It's been a long time since Linden Malegarde has been to France. This trip for a family gathering has a double purpose - Paul's seventieth birthday and Paul and Lauren âs fortieth wedding anniversary. Lauren has been planning for two years, a âfamily only' event. No spouse or significant other invited. So it will be just Linden and his older, independent and outspoken sister, Tilia, Paul and Lauren, Paulâs American wife.
What will it take for this occasion to succeed? No one knows. Linden and his father have a tenuous relationship. As his father's heir, he long ago disappointed his parents when he acknowledged he was gay. Hence the long absence from France. However, perhaps his fame as a professional photographer for the rich and famous will mean something to them. All struggle with emotions while the rain falls and falls. So much comes down that the Seine flows over its banks and floods the city, forcing cancellation of events Lauren planned. To further complicate matters Paul collapses at the celebratory dinner and is rushed to a hospital from which he must soon be moved because of the high water. He suffers from pneumonia and a stroke.
Throughout, Linden's hopes for connection and acceptance linger always just below the surface. He is the storyteller and his tale is one all too often experienced by other families. He connects with his partner in New York, calling frequently for support. The author's realistic characters and wonderful prose make this emotional tale to remember. Here is a broken grroup struggling with family dynamics under tragic circumstances. Family issues aside, the flood creates problems that must be dealt with quickly. I love this story and I was so caught up witht The Rain Watcher that I looked for more by the author and finding Sarah's Key quickly returned to this wonderful author.
What will it take for this occasion to succeed? No one knows. Linden and his father have a tenuous relationship. As his father's heir, he long ago disappointed his parents when he acknowledged he was gay. Hence the long absence from France. However, perhaps his fame as a professional photographer for the rich and famous will mean something to them. All struggle with emotions while the rain falls and falls. So much comes down that the Seine flows over its banks and floods the city, forcing cancellation of events Lauren planned. To further complicate matters Paul collapses at the celebratory dinner and is rushed to a hospital from which he must soon be moved because of the high water. He suffers from pneumonia and a stroke.
Throughout, Linden's hopes for connection and acceptance linger always just below the surface. He is the storyteller and his tale is one all too often experienced by other families. He connects with his partner in New York, calling frequently for support. The author's realistic characters and wonderful prose make this emotional tale to remember. Here is a broken grroup struggling with family dynamics under tragic circumstances. Family issues aside, the flood creates problems that must be dealt with quickly. I love this story and I was so caught up witht The Rain Watcher that I looked for more by the author and finding Sarah's Key quickly returned to this wonderful author.
