|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
A Thought-Provoking Novel About What a Family Is, 21 May 2004
This distinguished series has been a favorite of mine for many years, but I found this novel to be the most rewarding to me. In other novels, Sharon McCone's character, wit, and action are stronger . . . but the underlying issues are much less fundamental. Here, she has to look squarely at the question of who she is in the broadest sense. To pull that off after so many novels is quite a feat. I heartily commend and thank Marcia Muller for writing this book.I can't tell you very much about the plot without giving away things that will spoil the story for you. So I apologize for not giving you as much detail as I usually do. Let me talk instead about how the plot is organized. Sharon McCone is off on a search for identity where one clue connects to another. So there is the usual mystery-unraveling aspect to the plot. The complications are above average in their extent, and provide satisfying revelations right up to the end. As you may know from other Sharon McCone novels, Marcia Muller likes to work with mental dialogue as well as spoken dialogue. In this case, the internal dialogue is about listening for what people don't say, when they hesitate, or change the subject. From this interesting technique, you will probably become a better listener. Like most of us, Sharon McCone lets most of this information pass her by the first time she hears it. But upon further reflection, she sees missing elements. And then profitably focuses her attention on those. By this method, most of the plot is unraveled. But the development of what a family is makes this a remarkable mystery. In this one novel, Marcia Muller looks at intergenerational relations, the implications of adoption and remarriage, male-female relations with and without marriage, and clan relations as well. Few novels have this scope, and I hope you will look for this element and think about it as you read this rewarding novel. For Sharon McCone fans, this book is going to be very exciting for another reason: The elements in this book create vast potential for developing new and expanded themes in future books in the series. If you have not read any of the books in the series, however, I suggest that you not start with this one. A lot of its appeal comes in the surprises that you will experience as the plot unfolds. I envy you the chance to start in the beginning and read all of these books in order! Overcome your complacency about thinking you know what is about to happen in your own life. Use this book to identify a single assumption you are making about your life which, if changed, would refocus everything you do. Then consider whether your assumption is really a good one. Who knows what you will discover? Enjoy!
|
(1)
£5.59
(1)
(1)
(3)
£5.49
