In her still startling debut, The Good Mother, Sue Miller explored the premium we put on passion--and the terrible burden it places on a mother and child. Her fourth novel, While I Was Gone, is another study in familial crime and punishment. But this time, her wife and good mother is accessory to more than emotional malfeasance. Jo Becker has everything a woman could desire: a loving spouse, contented children, and a nice dog or two. When her New England veterinary practice takes on a new client, however, her past comes back to haunt her. Long ago, it seems, Jo had escaped her family and identity for a commune in Cambridge. Her Aquarian illusions came to an abrupt, bloody end when one of her housemates was brutally murdered.
Now this unhappy era returns in the person of Eli Mayhew, who had been the odd man out in Jo's boho household. His appearance is both tantalizing and upsetting: "Inside, I slowed down. I felt numbed. I had two last patients, and then I told Beattie to go home, that I'd close up.... I refiled the last charts, sprayed and wiped the examining table. I reviewed my list of routine surgeries for Wednesday. All the while I was thinking of Eli Mayhew, and of Dana and Larry and Duncan and me, and our lives in the house. Of the horrible way it had all ended." Sue Miller's fine novel is a penetrating--and sensuous--portrait of a woman besieged by her conscience. While I Was Gone also demonstrates that in the face of distance and betrayal, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing indeed.
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Oprah Book Club Book. Found this to be very entertaining. I really loved this book. Was better than the movie (made for tv?) that was based on the book. It was a fun read.

Mailed to Erishkigal today via media mail. Hope it gets there soon!

recieved from the goalie girl while i was out of town-- really looking forward to reading!! Thank you!

wow, this really took some interesting twists.... a very good read!! Thank you, goaliegirl!

NOT set by Anonymous Finder-- site was weird this morn--journalled this and registered a bunch--only 1/2 of which showed up on my total.---argh!

mailed today to legbamel as part of the both Well-Travelled Book Challenge and the Keep The Moving Challenge.

This arrived safe and sound in my mailbox yesterday. I wanted to let you know it was here and to say, "Thank you!" It came at the perfect time - I just finished another BC book and was reluctant to start Vanity Fair, which was next on my list, as I knew there were a few on their way. I'll start it today and will let you know what I thought soon. And of course I'll set it free to make new friends, counting for both the "Well-Travelled Books" and the "Keep Them Moving" challenges for me, as well!

UPDATE: This was a very well-written book but I just couldn't quite immerse myself. I just think it wasn't a good time for me to read it, as the premise was quite interesting and I recall it now, a month later, as being very good. I'll wild release it sometime soon.

RELEASE NOTES:

I left this one propped against the box where you put your business card to win a free lunch. It was gone when I left, so hopefully someone picked it up and will enjoy it!