Synopses & Reviews
The year is 1940, and Rhoda Taber is pregnant with her first child. Satisfied with her comfortable house in a New Jersey suburb and her reliable husband, Leonard, she expects that her life will be predictable and secure. Surprised by an untimely death, an unexpected illness, and the contrary natures of her two daughters, Rhoda finds that fate undermines her sense of entitlement and security. Shrewd, wry, and sometimes bitter, Rhoda reveals herself to be a wonderfully flawed and achingly real woman caught up in the unexpectedness of her own life.
Review
"Unqualified praise goes to this rarity: an extraordinary novel about ordinary people." Chicago Tribune
Review
"Silber's writing is strong and richly detailed, spotlighting the drama inherent in everyday lives." Washington Post
Review
"A brave, wise, quite nearly heart-breaking book." Ms.
Review
"[Silber] creates a compelling portrait (made a bit haunting for its gaps) of an unsatisfied woman. Hardly new to the scene, this reprint may draw deserved attention to Silber's later work." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
Winner of the PEN/Hemingway Award: "Unqualified praise goes to this rarity: an extraordinary novel about ordinary people." Chicago Tribune
About the Author
Joan Silber won a PEN/Hemingway Award for Household Words and was a National Book Award finalist for Ideas of Heaven. She teaches at Sarah Lawrence College and lives in New York City.