Book Review by Jean F. (Bradenton, FL)

Coming of Age in the free-roaming 60's yet hobbled by her upbringing

I wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I did like how Steavenson deftly captured the Harvard milieu (buildings and Cambridge streets) and the frenzied, overwrought 1960's fueled by lots of sex, drugs, and alcohol. Margot, albeit blessed with a financially rich childhood, is squelched by her mother's cruel belittling and, as a result, lacks self-esteem. Her mother's goal is that she marries a rich man and replenishes the family coffers. I enjoyed Margot's scientific zeal and her developing expertise in the laboratory and hoped that would translate to a better sense of self. It didn't really.
Overall, I was disappointed in Margot and thought one of her sexual encounters was gratuitous and not essential for the plot. The childhood sections were slow going, but I found the book flowed more smoothly once Margot was at Harvard. For me, the ending was sad, or perhaps open-ended enough to allow for a sequel. Descriptions are raw and messy at points. I think future readers will have strong feelings about whether they liked the novel or didn't like at all.

(12/07/22)