| There are two stories going on in this book at once. One is that of a reporter. How do assuage the guilt of a horrible mistake, a mistake which cost someone else everything? How can you ever make up for that, or look yourself in the mirror again?
The other is the story of Maureen and Harrold, her abusive husband. Shreve does a good job of developing the relationship and making us understand how Maureen, an intelligent woman, finds herself in this abusive marriage. After Maureen escapes, she falls in love with a married man in a small town. Eventually, she must pay the price for all of her choices and the outcome is devastating to everyone involved. There are some subtle things going on in this story as well. The idea that a witness' statements can be motivated by something they themselves are not even aware of. The idea that the circumstances of a crime can seem very different depending upon which angle you look at them from. A well done story. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1960's-1970's Romance/Romance Problems Yes Kind of romance: Family, struggle with Yes Struggle with: - Husband Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Married, fooling around? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes The US: - Northeast City? Yes City: - New York Writing Style Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - vague references only Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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