This is a multi-stranded story set in the 1950s about the artists, Jo and Edward Hopper, who are at their beach home on Cape Cod. Further down the beach are their holiday maker neighbours, the Kaplans, who have brought along Michael an adopted ten year old German orphan who they expect to be a playmate for their grandson Richie.
Michael is beautifully portrayed, his childhood memories of Germany a muddle in his head. He is adopted by the Novaks, who are kind but struggle with his past and how he will be accepted in America. All they want is for him to be an American boy, teaching him to forget his past and his first language. They accept the invitation for him to spend the summer with the Kaplans, hoping he will make friends and come out of his shell.
The two households meet up, initially through an argument with volatile Jo and the Kaplan women, then gradually relationships form with the two boys and the Hoppers. These relationships are the cornerstone of the book. Jo's friendship with Michael is intense and fulfilling for both of them. Edward feels deeply for Richie who has lost his father in the war and is still in the depths of grief.
The Hopper marriage is a volatile and passionate one. We are shown that Jo's obsessive jealousy around Edward's work and his relationships with other women has been going on for years and is grinding them down. Edward is self-possessed and secretive, becoming obsessed with Richie's aunt Katherine as his next muse.
The story culminates in a Labor Day party held at the Kaplan house. The author is unflinching in her portrayal of the characters, their good and bad sides laid bare for all to see. The descriptions of a long hot summer were atmospheric and added to the tale as the summer gradually came to an end and the characters returned to New York.
This is the first book of this author's I have read and will certainly look into more of her work.
Michael is beautifully portrayed, his childhood memories of Germany a muddle in his head. He is adopted by the Novaks, who are kind but struggle with his past and how he will be accepted in America. All they want is for him to be an American boy, teaching him to forget his past and his first language. They accept the invitation for him to spend the summer with the Kaplans, hoping he will make friends and come out of his shell.
The two households meet up, initially through an argument with volatile Jo and the Kaplan women, then gradually relationships form with the two boys and the Hoppers. These relationships are the cornerstone of the book. Jo's friendship with Michael is intense and fulfilling for both of them. Edward feels deeply for Richie who has lost his father in the war and is still in the depths of grief.
The Hopper marriage is a volatile and passionate one. We are shown that Jo's obsessive jealousy around Edward's work and his relationships with other women has been going on for years and is grinding them down. Edward is self-possessed and secretive, becoming obsessed with Richie's aunt Katherine as his next muse.
The story culminates in a Labor Day party held at the Kaplan house. The author is unflinching in her portrayal of the characters, their good and bad sides laid bare for all to see. The descriptions of a long hot summer were atmospheric and added to the tale as the summer gradually came to an end and the characters returned to New York.
This is the first book of this author's I have read and will certainly look into more of her work.