Shortest summary ever: Shaker Heights is postcard-worthy, idyllic, smaller-town America with rules that keep everyone happy – and that’s just how native daughter Elena Richardson likes it. She does her part to help others by supplying wonderful low rent housing to those “deserving.” Enter Mia Warren – artist, free spirit and Mrs. Richardson’s new tenant. But as the two family’s lives interweave, we learn this tenant has secrets. A town custody battle draws lines in the sand bringing many questions of privilege, boundaries, money, opportunity and plain ol’ common sense. Watch the lines get blurred.
Scrappymags 3-word review: Eloquent, thought-provoking storytelling.
My thoughts: This novel is set up like a dichotomy land mine – rich/poor. Good-looking/not . Artist/corporate. Rules/no rules. White/Asian. Even down to good hair/messy hair. So many differences that the book seems to burst with these opposites. But that’s how life is, right? But deep down we are all the same? Maybe not. We can be polarized – depending on experiences. Ng deftly draws these opposites out – weaving a story where at first differences seem small, but growing into, well, little fires …everywhere.
The story dragged a bit for me in places, hence the 1 star deduction.
Characters for me were so well though out. I love that no one was perfect – which is realistic, refreshing. And foils… oh lots of foils EVERYWHERE!
The adoption angle vexed me – that story was highlighted for a reason, clearly the question to answer is – who is the better mother? What does it mean to be a mother? Being the aunt of an adopted niece made it difficult for me to be objective, but of course every adoption is different.
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Genre: Contemporary Fiction (setting is the 90s)
Recommend to: those looking for simple story, lots of talking points, good controversy so book clubs should have this as a MUST read.
Not recommended to: If you’re not in the mood for a leisurely paced book. It unfolds slowly.
