Genre: Literary fiction, Women's Lit
Awards: Pulitzer Prize for literature 1989
Published: 1988, 336 pgs.
Source: Personal library
Review: 4.5/5 stars
I don't know if this is a book I will go around recommending to everyone I know, but I personally loved it. It is a very quiet book without a whole lot going on. In fact, the story starts on one Saturday morning as Maggie and her husband, Ira, begin their 90 mile trip to the funeral of a friend. The book ends that night so it covers a matter of hours of their lives but as they recall different memories you get a pretty good picture of their entire lives. I don't know if it would be a page-turner for other people but it was for me.
Maggie and Ira were so real to me as I read this book. They aren't perfect. Their strengths and weaknesses become more and more evident as the day goes on. There are funny moments, sad moments, frustrating moments, and heart-warming moments. It reminded me of real-life marriage and I usually see marriage either idealized or demonized in novels.
Has anyone read this book? I'd be very interested to hear your opinion. It could be that I just read this one at the right time and it doesn't speak to everyone the same way.
Rating: 2.1.2 There are some mature themes and one scene that starts to go in a sexual direction but stops. This book also contains some mild and infrequent profanity.
