| Anne Foster is an art historian with a stable and comfortable life until her husband leaves for an academic term while she stays behind to work on a special art exhibition. Exhausted by her responsibilities, Anne must find someone to care for her children while she works. She is unable to find a suitable person, and must take Laura, recommended by a distant friend of the family. Anne feels uncomfortable around Laura, even though she feels guilty for her feelings. Laura seems odd and slow, but she is good with the children, and Anne does not understand her own feelings of repugnance and even hatred for the girl. Although Anne does not know it, Laura is a religious fanatic, intent on helping Anne and the children, although at the same time developing a dangerous obsession with her employer. Anne finds her life more and more unhinged as she falls in love with a man, believes her husband is unfaithful, and is pulled into the world of artist Caroline Watson. When a terrible tragedy strikes Anne's home, she comes to understand Laura's mysterious past and her own desires for a comfortable life. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1980's-1999 Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Pregnancy/Child rearing Yes Major part of story: Religion theme? Yes Religion theme: - Cult! (time for the coolaid!) Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 20's-30's Profession/status: Eccentric/Smart/Dumb: Yes Eccentric: How sensitive is this character? Intelligence - below average Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 5 () United States Yes Writing Style Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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