The media frenzy, surrounding the explosion of the plane that her husband was piloting, brings to light the plain fact that her husband had been, unbeknownst to her, leading a double life, a life that had not included her or their daughter, but had, most emphatically, excluded them. This is a story of Kathryn's navigation of the emotional roller coaster that was to become her life. She is thrust into a maelstrom of grief and disbelief, as she struggles to reconcile her memory of the man she thought she knew, with the reality of who he now appeared to have been.

This is a remarkable book, written in clean spare prose that underscores some of the very emotion laden issues with which it grapples. At times infinitely sad and poignant, it is a story of betrayal and splintered memories, as well as a very absorbing, skillfully told tale of adultery that will hold the reader in its thrall.

The media frenzy, surrounding the explosion of the plane that her husband was piloting, brings to light the plain fact that her husband had been, unbeknownst to her, leading a double life, a life that had not included her or their daughter, but had, most emphatically, excluded them. This is a story of Kathryn's navigation of the emotional roller coaster that was to become her life. She is thrust into a maelstrom of grief and disbelief, as she struggles to reconcile her memory of the man she thought she knew, with the reality of who he now appeared to have been.

This is a remarkable book, written in clean spare prose that underscores some of the very emotion laden issues with which it grapples. At times infinitely sad and poignant, it is a story of betrayal and splintered memories, as well as a very absorbing, skillfully told tale of adultery that will hold the reader in its thrall.

It tells the story of Jean, a news photographer who sets out on a sailboat to a remote island off the coast of New Hampshire, accompanied by her husband, Thomas, her five year old daughter, Billie, her brother-in-law, Rich, and his girl friend of several months, Adaline. The purpose of her visit is to photograph the scene of a nineteenth century double murder that saw two Norwegian, immigrant women hacked to death, which murders were much ballyhooed at the time as the crime of the century.

While there, she discovers an uncatalogued translation of the personal journal of the ostensible lone, female eyewitness, Maren Hontvedt, who seemed to have survived the carnage. Written in a somber and ruminative tone, the journal of Maren's life and of the events that led up to the carnage forms a core of the story. Maren's journal provides a framework for looking at the angst of Jean's present which is haunted by passion, jealousy, and betrayal. It is through Maren's story that Jean herself comes to terms with her own personal tragedy.

Alternating between Jean's unraveling present and the secrets of the past, the book provides a compelling, absorbing and suspenseful narrative, keeping the reader in its thrall. The two juxtaposed dramas come together in a primal and tragic climax. Those who read this book will find themselves haunted by it.

Andrew comes back to his hometown for his mother's funeral at the beginning of the book. From there the story weaves it way back to the past. We find out about Andrew and his childhood friend (and next door neighbour)Eden Close and the relationship that existed between them. We learn that Eden was adored by her father and ignored by her mother. We soon discover that there was more going on in that house and that it all culminates in a murder on a hot summer's night, the night that the beautiful Eden loses her sight. The mystery is never fully solved and so when Andrew does return home many years later, he feels he cannot leave without finding out the truth about Eden and what happened on that fateful night.

It's an okay story but I found it slow to read. It just didn't grab my attention. I will however continue to read Shreve's other works, I just won't re-read this one.

Andrew returns home to ready the house for sale after his mother died, only to embark on a personal journey to rediscover love with his oldest childhood friend, who lives next door ~~ Eden. Haunted by the incidents that had happened to Eden during her teen years ~~ the summer before Andrew left home for college ~~ Andrew begins to investigate what had really happened that summer. And to his surprise, the answers weren't what he expected.

It is a quick read ~~ perfect for a hot summery day of reading. I recommend this book ~~ it's just as good as Shreve's later books and it will haunt you for a while after you put the book down. It's a rare glimpse inside of a man's soul and mind as he explores the possibilities of love again.

Now that I have read all of this author's books at least once I gave some thought to rereading some of her books. But it wasn't until one of my online book groups selected Close, Shreve's first novel, that I actually picked up this book and began reading it for the second time. I did wonder what I would think about a book I read close to ten years ago and one that I remembered enjoying so much that I always recommended it to others looking for a good book. I am happy to say that my second reading of the book Eden Close if anything has improved with age. The plot of this book, the characters and descriptive passages glued me to my seat once again. I found the subject matter continues to be as relevant today as it was when it was first published and the lives of the characters still as heartbreaking. And as Shreve does with all of her books, this time she puts you smack into this midwestern town where within two farm homes side by side we watch innocent lives torn apart by an unspeakable tragedy.

If you have enjoyed Anita Shreve with her more recent books, be sure and go back and read her earliest novels like Eden Close, Strange Fits of Passion and Where or When and see why I considered Anita Shreve a favorite author before she was as popular as she is today.

Still, valid criticism is generated by our action-based, youth-oriented society where quietly unfolding "wisdom" ("Old Time Country Charmer") has little opportunity to gain appreciation. If you're looking for action, you won't find it here. Nor will you travel through the thoughts of complex, fascinating characters. It is far from surprising that not all readers want to be removed from the high-paced world in which most of us take part. Maybe "The Country of the Pointed Firs" remains uninviting to youth because such a generation does not want to take part in the details of a story that describes an unrecognized fear: aging. This is truly a work that will be what is brought to it. Older people might have a more mature sense of the beauty and peace that could come from a stop to smell Jewett's roses.

A collection of quiet "sketches," this volume is a reminder of the fine writing produced by some of the earliest American realists. Critics have recently revised their first opinions of the book as a "small success" and now consider it a classic of American literature. The stories revolve around a young writer who goes to the coastal town of Dunnet Landing, Maine. In the company of Mrs. Todd, a venerable and locally revered herbalist who gives her lodging, the writer comes to know and write about the people of the area. The result is a fascinating look into personalities shaped and distilled by life on that severe coast into persons of rare character. This edition also contains eight of Jewett's best short stories, including "A White Heron" and "The Queen's Twin."

No plot devices or car chases here--this is a book to read on a rainy afternoon when nostalgia and melancholy threaten to overwhelm. It's comfort food like grandma used to make--reassuring, soul-fortifying, and full of the capacity to cheer. It's also addictive--once you take a bite out of Pointed Firs, you can't stop.

Similar author: Mary Wilkins Freeman

This is a sad tale. A man who only wanted a few choice things in his life, Nicholas has a way of screwing those things up so that even if he gets them, it doesn't make him happy. He's not a particularly likable fellow although there are certain things about him that make you at least understand him. It was somewhat refreshing not to have to read about a perfect person since so few of those exist in real life!

I enjoyed reading this book and was pleased with the skill used in telling the story. Anita Shreve gets my vote for a job well done.

The writing style is somewhat cumbersome. The author's habit of punctuating all dialogue with a dash followed by italicized letters, caused me to back track many times to figure out who was speaking. Sometimes the italicized letters were thoughts rather than spoken words, so I was occasionally confused about whether any dialogue had actually occurred.

The book finally started to get interesting when it revealed the time during which Linda and Thomas were both in Africa with their spouses and how they rediscovered each other after many years apart. Finally, the beginning of their relationship in high school was described, and the awful event that had been alluded to throughout the book that caused them to be separated.

If you can bear with it and trudge through the first third of the novel, you will be rewarded with a story that is rich in detail, fascinating, troubling and poignant.

The end of the novel is shocking and you will want to re-read passages from the book to try to pick up on the clues. I adore Anita Shreve and the wonderful clarity and spareness of purpose in which she writes. She conveys so much and she writes so skilfully. Anita Shreve is a marvellous story-teller. Her students at Amherst College are so lucky to have her as their creative writing professor - she is truly gifted.

A tip - you may want to read The Weight of Water first before trying this book - The Last Time we Met is a kind of sequel to the Weight of Water.