The Good Daughters by Joyce Maynard
September 1, 2010 by William & Morrow
September 1, 2010 by William & Morrow
Paperback, 288 Pages
Review Copy/Tlc Tour
They were born on the same day, in the same small New Hampshire hospital, into families that could hardly have been less alike. Ruth Plank is an artist and a romantic with a rich, passionate, imaginative life. The last of five girls born to a gentle, caring farmer and his stolid wife, she yearns to soar beyond the confines of the land that has been her family's birthright for generations.
Dana Dickerson is a scientist and realist whose faith is firmly planted in the natural world. Raised by a pair of capricious drifters who waste their lives on failed dreams, she longs for stability and rootedness. Different in nearly every way, Ruth and Dana share a need to make sense of who they are and to find their places in a world in which neither has ever truly felt she belonged. They also share a love for Dana's wild and beautiful older brother, Ray, who will leave an indelible mark on both their hearts. Told in the alternating voices of Ruth and Dana, The Good Daughters follows these "birthday sisters" as they make their way from the 1950s to the present.
Review
When this story opened in the face of a hurricane, I was riveted by the prospect of people going crazy, perhaps a murder mystery, trees flying into windows or something in the air that made everyone freaky for a bit.... but the hurricane itself was just the catalyst in bringing a subtle aftermath which paints two families in a different light, one being hard working farm people, the others artsy carefree people. Ruth and Dana, daughters from each family tell the story of their lives in alternating chapters. As each story unfolds the women tell us about very different sets of parents, marriage, love, woodstock, sex, divorce and careers. One of the gals main issues is her struggle with a lesbian partner and how keeping the relationship secret puts stress on them. The other mostly talks about her lukewarm marriage, not really loving her husband and the ups and downs of motherhood.
Honestly while The Good Daughters was a well written story with a timeless engaging theme, the book moved at a pace that felt snail-like to me. The plight of walking out every step of Ruth and Dana's adolescence and adult lives was comparable to a lifetime movie with really bad actors, impossible to stop watching yet tediously long at the same time. I guess the idea of struggling gay people not being accepted in the work force and women who marry Joe-Schmo trapped in a loveless, boring sex life has been recycled to often. By the time I was done reading this book it felt like a month out of my life......On writing, the plot is simple, the big secret is easily revealed and I had a feeling it was coming, Maynard presented it though with ease and believability, so for that matter it didn't bring anything mysterious or shocking to the women's story. Overall a tad disappointing but this would be a great novel for those who love a slow paced contemporary, perfect for the long winter months ahead of us.
Rating
The Good Daughters is recommended to adult readers and contains: Mild violence, family drama and secrets, sexuality, homosexual relationships/struggles and divorce.
3/5- Contemporary
Thanks to Publisher and Tlc for Copy
I actually love lifetime movies, LOL, but I don't know if this book is for me. I don't like when things are dragged out unnecessarily.
ReplyDeleteHm. A snail-like pace is usually problematic for me, so I'll probably steer clear of this one. Love how you compared it to a Lifetime movie, I've definitely been sucked into those where you can't believe your watching but you also can't bring yourself to change the channel:)
ReplyDeleteSounds blah.
ReplyDeleteI love how you break things down. I always get exactly what you're saying. I've read reviews for this before, but you are the first to actually make me get the story.
Ha! Yes, that is exactly what lifetime movies are like, yet I'm addicted to them.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading my fair share of slow paced novels, so I've been looking for something a bit more action packed, but your right, this one sounds great for the winter months, which in South Texas are hard to find. ;)
It sounds wonderful from the description but I don't like reading books that have slow pacing even in the winter. Fab review. It was very helpful.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you didn't love this one, but I'm thinking that with the three hurricanes currently heading up the East Coast that this might be a good read for me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being a part of the tour.