Dissension at the Library

I realize that the library is viewed by many as a serene and peaceful place, but there is a feud brewing at the library. What is at the root of this feud? Alice Hoffman. Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors (she has to duke it out for top honors with Barbara Kingsolver and Richard Russo), and so I had been anxiously awaiting her new book The Story Sisters: A Novel. Unfortunately, I was too slow in putting my name on the hold list, and so I had to wait for several other people to read it before I got my hands on it. Several of those people were library employees--one of whom we will let remain nameless, but for the ease of my story we will call her Library Director. From the beginning LD was speaking disparagingly of the novel. She went so far as to post a message on Twitter saying : "Just finished Alice Hoffman's The Story Sister. What a downer! Very depressing, filled with disaster after calamity after dysfunction!" I was devasted--after all the anticipation would I be disappointed? Two other employees read the book and one felt it was OK, and the other liked it and hated to put it down. Hmmm...the tension was building. Finally the book came in for me! I eagerly brought it home, and was immediately drawn into the lives of the Story sisters. I know the reviews have been mixed, but what I love about Alice Hoffman are her descriptions and her ability to make me feel like I am there. I could smell the damp earth in the garden, taste the tomatoes still warm from the sun, and feel the sisters' sadness. The book was definitely sad, but I didn't find it depressing. LD felt the tomato metaphors were overdone, but as an enthusiastic gardener I loved them. Is that it--do you have to be a gardener to love this book? Do you have to have sisters? I don't know, but I would love to hear your comments and opinions so this feud can be put to rest, and peace can be restored to the library.