Wonderful Contemporary Literature

My rating:  5 out of 5

A beautiful story of a family in New Jersey, as seen through the eyes of one member, Donna.  As the years pass so dreams come true or fade and change.

Donna is growing up as part of a family of six children in New Jersey.  She tells the story of her life and dreams, plus that of her siblings and her parents as seen through her eyes.  As the years pass, so  we follow Donna’s life as it progresses from school to adult life.  She is particularly close to her brother Vincent, though disappointed that he has not achieved similar successes to hers.  Donna worries that Vincent  can never be happy with what he has.   However when she discovers a sketchbook of his life in drawings she begins to wonder whether he had it right all along. 

The clear simplicity of the writing, the beautiful distillation of many years of life into flowing pages, all brings Donna and her family to life.   The dramas and successes, the good times and family traditions and the not so good – all wonderfully depicted. 

5*s from me for this classic in the making.   I loved the easy prose of the writing, which read like the author was talking about her own life.  It left me with plenty to think about – what would the pictures of my life be?  How does one think about success in terms of achievements, and so much more.

This is the third book in a trilogy, though I read it as a stand alone – it is the first book I have read by this author.    Wonderful book to read and chat about with friends!