In his fourth novel, Kowalski (Eddie's Bastard, 1999) offers a modern morality tale with a surprisingly powerful emotional wallop. High-flying Manhattan stockbroker Colt Hart and his beautiful but emotionally fragile wife, Francie, both fall in love with a 150-year-old house in rural Pennsylvania. As the two make plans to furnish the lovely old home, it becomes apparent that they have entirely different agendas, not only about the house but also about their life together. Colt sees the rural retreat as a chance to impress clients with his wealth, while Francie, a once promising poet, goes off the antidepressant medication she has been on for years and starts to observe her surroundings with renewed clarity. Suddenly, the simmering tensions in their 10-year-old marriage come to a boil, especially after Colt engages in a nasty confrontation with their new neighbor. At first, Kowalski seems to be ranging far and wide, with heavy background material on the original owners of the house and many meandering conversations, but he meticulously brings the strands of his narrative together, building toward a credible, moving conclusion.

RELEASE NOTES:

Placed in booth under newspaper.