Summer always brings the latest Nantucket based Hilderbrand beach read and this one did not disappoint - of course you have to know not to expect a deep literary experience but an engaging, fun escape.
In this book a family has gathered at their summer home, Summerland, for the wedding of their younger son Benji to his fiancee Celeste. The wedding has been carefully orchestrated by Benji's mother, Greer, as though she generally respects tradition she knows she has far greater resources than the bride's family. Celeste's father sells suits at the King of Prussia Mall and her mother works in the gift shop of the Crayola factory. The wedding has been expedited because Celeste's mother is suffering from Stage 4 breast cancer.
On the morning of the wedding, however, Celeste wakes up to a tragedy when she finds the body of her maid of honour, Merritt, floating in the ocean just in front of Summerland. Nantucket Chief of Police, Ed Kapenash (who we've met in other Hilderbrand books) and Massachusetts state police officer, Nick "the Greek" are brought in to investigate.
Through the course of interviews as well as flashbacks we find out that everyone except the fine upstanding groom is harbouring some sort of secret. This makes the investigation a bit tricky - the officers must decide if any of those with a secret is also covering up a murder. There are some twists and turns but it is fairly easy to predict what happened. However that doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the book.
Friday, August 17, 2018
The Boy on the Wooden Box: How the Impossible became Possible...on Schindler's List by Leon Leyson
While this memoir was written in a somewhat amateur style, the story was very compelling. Leon Leyson who died in 2013 was one of the youngest people who survived the Holocaust by being on "Schindler's List". His father who had worked in Schindler's factory from early in the war managed to save his wife and three of their children, including Leon, by asking Schindler to give them work and put them on his list.
But this was not before harrowing experiences in the Krakow Ghetto and the Plazcow concentration camp, including the separation from two other brothers who were not so lucky.
Leon apparently buried his memories for many years after immigrating to America and studying to become a successful school teacher despite having had his education interrupted by the Nazis at age 10. Eventually he felt the need to speak and educate about his experiences and told his story, without notes, to countless groups in schools, community centres and elsewhere. The book is essentially this story written down.
It was fascinating to read about Schindler from another angle and to see the enormous difference that one person with courage could make. I also found Leyson's account of how he was haunted by the death of his older brothers for a lifetime particularly moving.
While some might view this as just another Holocaust memoir, I still believe it was worth the read as the story was told in such a personal and detailed fashion by someone who was just a child when the war began.
But this was not before harrowing experiences in the Krakow Ghetto and the Plazcow concentration camp, including the separation from two other brothers who were not so lucky.
Leon apparently buried his memories for many years after immigrating to America and studying to become a successful school teacher despite having had his education interrupted by the Nazis at age 10. Eventually he felt the need to speak and educate about his experiences and told his story, without notes, to countless groups in schools, community centres and elsewhere. The book is essentially this story written down.
It was fascinating to read about Schindler from another angle and to see the enormous difference that one person with courage could make. I also found Leyson's account of how he was haunted by the death of his older brothers for a lifetime particularly moving.
While some might view this as just another Holocaust memoir, I still believe it was worth the read as the story was told in such a personal and detailed fashion by someone who was just a child when the war began.
Monday, August 13, 2018
Run, Hide, Repeat: A Memoir of a Fugitive Childhood by Pauline Daikin
This is a fascinating memoir by CBC reporter Pauline Daikin. As a child Daikin's parents were divorced. She, her younger brother, Ted and her mother repeatedly moved (from Vancouver, to Winnipeg, to St. John) suddenly and without telling their family and friends. They always went to the same place as a family friend, a minister named Stan. Daikin was alienated from her father and the subject of a bitter custody dispute. Though Pauline and Ted knew their family was different, whenever they asked their mother why she told them she would explain when they were older.
When Pauline was 23, her mother and Stan explained to her that all this time they had been on the run from organized crime. They advised that her father had been heavily involved and that Stan and her mother were thought to be informants and thus at risk. They also warn her against getting close to her father and various other former friends who had mob connections. Finally they tell her she is under constant surveillance by a group trying to protect her from the mob. She is warned not to share the story with anyone as it could put her and her mother at risk.
With a keen reporter's eye and research skills Pauline works to sort out her past, the present and what to do with her future given these revelations. She must closely examine her relationship with her mother and Stan (who has been a father figure) in order to move forward.
I couldn't wait to get to the end to sort out the mystery with the author and I was not disappointed with her account of how the story unfolded. She has proven herself to be not only a skilled researcher and writer, but also a resilient person.
When Pauline was 23, her mother and Stan explained to her that all this time they had been on the run from organized crime. They advised that her father had been heavily involved and that Stan and her mother were thought to be informants and thus at risk. They also warn her against getting close to her father and various other former friends who had mob connections. Finally they tell her she is under constant surveillance by a group trying to protect her from the mob. She is warned not to share the story with anyone as it could put her and her mother at risk.
With a keen reporter's eye and research skills Pauline works to sort out her past, the present and what to do with her future given these revelations. She must closely examine her relationship with her mother and Stan (who has been a father figure) in order to move forward.
I couldn't wait to get to the end to sort out the mystery with the author and I was not disappointed with her account of how the story unfolded. She has proven herself to be not only a skilled researcher and writer, but also a resilient person.
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Two more books
I'm not sure if these two books really weren't great or if I'm just suffering from fatigue because all my library books seem to have come in at once...
Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade
I ordered this book because I had enjoyed Bachelor Girl by the same author. While there were many similarities, I didn't like this one quite as much. This book is also set in the New York area and is based on historical facts. Like in the other book there is also a focus on "working women" ahead of their time and gay people who are forced to hide their true selves (here it was women rather than men).
When the book begins Rachel Rabinowitz is a 4 year old "handful" living in the Lower East Side with her parents and older brother Sam. Tragedy befalls the family and Sam and Rachel are put into an orphanage. Because she is younger she must go to the Jewish Infants House. There she has the misfortune of connecting with Dr. Mildred Solomon who conducts experiments using radiation on Rachel and some of the other children.
Years later Rachel is working as a nurse in a Jewish seniors home and Dr. Solomon, who is dying of cancer, is tasked with caring for her. This causes long repressed memories to resurface - and pushes Rachel to research exactly what happened to her as a child.
The book then goes back and forth as we slowly learn about Rachel's time in the Infants House, her eventual move to the orphanage for older children where she is reunited with Sam, her unsuccessful attempt to reconnect with her father as well as some more fortunate breaks along the way which lead to her becoming a nurse. We also gain insight into her relationship with another woman whose identity is kept a surprise for most of the book (though it wasn't that hard to figure it out).
While the story was reasonably interesting, it wasn't fantastic. If you like historical fiction set in New York, or have an interest in early medical research, you might quite like this book.
The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
This is another historical fiction - it gives us a behind the scenes glimpse at some of the people involved in the Manhattan Project during World War II. June Walker, an 18 year old girl from a small town in Tennessee is being bused to a job in a city that doesn't officially exist, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She is somewhat aware of the project as her drunken grandfather was evicted from his farm in order to make room for the development - but she has no idea of the scope of it until she follows her sister to get a job.
After passing extensive security reviews June is given a job like hundreds of other girls - watching certain dials and making sure the needle stays at the right place. None of the girls know that they are essentially operating a small piece of a spectrometer being used to try to enrich uranium for the nuclear bomb.
In addition to June we meet Sam Cantor, a Jewish physicist originally from New York and now a professor at Berkeley who was brought into consult on the project. He knows all too well what is going on at Oak Ridge, and against security protocols, shares some of this information with June when they begin an affair. Sam has grave doubts about what is being done.
We also meet June's roommate Cici who is there to find a rich husband and escape her sharecropper routes. And she doesn't care who she destroys in the process - eventually even turning against June.
Finally we are introduced to Joe, an African American construction worker who is there to try to earn more money to support his family back in Alabama. Through Joe we see how segregation and discrimination are alive and well despite the enormous contributions of the African Americans.
With the eventual bombing of Hiroshima everyone in Oak Ridge learns what they've been doing - and react to it in all kinds of ways.
The book was an interesting look at history though not fantastic. I did enjoy the chapters at the end which briefly summarize where everyone ended up years later.
Orphan #8 by Kim van Alkemade
I ordered this book because I had enjoyed Bachelor Girl by the same author. While there were many similarities, I didn't like this one quite as much. This book is also set in the New York area and is based on historical facts. Like in the other book there is also a focus on "working women" ahead of their time and gay people who are forced to hide their true selves (here it was women rather than men).
When the book begins Rachel Rabinowitz is a 4 year old "handful" living in the Lower East Side with her parents and older brother Sam. Tragedy befalls the family and Sam and Rachel are put into an orphanage. Because she is younger she must go to the Jewish Infants House. There she has the misfortune of connecting with Dr. Mildred Solomon who conducts experiments using radiation on Rachel and some of the other children.
Years later Rachel is working as a nurse in a Jewish seniors home and Dr. Solomon, who is dying of cancer, is tasked with caring for her. This causes long repressed memories to resurface - and pushes Rachel to research exactly what happened to her as a child.
The book then goes back and forth as we slowly learn about Rachel's time in the Infants House, her eventual move to the orphanage for older children where she is reunited with Sam, her unsuccessful attempt to reconnect with her father as well as some more fortunate breaks along the way which lead to her becoming a nurse. We also gain insight into her relationship with another woman whose identity is kept a surprise for most of the book (though it wasn't that hard to figure it out).
While the story was reasonably interesting, it wasn't fantastic. If you like historical fiction set in New York, or have an interest in early medical research, you might quite like this book.
The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard
This is another historical fiction - it gives us a behind the scenes glimpse at some of the people involved in the Manhattan Project during World War II. June Walker, an 18 year old girl from a small town in Tennessee is being bused to a job in a city that doesn't officially exist, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. She is somewhat aware of the project as her drunken grandfather was evicted from his farm in order to make room for the development - but she has no idea of the scope of it until she follows her sister to get a job.
After passing extensive security reviews June is given a job like hundreds of other girls - watching certain dials and making sure the needle stays at the right place. None of the girls know that they are essentially operating a small piece of a spectrometer being used to try to enrich uranium for the nuclear bomb.
In addition to June we meet Sam Cantor, a Jewish physicist originally from New York and now a professor at Berkeley who was brought into consult on the project. He knows all too well what is going on at Oak Ridge, and against security protocols, shares some of this information with June when they begin an affair. Sam has grave doubts about what is being done.
We also meet June's roommate Cici who is there to find a rich husband and escape her sharecropper routes. And she doesn't care who she destroys in the process - eventually even turning against June.
Finally we are introduced to Joe, an African American construction worker who is there to try to earn more money to support his family back in Alabama. Through Joe we see how segregation and discrimination are alive and well despite the enormous contributions of the African Americans.
With the eventual bombing of Hiroshima everyone in Oak Ridge learns what they've been doing - and react to it in all kinds of ways.
The book was an interesting look at history though not fantastic. I did enjoy the chapters at the end which briefly summarize where everyone ended up years later.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
This novel is loosely based on the life of Laura Bush. Alice Blackwell is the First Lady of the United States; her husband, Charlie, having won his first term as President in one of the closest elections ever in 2000. The first chapter and the end of the book describe Alice's time as First Lady - and in particular the differences in her political views from those of her husband.
However, the more interesting middle of the book tells us about Alice's childhood, young adulthood, courtship, marriage and motherhood. She was born into a middle class family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a bank manager and her mother a homemaker. Her paternal grandmother, having been widowed at a young age, lives with the family and is an enormous influence on young Alice. In particular it is she who introduces her to books and nurtures her love of reading. The grandmother is a true character and one of my favourites in the book - she also supports Alice through a tragedy that occurs when she is 17 and which haunts and shapes her entire life. While I won't give away what happens, part of this tragedy is based on actual events in Laura Bush's life.
Alice moves to Milwaukee and studies first to be a teacher and then a librarian. She has a true gift for working with young children. But when she meets Charlie she is swept off her feet and they marry within 6 months. An only child she is somewhat overwhelmed by Charlie's large family - his parents and three older brothers and their spouses and children (again based on the Bush family). She is also intimidated by their wealth and political influence - his father had been a governor, his brother is a congressman.
Charlie is the pampered drifter in the family - shortly after his marriage he makes an unsuccessful run for congress. After losing, and turning 40, he sort of works for his family's meat business, but mostly drinks and has fun. A crisis in their marriage leads to him finding religion. And then he also buys the Milwaukee baseball team of which he becomes the general manager (sound familiar?). It is after finding some success here that he successfully runs for Governor and then President.
Alice's adult relationships with Charlie's family, her childhood friend, Dena, the long time maid of Charlie's family as well as her family and her sister-in-law, Jade, are also interesting. Though of course the most interesting and realistic relationship portrayed is her marriage.
I found this book to be well written, interesting and not too political despite its subjects. I recommend it.
However, the more interesting middle of the book tells us about Alice's childhood, young adulthood, courtship, marriage and motherhood. She was born into a middle class family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a bank manager and her mother a homemaker. Her paternal grandmother, having been widowed at a young age, lives with the family and is an enormous influence on young Alice. In particular it is she who introduces her to books and nurtures her love of reading. The grandmother is a true character and one of my favourites in the book - she also supports Alice through a tragedy that occurs when she is 17 and which haunts and shapes her entire life. While I won't give away what happens, part of this tragedy is based on actual events in Laura Bush's life.
Alice moves to Milwaukee and studies first to be a teacher and then a librarian. She has a true gift for working with young children. But when she meets Charlie she is swept off her feet and they marry within 6 months. An only child she is somewhat overwhelmed by Charlie's large family - his parents and three older brothers and their spouses and children (again based on the Bush family). She is also intimidated by their wealth and political influence - his father had been a governor, his brother is a congressman.
Charlie is the pampered drifter in the family - shortly after his marriage he makes an unsuccessful run for congress. After losing, and turning 40, he sort of works for his family's meat business, but mostly drinks and has fun. A crisis in their marriage leads to him finding religion. And then he also buys the Milwaukee baseball team of which he becomes the general manager (sound familiar?). It is after finding some success here that he successfully runs for Governor and then President.
Alice's adult relationships with Charlie's family, her childhood friend, Dena, the long time maid of Charlie's family as well as her family and her sister-in-law, Jade, are also interesting. Though of course the most interesting and realistic relationship portrayed is her marriage.
I found this book to be well written, interesting and not too political despite its subjects. I recommend it.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova
Although I didn't find this quite as disturbing as Still Alice it was still an extremely moving account of a man's deterioration due to ALS.
Richard was an accomplished concert pianist; his ex-wife, Karina, a talented jazz pianist in her own right who essentially gave up her musical career to nurture Richard's. At the start of the book Richard has just received his diagnosis which, most tragically for a concert pianist, begins in his left arm which slowly becomes paralyzed. Before his right arm can follow, he masters a concerto specifically written for the left hand only. But despite his desperate wishes, shortly after he loses the use of his left hand too.
Despite a team of dedicated home caregivers, as the disease progresses Richard is unable to live on his own and the best option seems to be moving back in with Karina. While Karina becomes his full time caregiver they are able to slowly work through their past resentments and come to some sort of understanding while they still can. Richard is also able to repair his relationship with his college aged daughter and his older brothers.
As in all her books, Genova provides chilling details about what it must be like to come into the grips a terrible, debilitating and ultimately fatal disease. She expertly conveys Richard's sense of being trapped in his own failing body.
While hard to read at times, I did find the book an interesting read.
Richard was an accomplished concert pianist; his ex-wife, Karina, a talented jazz pianist in her own right who essentially gave up her musical career to nurture Richard's. At the start of the book Richard has just received his diagnosis which, most tragically for a concert pianist, begins in his left arm which slowly becomes paralyzed. Before his right arm can follow, he masters a concerto specifically written for the left hand only. But despite his desperate wishes, shortly after he loses the use of his left hand too.
Despite a team of dedicated home caregivers, as the disease progresses Richard is unable to live on his own and the best option seems to be moving back in with Karina. While Karina becomes his full time caregiver they are able to slowly work through their past resentments and come to some sort of understanding while they still can. Richard is also able to repair his relationship with his college aged daughter and his older brothers.
As in all her books, Genova provides chilling details about what it must be like to come into the grips a terrible, debilitating and ultimately fatal disease. She expertly conveys Richard's sense of being trapped in his own failing body.
While hard to read at times, I did find the book an interesting read.
Friday, July 27, 2018
And another five books down...
Dinner at the Center of the Earth by Nathan Englander
I had read a previous book by Englander and didn't really like it so was not going to bother with this one until it was recommended by a friend. And I did enjoy this one even though political novels are not my favourite. Despite the heavy topic it was well written and fast paced which made it easy to read. It did not have the same density of prose that often turns me off this kind of book.
The book follows several characters and goes back and forth in time so reads a bit like a mystery. As such I will try not to give too much away here. One of the first characters we meet is a nameless prisoner stuck in a cell in southern Israel. He fears the only one who knows he's even there is the "General", the controversial leader of Israel who is clearly meant to be Ariel Sharon though I do not think he is ever called by his name. Unbeknownst to the prisoner the General is in an irreversible coma, so the prisoner still writes regular letters to the General pleading his release. The letters are delivered by the young guard assigned to watch the prisoner - his mother was the General's personal secretary and he is a bit of a screw up so she gets him this job in order to put his life on track.
Other characters we meet are a young Palestinian man in Berlin who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Canadian businessman as well as an American waitress in Paris of Italian descent who enters into a romantic relationship with one of her customers. However some of my favourite chapters are from the perspective of the General as he lies in a coma and "reminisces" about his past which was central to the history of the state of Israel.
You really need to read the book to find out how these characters relate to each other and to see who has the titular dinner at the centre of the earth. In doing so you learn not only about the characters but a lot about the history of Israel and, in particular, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
This is another easy read but enjoyable book by Jamie Brenner. While there is no depth and complexity to her writing, she develops likeable characters who have interesting secrets to reveal. This book centres around Marin Bishop, a woman about to turn thirty who is engaged to a well-liked wealthy man and is working her dream job at a high profile Manhattan law firm. She is an only child who has always strived to earn her lawyer father's praise and admiration. But one day she makes a personal choice that leaves her without a job or her fiancé. As she is trying to sort that out she is contacted by a younger woman who claims to be her half sister. On a whim she travels with this supposed half sister to Provincetown to meet her supposed paternal grandmother. While there she learns of the secrets that have impacted her life.
In addition to Marin the book has a lot of interesting characters including her parents, her half-sister and her hippy mother, her grandmother and her same sex wife as well various Cape Cod neighbours and friends. This was basically a "feel good" book that left you liking everyone despite their flaws and believing all could be well enough in the end, even if there was some tragedy along the way.
Love and Other Words and Roomies by Christina Lauren
As an interesting aside, Christina Lauren is actually the pen name of two women who write quasi romance novels as a team. In Love and Other Words Macy, a medical resident, is settling into an easy not terribly passionate relationship with an older man when she runs into her first love, Elliot. Elliot had been her neighbour at her weekend home when she was a child. They first bonded over their love of reading (and words) and then, as teenagers, fell in love. All fell apart when they were 17 and in chapters which alternate past and present we learn why. We also find out whether they can make a go of it 11 years later.
In Roomies, Holland Bakker has spent six months essentially stalking a musician who plays in the subway. On the night she finally learns his name is Cal, he rescues her from a subway attacker but disappears before speaking to her when she is whisked away in an ambulance. When she discovers he fled because he was in the US illegally she uses family connections to get him a job on a hot Broadway musical. But in order for him to stay in the US she also offers to marry him. And, not surprisingly, while living this marriage of convenience they discover they have actual feelings for each other.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
It took me a little while to get into this book, but when I did I really enjoyed it. In addition to telling the stories of the characters it gave really good insight into the development of the feminist movement over the decades.
When the book starts Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman at her last choice college. She is angry with her less than interested parents who messed up her financial aid application denying her the place she earned at Princeton. She is also in love with her high school boyfriend, Cory, who did make his way to Princeton. They were originally thrown together as the best readers in their grade, but eventually a real relationship developed.
An early defining moment for Greer is when she is sexually assaulted by a college boy who goes on to assault others. When he is brought up for disciplinary action he is given a slap on the wrist and allowed to stay at school. Shortly after she attends a speech by Faith Frank, a 63 year old pillar in the fight for women's rights. Frank gives her advice about how to deal with the assault situation and gives Greer her card. After graduation while searching for meaningful work in New York Greer contacts Frank and is given a job working at her foundation.
The book follows Greer's rise through the organization and beyond - and explores her continuing relationships with Frank, her co-workers, Cory, her parents and her college best friend. In some chapters we see action from the perspective of Frank, Cory, the roommate and even Frank's mysterious financial backer. And as the action moves through the decades (and sometimes into the past) we see how the feminist movement shifted over time.
I highly recommend this book.
I had read a previous book by Englander and didn't really like it so was not going to bother with this one until it was recommended by a friend. And I did enjoy this one even though political novels are not my favourite. Despite the heavy topic it was well written and fast paced which made it easy to read. It did not have the same density of prose that often turns me off this kind of book.
The book follows several characters and goes back and forth in time so reads a bit like a mystery. As such I will try not to give too much away here. One of the first characters we meet is a nameless prisoner stuck in a cell in southern Israel. He fears the only one who knows he's even there is the "General", the controversial leader of Israel who is clearly meant to be Ariel Sharon though I do not think he is ever called by his name. Unbeknownst to the prisoner the General is in an irreversible coma, so the prisoner still writes regular letters to the General pleading his release. The letters are delivered by the young guard assigned to watch the prisoner - his mother was the General's personal secretary and he is a bit of a screw up so she gets him this job in order to put his life on track.
Other characters we meet are a young Palestinian man in Berlin who strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Canadian businessman as well as an American waitress in Paris of Italian descent who enters into a romantic relationship with one of her customers. However some of my favourite chapters are from the perspective of the General as he lies in a coma and "reminisces" about his past which was central to the history of the state of Israel.
You really need to read the book to find out how these characters relate to each other and to see who has the titular dinner at the centre of the earth. In doing so you learn not only about the characters but a lot about the history of Israel and, in particular, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Forever Summer by Jamie Brenner
This is another easy read but enjoyable book by Jamie Brenner. While there is no depth and complexity to her writing, she develops likeable characters who have interesting secrets to reveal. This book centres around Marin Bishop, a woman about to turn thirty who is engaged to a well-liked wealthy man and is working her dream job at a high profile Manhattan law firm. She is an only child who has always strived to earn her lawyer father's praise and admiration. But one day she makes a personal choice that leaves her without a job or her fiancé. As she is trying to sort that out she is contacted by a younger woman who claims to be her half sister. On a whim she travels with this supposed half sister to Provincetown to meet her supposed paternal grandmother. While there she learns of the secrets that have impacted her life.
In addition to Marin the book has a lot of interesting characters including her parents, her half-sister and her hippy mother, her grandmother and her same sex wife as well various Cape Cod neighbours and friends. This was basically a "feel good" book that left you liking everyone despite their flaws and believing all could be well enough in the end, even if there was some tragedy along the way.
Love and Other Words and Roomies by Christina Lauren
As an interesting aside, Christina Lauren is actually the pen name of two women who write quasi romance novels as a team. In Love and Other Words Macy, a medical resident, is settling into an easy not terribly passionate relationship with an older man when she runs into her first love, Elliot. Elliot had been her neighbour at her weekend home when she was a child. They first bonded over their love of reading (and words) and then, as teenagers, fell in love. All fell apart when they were 17 and in chapters which alternate past and present we learn why. We also find out whether they can make a go of it 11 years later.
In Roomies, Holland Bakker has spent six months essentially stalking a musician who plays in the subway. On the night she finally learns his name is Cal, he rescues her from a subway attacker but disappears before speaking to her when she is whisked away in an ambulance. When she discovers he fled because he was in the US illegally she uses family connections to get him a job on a hot Broadway musical. But in order for him to stay in the US she also offers to marry him. And, not surprisingly, while living this marriage of convenience they discover they have actual feelings for each other.
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer
It took me a little while to get into this book, but when I did I really enjoyed it. In addition to telling the stories of the characters it gave really good insight into the development of the feminist movement over the decades.
When the book starts Greer Kadetsky is a shy college freshman at her last choice college. She is angry with her less than interested parents who messed up her financial aid application denying her the place she earned at Princeton. She is also in love with her high school boyfriend, Cory, who did make his way to Princeton. They were originally thrown together as the best readers in their grade, but eventually a real relationship developed.
An early defining moment for Greer is when she is sexually assaulted by a college boy who goes on to assault others. When he is brought up for disciplinary action he is given a slap on the wrist and allowed to stay at school. Shortly after she attends a speech by Faith Frank, a 63 year old pillar in the fight for women's rights. Frank gives her advice about how to deal with the assault situation and gives Greer her card. After graduation while searching for meaningful work in New York Greer contacts Frank and is given a job working at her foundation.
The book follows Greer's rise through the organization and beyond - and explores her continuing relationships with Frank, her co-workers, Cory, her parents and her college best friend. In some chapters we see action from the perspective of Frank, Cory, the roommate and even Frank's mysterious financial backer. And as the action moves through the decades (and sometimes into the past) we see how the feminist movement shifted over time.
I highly recommend this book.
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