Myra White

To me this is melodrama posing as literature, and it could have used editing.

Yes I agree with the other commentators that this is a good story, but yikes, from a literary perspective it is mediocre, and the last 20% drenches the reader in unwelcome religiosity

I am a Schine fan, and this book does not disappoint. She is one of those rare authors who tells a great story while writing with skill and grace. Most of her fiction is rather New York City-ish but this primarily takes place in Los Angeles, about a multi-generational emigre family, and the power of story-telling.

I have always found Strout to be a more than competent writer, but this novel soars to the level of literature both finely honed and accessible. She uses a similar format to first Olive [Kitteridge] novel, linked stories, but somehow the characters have become much more relatable, including Olive, and Strout’s writing has further matured to the point where it glows.