Review: Engaging and Thought Provoking
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 28, 2011
This engaging Novel explores the lives of three very different women who evolved in three very distinct eras. The glue that binds these women together is Nat, husband to Evelyn, Father to Joy and Lover to Barbara. These three women find themselves joined by their connection to Nat. Each woman deals with their conflicting needs and the moral values they grew up with. Their struggles lead to a stunning clash that will leave each one of them struggling with their own beliefs and judgments.Barbara was married in the 50's and became the mother of two children. Her marriage was very traditional in the sense that she was expected to be devoted to her husband her children and her home. Barbara felt that there was something more she needed to be fulfilled. She ends up divorced from a husband whose top priority is work. She strives to become a single mother and a force in the workplace. She struggles with relationships and trust issues until she meets Nat and becomes his mistress.Evelyn is a classic product of the 40's and is married and extremely devoted to Nat. Her goal is to please him and make him and their home as comfortable as possible. They have a daughter and their differences in how to raise a child are a point of contention. Evelyn suffers from issues that were not talked about openly at that time and cause her to wrestle with her feelings and feel very isolated.Joy is the daughter of Evelyn and Nat born in the 60's. She is very rebellious and her mother has a hard time dealing with her. Her father encourages her manipulative and outrageous behavior and also her hatred of her mother. Joy finds herself trying to deal with the permissiveness of her generation and searches for a way to find a life of happiness and satisfaction.This book clearly interprets the role Women played, or were expected to play, during these turbulent times. The challenges and struggles that women faced in the past were considered taboo subjects and therefore the support and encouragement they needed was minimal at best.Ruth Harris presents a style of writing that will connect you to each character and feel the emotions and struggles that they face. The story is fascinating and you will find yourself contemplating the characters in this book well after the last page is read. I recommend this book to all readers who wish to be engrossed in a story that has the power to transport you to the lives and expectations of women past and present.Marilou George  - The Kindle Book Review