Miller asks, quite clearly and interestingly: What is love, what does it mean, and what do we do with it? How do we practice it? How do we live it? And do we care what others think of how we live? The denouement of the novel is a challenging one but how Miller brings the novel to its surprising and satisfying conclusion is another testament to her talent.
Miller manages to get deeply inside not only the characters of both women, but of their husbands, too, and of the political times of the period in which much of the novel is set, the years 1993 and 1994. But she also takes us back to Delia’s earlier years and brings the novel nearly up to present day. The conversations between the characters are plentiful and realistic, the details and descriptions are carefully drawn and we see each character and setting absolutely clearly, so much so that if any of them were to walk into our house we would recognize them immediately. That is one of Miller’s great gifts.
Miller is a novelist to be read and treasured. Anyone who has not yet discovered her novels is in for a treat. Begin anywhere and dive deeply in. She will take you to places you have not been before.
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