Title: The Whole World Over
Author: Julia Glass
I loved Julia Glass's first novel, The Three Junes and therefore had very high expectations going into this novel, which is the story of Greenie, a wife, mother and chef who uproots her family by taking a job as the chef for the governor of New Mexico. Similar to The Three Junes, The Whole World Over is so much more than just Greenie's story or her family's story. Although she and her husband, Alan, are at the center of the tale, I felt like we had equal insight into the interesting lives of several of their closest friends and co-workers (including a restauranteur, a bookseller who also appeared in Junes, the governor, and a woman coping with a tragic brain injury, to name a few). Several of the readers on Amazon complained that they found Greenie's character hard to sympathize with, and while it's true that I didn't find us to be kindred spirits, I appreciate the skill Glass uses to create a whole cast of realistic and interesting characters. For serious readers who appreciate complicated storylines and prickly characters, I definitely recommend The Whole World Over. You may not like it, but you won't be disappointed that you tried it.
--originally published 10/10/06
No comments:
Post a Comment