This novel is a work of literary fiction about a time, not so long ago, when most women trapped in loveless, impossible marriages had essentially no rights, no agency, and no resources to enable escape. They remained, in essence, the property of a man. Nevada provided what …more was then the least onerous route to obtain a divorce, and much of the book covers the six-week period of residency required to file there.

During this time, Lois begins to sort out not only the details of the process, but also – and more importantly – what comes afterward. Who will she be when she is no longer a wife, what will she do with her new freedoms, how will she survive? She has never had a profession, has never been responsible for herself, has not ever been allowed to make decisions for herself.

She, and the other divorcees at the ranch, have much to learn, with little guidance. When Lois finally encounters a woman who, unlike herself, appears to actually know what she’s doing, appears to have agency, it transforms her. But this event also highlights some of the dangers of a world that has literally been beyond her ability to imagine. In this sense, the book is a kind of modern Bildungsroman, which also reminds us just how recently basic human rights were extended to women, and how fragile they remain. I loved this book, both because it matters, and because the exquisite prose is such a joy to read. (less)