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.

As Emmy Nelson finds her way during the late 1950s in a Minnesota farming community, I found the setting and the cultural details surrounding the strict Lutheran lifestyle to be most interesting. However, I felt Emmy to be somewhat flat as a character. Although plenty of awful things happen to her she never really seems to struggle. Perhaps her flat affect is due to her upbringing, but I found it hard to mourn her losses or to root for her as she attempts to find her way. It's not as much of a love story as the jacket description implies.