Tender is the Night

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Mary Lawson

"From "a talented writer whose lyrical, evocative writing invites comparisons to Rick Bass and Richard Ford" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) comes a deftly woven novel that examines the layered makeup of a family: the affections and resentments, obligations and sacrifices"-- "Set in a backwoods village in northern Canada, this is the story of a young woman who leaves her dysfunctional, male-dominated family to make a new life in London. With her dreamy mother abed upstairs, and her father passive in a house full of rambunctious, out of control male children from the age of 4-14, Megan has become the defacto mother, housekeeper, nurse, and lynchpin of her household. Wholly dependable, intelligent, lovely, they depend on her completely-- until one day she has had enough. She packs her bags and leaves for London knowing virtually no one. As she did in her previous two books, Mary Lawson flawlessly weaves the narration of Megan's life and love with the consequences of her departure at home, particularly for her youngest brother Adam, age 4, who has retreated into himself out of insecurity and neglect. Lawson is particularly fine in calibrating the emotional core of her characters, and the choice Megan must make, which, while poignant, in Lawson's hands is also an affirmation of what is, finally, universally important"--

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Jennifer Haigh

Sheila McGann is estranged from her complicated family. But when her older brother Art, pastor of a large suburban parish, finds himself at the center of a scandal, Sheila returns to Boston, ready to fight for him. Her strict mother lives in a state of angry denial; her younger brother Mike has already convicted his brother in his heart. But most disturbing of all is Art himself, who persistently dodges Sheila's questions and refuses to defend himself.

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Marcel Proust

Ma mere, quand il fut question d'avoir pour la premiere fois M. de Norpois a diner, ayant exprime le regret que le Professeur Cottard fut en voyage et qu'elle-meme eut entierement cesse de frequenter Swann, car l'un et l'autre eussent sans doute interesse l'ancien Ambassadeur, mon pere repondit qu'un convive eminent, un savant illustre, comme Cottard, ne pouvait jamais mal faire dans un diner, mais que Swann, avec son ostentation, avec sa maniere de crier sur les toits ses moindres relations, etait un vulgaire esbrouffeur que le Marquis de Norpois eut sans doute trouve selon son expression, "puant".

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Ruth Elwin Harris

After growing up near London in the shadow of her more talented sister, portrait artist Frances Purcell finds a kindred spirit in their guardian's son, and self-worth as a nurse in France during World War I.