This novel traces the path of a family from the 1950’s through the 1970’s (with a glimpse into the future). The father, Nick, grew up under the thumb This novel traces the path of a family from the 1950’s through the 1970’s (with a glimpse into the future). The father, Nick, grew up under the thumb of his Mennonite minister father and is (in 1953) a young lawyer for a large American oil company. The mother, Bet, grew up in a higher social world, went to Vassar and was a codebreaker during WWII. Their children are Katherine and Harry. Katherine, is a rebellious child who becomes associated with a radical group during the 1960’s, while Harry is a gentle, nature loving person, who becomes very focused on the environment. The author brings in many historical events. WWII is shown in retrospect through the extremely brief romance between Nick and Bet before his proposal and Bet’s codebreaking. The involvement of oil companies in the politics of the Middle East is a large topic. Nick travels frequently to Iran, where his company is involved in (among other things) returning the Shah to power. Big oil continues to be a theme as the story moves to Katherine and Harry during the 1960’s. The vehemence of the radicals’ position as well as the ugly nitty gritty of radical life are well portrayed. Deeper themes are found in the novel as well. The eternal cycle of one generation (Nick’s and Bet’s) working hard in the system and wanting more for their children, and then the next generation (Katherine’s and Harry’s) rejecting the system and disparaging the things their parents worked hard to achieve. The role of a wife and mother in the 1950’s and afterwards is nicely portrayed in the character of Bet. There is also an awareness of the end of the world – or something devastating short of that. This theme is carried out by Last House – a second home in the mountains and a constant presence to which each of the characters escapes during various periods of their respective lives. This novel covers a lot of time periods and events while also following the lives of four people. I found it quite interesting and entertaining, although I understand the criticisms to the effect that it was just too much to cover in 300 pages. Very importantly, Jessica Shattuck’s writing is lovely, and I will look forward to her next novel. ...more
Loading...
