Fortune's Rocks Author:Anita Shreve This gorgeous new novel from the award-winning author of the bestselling The Weight of Water (nearly 100,000 copies in print!) explores reckless love and its consequences, the sensual education of a young woman, and how unconscious choices can shape an entire life. — In a summer community on the coast of New Hampshire at the turn of the last cent... more »ury, a girl is drawn into a passionate affair with a man nearly three times her age. Fortune's Rocks is the story of Olympia Biddeford - privileged, well educated, and mature beyond her years - and her affair with John Haskell, who not only is a physician, essayist, and champion of mill workers but also is married with three children. Drawn inexorably together on the night of the summer solstice, the pair set in motion a series of events with far-reaching consequences for all involved.
A meditation on the erotic life of women, an exploration of deeply ingrained class prejudices, and most of all a portrayal of the thoughts and actions of an unforgettable woman, Fortune's Rocks is the most powerful novel yet from Anita Shreve. Following close upon the successes of the bestsellers The Weight of Water and The Pilot's Wife, it will further expand Anita Shreve's fast-growing readership.« less
This book is one that once you start it, it is impossible to put down. The story revolves around a teenage girl in the beginning of the 1900,s who is mature beyond her years. We learn of her sexual awakening, tragedy mixed with poignant undying love. Love the author, as always, and loved this book, in particular.
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by this novel-the descriptions in it are beautiful to say the least, and the story line was very intriguing. I highly recemend this book, its a very good read!
Oh...so GOOD! I couldn't put it down once I got into it. Olympia is quite the woman for the late 1800's, early 20th century! This is a great work of fiction. Very enjoyable. Quite a story!!!
I LOVED this book. It was heart wrenching and romantic--but the female character was smart and lively. It is an intelligent book set at the turn of the 20th century at a seaside resort town in New England.
This book is such a page turner! I had read it about 5 years ago, and just remembered I like it. I read it again last month and absolutely loved it! Anita Shreve is a gifted writer, it is one of those books you close and say "where was I?" It totally transports you. A definite read for the winter!
This book is not literature, but it's haunting none the less. How can you make a case for pedophilia? There is no way, but the author takes us into the minds of two people who are caught up in a passion that seems so right to them, nothing else matters. From the perspective of the reader, it's a moral morass. Reminds me of the situation in "L'Immoralist," though that, of course, IS literature.
Another wonderful book by Shreve. This story takes place at the same location as Sea Glass, but earlier, at the turn of the century. This book had an excellent, consistant pace, moving the story along nicely through all its 450 pages. Shreve mixes personal stories and the politics of the day (labor issues, immigration, class, religion) for a compelling story.
This is the sequel of "The Pilot's Wife" which was an Oprah's book club selection. This series takes place in coastal Maine and the descriptions make me want to get in my car and drive there.
Another good one by Anita Shreve. This one is a bit different than some of her other novels. It has a bit of a victorian, Edith Wharton-ish feel about it, but still very interesting. Great characters, surprising twists to the story.
I really loved this book. It starts out slow but picks up speed and I could hardly bear to put it down to do the things I had to do. I couldn't wait to get to the end, but I didn't want it to end either! This was my first Anita Shreve read and it won't be my last...she is GREAT!
