Julia Glass

Beautifully written character-driven saga that features the McLeod family. It is a story in three parts. The first, set in June 1989, follows Paul McLeod who, shortly after the death of his wife, is traveling with a tour group in Greece. The substantial second part, set in June 1995, features eldest son, Fenno. He lives in New York with his dog and parrot, runs a bookshop, and travels annually to the ancestral family home in Scotland. We meet his twin siblings, David and Dennis, and their wives and children. Fenno’s relationships with Mal, suffering from AIDS, and Tony, are told in flashback. In the short third section, set in June 1999, we find characters from the first two parts vacationing at the beach house of a mutual friend.

This book is subtle and understated. It is about love, loss, friendship, and family connections. I loved the characters – they feel so authentic. They are complex and fully formed, with strengths, weaknesses, and eccentricities. The relationships among the characters have that realistic ebb and flow of closeness and distance. I particularly enjoyed the inclusion of animals, the focus on art, and the use of food in bringing people together (one character is a chef). The writing is stellar. Glass brings the reader into the lives of these characters through describing the sights, sounds, smells, and textures of their lives. The dialogues are believable. I always know I have loved a book when I do not want it to end, and it lingers in my thoughts.
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Dystopian novel set in the near future (2030s) in the small fictional community of Vigil Harbor, Massachusetts. American society is dealing with climate change, eco-terrorism, pandemic fallout, immigration bans, and escalating political divisiveness. The primary plotline is based on a group of ecoterrorists that disrupt this privileged and (mostly) sheltered town.

There are nine primary characters, each with a distinctive voice. Mike is a marine biologist tracking decline in sea life. Egon is Mike’s gay son who is in the closet. Margo is a retired high school English teacher whose husband having an affair with Mike’s wife. Miriam has remarried several years after losing her husband to COVID-19. Her son Brecht survived a terrorist act and has returned home to live with his mother. His stepfather Austin is an architect designing housing that will withstand the worsening climate conditions. Connie is helping to run her son’s homeschool group. Her husband, Celestino, is a Guatemalan landscaper who is worried about immigration issues. Petra is posing as a journalist to find out more about her partner’s suicide, and thinks Austin is hiding information.

I have read one other novel by Julia Glass (Three Junes) which I enjoyed very much so I thought I’d give her latest a try. It is a sprawling epic that paints a portrait of an entire community and their relationships. `It is amazing that the author can write all these characters and their backstories in a way that the reader can easily follow. She excels at character development. These people are flawed and believable. Many are dealing with grief. All are dealing with fears. Other themes include security, parenting, trust, and identity.

There is even a small element of magical realism, but I am not convinced this book needed it. There is already enough going on without it. This dystopian society is an extrapolation of current issues. I am not sure I can envision the ecological movement going to these extremes (at least I hope not), but it is definitely thought-provoking. It can get a bit depressing at times, but in the end, it is a story about the importance of love, understanding, acceptance, and the need to bond together to face the challenges of the future.… (more)