customers mention "Story flow"18 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story flow of the book, describing it as a poignant tale of love that gets readers engaged. One customer notes how the author mines complex human emotions and interactions, while another appreciates the detailed scene descriptions.

"...Yet Polkinhorn's main strength is her ability to mine complex human emotions and interactions...." Read more

"...It was a sweet story of family, love and loss." Read more

"...The flow of the story was very natural and each character's struggle to reconcile their past made sense and was quite relatable...." Read more

"...in Switzerland, the book has a nice local flavor that complements the story well and is interjected unobtrusively at various points as the plot..." Read more

17 customers mention "Enjoyment"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable and fascinating, with one customer noting how it draws readers in.

"...An Uncommon Family" is a feel-good story that was a pleasure to read...." Read more

"This was an enjoyable book but too slow-paced for me...." Read more

"...Karla and Anna, and Anna and Jonas in a steady, deliberate, and delicate way that I appreciated greatly...." Read more

"This is a well constructed novel, with credible characters, and a plot that made you want to know what they were doing...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding the characters totally real, with one customer noting their three-dimensional personalities.

"...Her characters are flesh-and-blood people who jump off the page, and she makes the reader care deeply about their past and future choices...." Read more

"...The author did an excellent job of writing an authentic character and describing her relationship to the world (and those close to her) as it..." Read more

"This is a well constructed novel, with credible characters, and a plot that made you want to know what they were doing...." Read more

"...characters, both major and minor, have well-developed, three-dimensional personalities...." Read more

5 customers mention "Heartwarming"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, with one review noting how it makes readers care about the characters, while another highlights the author's thoughtful approach to exploring the human heart and mind.

"...I look forward to reading more of this gifted author's work." Read more

"...Karla and Jonas, Karla and Anna, and Anna and Jonas in a steady, deliberate, and delicate way that I appreciated greatly...." Read more

""An Uncommon Family" is a thoughtful and insightful story about the pathways of the human heart and mind and the passion that binds relationships...." Read more

"...Of love and support. This book draws you in and makes you care about these people. It's definitely a worthwhile read." Read more

5 customers mention "Story quality"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer describing it as a fascinating study of a child.

"...the past two days reading Christa Polkinhorn's poignant novel, AN UNCOMMON FAMILY...." Read more

"...It was a sweet story of family, love and loss." Read more

"An Uncommon Family is a lovely story. Karla lost her mother and grandmother in a auto accident and she now lives with her aunt Anna...." Read more

"...The emotional development of Karla is a fascinating study of a child who must deal with tragedy at an early age and her emotional evolution into the..." Read more

5 customers mention "Visual style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the visual style of the book, with one mentioning how it vividly describes the paintings of Jonas.

"...The author also vividly describes the paintings of Jonas and the emerging talent of Karla who becomes his pupil...." Read more

"...and Jonas' respective stories, I found Karla's coming-of-age to be quite charming, and I loved the interaction between Karla and her best friend Maja..." Read more

"...Beautiful surroundings, and well researched writing." Read more

"...The imagery is beautifully done throughout the book, but the scene where Karla and her friend, Maja, go to the top of a hill in order to see their..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"...Beautiful surroundings, and well researched writing." Read more

"...Anna, and Jonas make for fascinating reading because the writing and editing are so good...." Read more

"This book is written beautifully and the story is so interesting. This is one of the best books I have read on my kindle...." Read more

"...It is remarkable that she writes so beautifully in a second language...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Susan Dormady Eisenberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars An Uncommonly Lovely Novel
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I spent the past two days reading Christa Polkinhorn's poignant novel, AN UNCOMMON FAMILY. The book tells the story of Anna, an emotionally cautious woman who becomes the guardian of her sister's young daughter, Karla, after the girl's mother dies. Aunt and niece forge a bond of mutual sorrow, but it's their serendipitous encounter with an artist, Jonas, a widower with losses of his own, that finally allows Anna and Karla to set aside their grief and embrace life again.

    Set in Switzerland with scenes in New York and Mexico, the book offers a well-drawn visual landscape. The author also vividly describes the paintings of Jonas and the emerging talent of Karla who becomes his pupil. Yet Polkinhorn's main strength is her ability to mine complex human emotions and interactions. Her characters are flesh-and-blood people who jump off the page, and she makes the reader care deeply about their past and future choices. The minor characters, such as Karla's mischievous pal Maja and Jonas's nosy landlady, Mrs. Schatz, add texture and spice--and occasional comic relief.

    Ultimately, the novel reminds us there are many ways to create a family. Polkinhorn's book really touched my heart (and at times made me cry), and I recommend it highly! I look forward to reading more of this gifted author's work.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • LJB
    4.0 out of 5 stars Touching Tale
    Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first of 3 books, they can be read separately, but I recommend reading them in order and one after the other. It was a sweet story of family, love and loss.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Lizzy
    5.0 out of 5 stars QUITE THE CHARMER!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Six-year-old Karla lost her mother in a car crash and now lives with her aunt Anna, who years before had lost her husband in a plane crash, immediately after learning of a life-altering betrayal. By chance one day in Zurich, they meet artist Jonas Bergman, who had lost his beloved wife to cancer.

    Karla begins to take art lessons from Jonas, and over the years, a relationship forms between Anna and Jonas, but each character's past threatens to destroy the love they are building.

    This was a very warm and charming story that really made me want to root for the characters. The flow of the story was very natural and each character's struggle to reconcile their past made sense and was quite relatable.

    Aside from Anna and Jonas' respective stories, I found Karla's coming-of-age to be quite charming, and I loved the interaction between Karla and her best friend Maja. The author did an excellent job of writing an authentic character and describing her relationship to the world (and those close to her) as it evolved with each passing year.

    "An Uncommon Family" is a feel-good story that was a pleasure to read. I very much look forward to reading "Love of a Stonemason" so that I can find out what happened to Karla when after she grew up. I know I'm in for a treat!
    16 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Marlene
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great
    Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    This was an enjoyable book but too slow-paced for me. Also, I noticed a repeated phrase, attributed to two different women within a short time in the book - and so, needs a good editor.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • avid reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars Convoluted route to happiness
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Humans are not perfect. They make hurtful mistakes in relationships and are not always strong enough to face the truth and move forward with their lives. An Uncommon Family is not so uncommon! This story takes the reader through the hurt, misunderstanding, loss and the work it takes to move towards a better life.
    Helpful
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  • L Enright
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ordinary people in uncommon situations
    Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    "An Uncommon Family" is about just that - a six year-old girl who lost her mother in a car crash and still has nightmares about it, her aunt who survived a failed marriage and remains bitter and distant in her relationships with men, and an artist whose marriage ended in the tragic death of his wife. The story is about the intertwining of their lives from when Karla, the young girl, is six until her twelfth birthday. At the outset, she and Anna, her aunt and guardian, by chance, encounter Jonas, the artist, who offers to give Karla art lessons. From there, the relationships develop between Karla and Jonas, Karla and Anna, and Anna and Jonas in a steady, deliberate, and delicate way that I appreciated greatly.

    Set primarily in Switzerland, the book has a nice local flavor that complements the story well and is interjected unobtrusively at various points as the plot moves forward. In terms of point of view, the story is seen through the eyes of the three main characters and, as such, the narrative is superb. This book is no lightweight by any means. The main themes of the story are trust, betrayal, honesty, loss, and love. Applicable in some degree to each of the three, the handling and development of these themes was top notch.

    If you like stories of ordinary people thrown together into uncommon situations, I know you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I recommend it highly and look forward to reading Polkinhorn's next installment.
    8 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • esomanybooks
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good reading
    Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    This is a well constructed novel, with credible characters, and a plot that made you want to know what they were doing. Beautiful surroundings, and well researched writing.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Linda
    5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this!
    Reviewed in Germany on March 3, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Bad things happen to good people, and this is the story of three people who each have a different mountain to climb. Loss, grief, betrayal and distrust are all convincingly portrayed as Anna, Jonas and six-year-old Karla move towards becoming 'an uncommon family'. And I loved the Swiss setting!
    Report
  • Gareth Stokes
    5.0 out of 5 stars So good I read it twice!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 22, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    A rich and emotive story around three principal characters, each with their own troubled pasts. Although each of the characters bears an entirely different burden to the others, all three become inextricably linked in the unfolding story of an unlikely union.

    Karla, a precocious and talented young girl; her guardian aunt Anna, withdrawn and mistrustful of men, devoted only to her niece; and Jonas, a kindly, gentle-souled man who undertakes art tutoring of young Karla. In doing so, a warm yet cautious relationship develops between he and Anna - but one that the reader wonders how it may possibly develop with Anna so rigid and full of doubt.

    All three have tragedies to conquer, from grief to betrayal to guilt. Yet a close bond forms as Jonas becomes closer to both his protégé Karla, and the woman of his increasing desire, Anna. But as secrets unfold, and memories of betrayal linger, even as childish mischief comes into play, it looks sadly like this trio of loveable characters are going to drift apart.

    This is a story described in a beautiful literary prose style, the narrative detailed and lyrically descriptive. I'm especially fond of the portrayal behind each three personalities. In Karla I see the amazing, if tragic, devices that a child may employ to deal with grief. Imagining under certain circumstances that 'a crack opens in the sky and you can see into Heaven to talk to those you've lost'. Very touching. And in Anna, the stoic mentality that is her armour against another betrayal, yet her own self-doubt at her capability to be enough of a `parent' to Karla. And in Jonas, the persistence and patience of a solid character with a heart of gold, but a mind full of guilt for a crime that, in my opinion, really isn't his to bear.

    And... wherever I may have suspected the story would lead, I could not guess at the surprise twist in Anna's past, a revelation that changes Anna's perspective and, perhaps, enables her to release some of her pain. Only by moving beyond the past and looking optimistically ahead, will she have any chance of happiness.

    All of the texture in this story, the smooth passage of time through seasons and years, the crisp dialogue and smooth plot development, makes for a thoroughly rewarding read. I recommend you read it, and ease into the nourishing atmosphere of this charming and cleverly depicted story of love, loss, loneliness, and hope.
    Report
  • Chrissi
    5.0 out of 5 stars a interesting story of a girl which the mother by a car accident lost.
    Reviewed in Germany on December 13, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful book a wonderful story. So nice to read. I want to read more from Christa Polkinhorn.
    A history at goes to heart.
    Report
  • Fieldcene
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great character's learn and grow.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Three great character arcs combine with fantastic descriptions of nature in distant places in this heart-warming tale. Karla bereft of her parents at the age of 10, needs to let go of nightmares that keep her insecure. Her Aunt, Anna, learns from her charge to love and trust after death and betrayal of her former husband. An artist, Jonah, takes Karla under his wing and guides her to express her emotions. When she settles enough to see the love around her all three are affected.
    Report

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