Good cover, good intro. Okay, I’ll give it a try. Lauren Grodstein has written a fast-paced novel with engaging characters and a sense of mystery throughout.
Pete and Elaine Dizinoff and their son Alec, ritually vacation on the Delaware shore with their friends, Iris and Joe Stern and their three children. The story begins with a scene from one of those halcyon summers. So, we see how close the two families are and begin to understand their backgrounds. Bits and pieces of the past slip in and out of the story. Laura is the Stern’s oldest child and we find a terribly disturbing fact of her teenage years.
Grodstein’s character development is solid and sometimes even harsh as she attempts to delve into our minds with snippets from Laura’s past. As a mother and grandmother, there were many times I felt both horrified and troubled by the findings.
To what lengths would you as a parent go to to protect your child? Most of us are never pushed to the limit that Pete is. Thank God. Hormones rage, peer pressure exists, and teenagers are just plain stubborn and unknowing of our parental love.
As I kept turning the pages deep into the night (once even getting up in the middle of the night), I couldn’t help but think of my own teenage years. Yes, I had given my mother more than her share of angst. At the time it was all about me and how I was misunderstood. So, I was able to put myself in Alec’s place in some instances. I think most kids believe they are omnipotent and do not think far out of the box when pushed into a corner. They rebel.
As the story galloped to the finish, I found the last fifty pages riveting. Lauren was able to tie up the loose ends nicely and I was able to finally take a deep breath. At times the story telling is confusing. As the author slips in these snippets of the past, it is easy to become lost for brief moments until you realize where she’s taken you. But, all in all, this is a solid novel with a different twist and characters who resonate. I truly enjoyed it. I think you will too.
Enjoyed the comments about The Help. My book group just discussed it at our last meeting. Excellent book. You might enjoy my novel, or for sure Maurice will. It has a cat in it called Ferguson, who is modeled after a family cat we had for years. The novel is Reluctant Miracle, and you can read about it at my website,
http://www.Lindasebastian.com.
Thanks for the reviews.
Linda