I figured this was a more appropriate title than "Gatherings". So much of this novel is a description of the places and things this family owns. Let me say that the author is a very talented writer, with wonderful ability to evoke images and scenes. But she squanders her talent on this silly idealization of the preppy life. You can practically hear her lock jaw in some passages. Also, the things I am really interested in, mainly the narrator's mother, who goes off the rails to become a damaged hippie, the author barely touches on, while the things I am not interested in, namely the character Pearce (a thorougly unlikable, effeminate character who seems locked in the closet for now), she delves into in tedious, pointless detail. I have high hopes for Marina Rust's future as an author of books, but I think one day she will see how young she was with this effort, in which we know more about the place settings than the characters' motivations.

I got this book from the library and fell in love with it's poetic writing and interesting relationships. I am disappointed that the first time author did not write more! The protagonist is both sympathetic and realistic, although her situations are not always so. I found this book so fascinating that I went through an extensive search to acquire a copy for my home library! If you can find it, it is worth it. I've read it five or six times over.

This is a lovely book - a subtle, psychological drama that charmingly references "the princess and the pea." While the characters are startlingly rich, their dilemma of having too much freedom and comfort in life is a modern American affliction. Scratch many a suburban family and you'll find a princess (or prince) who, when confronted with a pea-sized problem, simply can't cope. But ultimately, the book is about the most basic of themes - the existentialist idea that life is a choice; you choose to live. I eagerly await more books by this author.