Top Posts
Take a Shot
1222 Ace Atkins agent agents Amazon Anne Holt author authors Barbara D'Amato Benjamin Black Bent Road Best First Novel Best first novel by an american author Best Novel Best Paperback Original book review Bouchercon Caught Chicago Tribune crime fiction David Gordon Dennis Lehane Edgar Edgar Award Edgar AWards Edgars Edward Conlon Elizabeth Berg Galveston Gone Gone Girl Gretchen Rubin Harlan Coben Harry Potter I'd Know You Anywhere Ian Rankin Jack Reacher Janet Evanovich John Sandford Julia Keller Karin Slaughter Keigo Higashino Kindle Laura Lippman Lawrence Block Lee Child legal thriller Libby Fischer Hellmann Linwood Barclay Lisa Lutz Lori Roy Louise Penny Lucas Davenport Marcus Sakey memoir Michael Connelly Michael Robotham Mo Hayder movie Murder and Mayhem in Muskego MWA MWA Edgar Mysteries mystery mystery writers of america New York Times Nic Pizzolatto noir nominees novel Past Crimes Philip Kerr police procedural Printers Row Lit Fest Psychological suspense Publishing rank ranking Red on Red Red Sparrow Review reviews Rogue Island Sara Paretsky Sean Chercover She Rides Shotgun Short Stories Sisters in Crime Sniplits Stephen King Steve Hamilton stuart neville Sue Grafton The Devotion of Suspect X The Serialist Thomas H. Cook thriller Tom Bouman Tornado Weather writingPost Archives
Blogroll
- A Newbie's Guide to Publishing
- Addy Fran
- Damn, Gina
- Getting Past the Gatekeeper
- Letters of Note
- Molly Backes' Blog
- Nathan Bransford
- Pub Rants
- Rachelle Gardner
- Rosabeth Moss Kanter
- She Writes
- Sniplits
- The Elegant Variation
- The Happiness Project
- The Outfit Collective
- The Tipsy Baker
- The Trephine
- There are No Rules
- View from the Library Window
- WordPress.com
- Writer Unboxed
Sign Up!
Advertisements
Welcome to Maine
I’d say I’m right in the target market for this book. It’s a sprawling story of a family of women, their conflicts and commitments, light on men – both in terms of characters and character development. The multiple generations – from matriarch Alice at 80+ to little Maisie, just 4 – gives 50-ish women plenty to relate to.
And a satisfying read it is, too. As with Commencement, Sullivan tells the story from various perspectives, and it’s very enjoyable to see the same event through multiple points of views. Acerbic Alice has a soft spot for young Father Donnelly and a load of guilt she’s been carrying for 60 years. Her daughter Kathleen is in her 50s and as far away from Alice as she can get, living the crunchy granola life of a successful worm farmer with partner Arlo. And her daughter, needy Maggie, living in the big city in a tiny apartment, turns up pregnant (not quite on purpose) and only starts to stand on her own two feet when her lout of a boyfriend dumps her. Twice. And lastly we have daughter-in-law Ann Marie, living in a loveless marriage with Alice’s son Patrick, channeling her perfect wife and mother habits into decorating dollhouses while mooning over a neighbor’s husband.
There’s a lot to like with Maine. The people are interesting, well-spoken, and imperfect. The dialogue is fun – the women are always blurting out the worst possible thing to say, but making up anyway. And I particularly liked the way Sullivan doesn’t let anyone talk Alice out of leaving the summer homes (two houses, side-by-side, comprising $2.3 million dollars worth of beachfront real estate!) to the Catholic Church. People generally don’t get exactly what they want (except for Father Donnelly), but it’s all okay, anyway.
Note: Apologies to anyone who has wondered what’s up with me… it’s been a crazy, busy summer…but I’m back! And you would not believe all the pent-up posts I have burbling around in the back of my brain.
Share this:
Like this:
Related