Exploring themes of secrets, estrangement, and loss, this collection delves into the complexities of human relationships. The title story portrays a mother's heart-wrenching vigil over her dying son, while "Maniacs" reveals the turmoil of two sisters vying for the affection of the same man. In "Close," a young father-to-be grapples with his past during a visit to his childhood home, contemplating the possibility of fleeing from his impending responsibilities. Each story offers a profound look at emotional struggles and interpersonal dynamics.
The masterful story of a lifelong friendship between two very different women with shared histories and buried secrets, tested in the twilight of their lives, set across the arc of the 20th century. Celebrated children's book author Agnes Lee is determined to secure her legacy--to complete what she knows will be the final volume of her pseudonymously written Franklin Square novels; and even more consuming, to permanently protect the peninsula of majestic coast in Maine known as Fellowship Point. To donate the land to a trust, Agnes must convince shareholders to dissolve a generations-old partnership. And one of those shareholders is her best friend, Polly. Polly Wister has led a different kind of life than Agnes: that of a well-off married woman with children, defined by her devotion to her husband, and philosophy professor with an inflated sense of stature. She exalts in creating beauty and harmony in her home, in her friendships, and in her family. Polly soon finds her loyalties torn between the wishes of her best friend and the wishes of her three sons--but what is it that Polly wants herself? Agnes's designs are further muddied when an enterprising young book editor named Maud Silver sets out to convince Agnes to write her memoirs. Agnes's resistance cannot prevent long-buried memories and secrets from coming to light with far-reaching repercussions for all. Fellowship Point reads like a classic 19th-century novel in its beautifully woven, multilayered narrative, but it is entirely contemporary in the themes it explores; a deep and empathic interest in women's lives, the class differences that divided us, the struggle to protect the natural world, and, above all, a reckoning with intimacy, history, and posterity. It is a masterwork from Alice Elliott Dark
The narrative unfolds around a pivotal moment in 1964, intertwining Jane MacLeod's childhood experience with the cultural impact of The Beatles. As she navigates through an intense love affair in London's punk scene, her journey leads her to motherhood in New York and a family reunion that confronts unresolved issues from her past. This exploration of personal growth and the complexities of family dynamics reveals how childhood perceptions can shape adult realities, ultimately guiding Jane toward her aspirations for happiness.
