Author: Julia Glass
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-4000-7577-5
Intended Audience: Anyone with solid reading skills, but mainly women
Summary: The story follows two sisters, Louisa and Clemente, their unique relationship and the changes and struggles they face throughout their childhood and spanning twenty-five years into their adult lives. The two are far more different than alike-Louisa a passionate and struggling artist, and Clem a guardian of wildlife. Louisa strives for the steadiness of marriage and home, and Clem is always restless in her work and love. The story highlights their life experiences and times they share together, and explores the intimacies and nature of sisterhood.
Review: The New Yorker said it best, calling this book “Quietly powerful.” I originally expected a profound, somewhat humorous, but intimate look into the very unique bond that two sisters share. The novel delivered in portraying some parts of sisterhood at a very deep level, but failed to be uplifting or humorous by any means. I felt I really connected with parts of the story, sharing in emotions and understanding the unspoken love between the two girls, but it always felt like there was something missing. I can’t exactly pinpoint what was lacking in the story; It may have been the extreme nature of the characters themselves, but in reading, I consistently found myself wishing for that missing piece to somewhere reveal itself. Overall, the novel was beautifully written, and the author did a good job of revealing the very difficult essence of sisterhood at its most basic level. This novel is, by no means, an uplifting or cheerful read, but is very good, nonetheless.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
