This novel, while loosely based on her own family history, is fiction, but through her beautiful, simple writing Claire Messud conveys the universality of family life, indeed of all of human experience. I was drawn to read this book because of its initial placement in Algeria and the tortured history of France with this North African country but her masterfully developed characters travel the world in the course of their lives and the generations unfold in such touching ways -- interdependent but unique in their joys and sorrows. An excellent, very readable book. Perfect for book clubs -- it has many different ways to understand/interpret the story and its rich family, which one comes to love as one revisits one's own life. A masterpiece!

This is an excellent book. It is well written and very readable. The author has returned to 1972 when abortion was illegal in our country and describes the work of the Jane Collective which was founded in Chicago to provide safe, albeit illegal, abortions to women in need. Through several characters, some of whom are members of the collective and some of whom are not, she presents real world struggles of her characters -- how to juggle careers and home, how to be the best mother or wife one can be, while at the same time elucidating, in a very straight forward way, the work of the Collective.
This is a good book for a book club read as there are many issues which can be discussed besides that of abortion. The author writes well and this topic is timely and treated kindly and with a refreshing level of understanding.

In keeping with the author's previous works, this book is an easy read and a good story. Her characters are realistic and well developed and one can imagine oneself visiting this charming hotel in Italy. A wonderful read if you want something that causes no anxiety but is engaging and well written. I feel that Phaedra Patrick is one of those authors who is reliable but always interesting to those of us readers who, at times, just want something GOOD to read. Depending on the reading group could also be a good book for discussion.

The author's description of Alabama in the late 50's and early 60's, at the beginning and in the midst of the Civil Rights movement, captures a time and feelings that have not been adequately described before. Her language is beautiful; as one of her characters says "You and your words. I think of you and your words when things get hard for me out here." A thought many readers will have about this book long after they have finished it.
Minnicks captures the worry and ambivalence of the Black community at the start of the movement as well as the conflicting feelings of deep love and searing pain a place and time can represent for those who lived it. The author leaves us with the hopeful path that "What we can do is live for, love and protect our community." This book is very special and gives us the magic that her heroine gave to those she loved. Should be required reading in high school history classes.

I was drawn to read this book because of the cover, then the title and finally by seeing that it was written by a young South African woman. This book did not disappoint! It is very well written and her story unfolds in a magical, almost ethereal way, although the topic at hand is very painful in world history. This is a book that speaks to today and is, in the end, very wise and hopeful. Would be a good book for book clubs/discussion groups because there are many angles from which to see the characters and their life dilemmas. Do yourself a favor and read this book! It is lovely.