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Critics' Opinion:
Readers' Opinion:
First Published:
Jan 2004, 333 pages
Paperback:
May 2005, 352 pages
From the book jacket: The mesmerizing
story of three generations of women confronting the emotional
turmoil of abandonment, and the men with whom their lives
converge. Young and ambitious Anna puts her career on hold to
support her husband through medical school, only to find out
she's pregnant when it's her turn. Troubled and difficult from
the start, Anna's daughter, Poppy, hasn't been home since she
drove away with the man who came to buy the family's VW bus.
After a twelve-year absence, Poppy begs to reunite with her
now widowed mother, only to disappear again, leaving her
mysterious and wildly imaginative young daughter, Flynn, in
Anna's care.
This is also the story of Jack and Stuart, a couple struggling
with commitment despite their love for one another. When Jack
and Stuart meet Anna in a support group, they feel a
connection that eventually leads them to form a loving, if
unlikely, family.
Comment: If you enjoy multigenerational family sagas focusing
on women this one's for you. Publishers Weekly describes it as
'stunning' and Booklist says it is an 'engrossing family
drama', Kirkus Reviews is a little more cautious opining that
it is 'freshly narrated' but 'longer and rather more drawn out
that it needs to be'. As always, decide for yourself by
browsing an excerpt at BookBrowse.
This review
first ran in the May 18, 2005
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