reviewed live on bookshow by Babs Simpson 22nd august 2013
THIS IS A MAGNIFICENT NOVEL ABOUT THE LIFE OF MARGARET MAYFIELD WHO,
REARDED IN HER MISSOURI HOMETOWN AS AN OLD MAID AT THE AGE OF 27, SURPRISINGLY
MARRIES CPT ANDREW EARLY. HE IS VERY HIGHLY REGARDED AS A BRILLIANT ASTRONOMER
AND NAVAL OFFICER. AFTER THEIR MARRIAGE, THEY MOVE TO CALIFORNIA TO LIVE ON
THE NAVAL BASE ON CATALINA ISLAND. ANDREWS' BEHAVIOUR IS VERY PUZZLING TO
MARGARET - HE IS CONVINCED OF HIS OWN BRILLIANCE AND ALMOST PARANOID IN HIS
VIEWS.
THEY HAVE A SON BUT TRAGICALLY HE DIES AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS AND FOLLOWING
THAT THEIR MARRIED LIFE BEGINS TO DISINTEGRATE.
THE STORY CONTINUES FROM THE TURN OF THE 20TH CENTURY THROUGH TO WW2 AND
BRINGS VIVIDLY TO LIFE EVENTS SUCH AS THE HORRIFIC SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE, THE
STOCK MARKET CRASH AND EVENTUALLY AMERICAS ENTRY INTO WW2 FOLLOWING THE BOMBING
OF PEARL HARBOUR.
ALONG THE WAY MARGARET MEETS AND BECOMES FRIENDLY WITH DORA - AN EXTREMELY
ENTERPRISING AND MODERN YOUNG WOMAN WHO WORKS AS A JOURNALIST, TRAVELLING WIDELY
AT HOME AND ABROAD, THE KIMOURAS - A DIGNIFIED JAPANESE FAMILY LIVING IN SAN
FRANCISCO AND THE ENIGMATIC PETE - A RUSSIAN BY BIRTH WHO COMES & GOES
CHANGING HIS NAME AND HIS ACCENT AS IT SUITS HIM.
THIS IS QUITE MAGNIFICENT. A BRILLIANT STUDY OF A MARRIAGE - MARGARETS
BEWILDERMENT AND DESPAIR AS ANDREW SINKS EVEN DEEPER INTO PARANOIA - AND A
WONDERFUL EVOCATION OF EARLY 20TH CENTURY LIFE IN AMERICA.
THE AUTHOR WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE AND I'M NOT
SURPRISED.
THIS IS A BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN AND TOWERING NOVEL.
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