Book cover of The Widow's Children

Book description

A classic American novel from the author of 'Borrowed Finery'.

On the eve of their trip to Africa, Laura Maldonada Clapper and her husband, Desmond, sit in a New York City hotel room, drinking scotch-and-sodas and awaiting the arrival of three guests: Clara, Laura's timid daughter from a previous marriage;…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Widow's Children as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Nobody writes complicated families the way that Fox does. The novel describes a going-away party that is an emotional crime scene of unvoiced (and voiced) resentments by neglected, grown-up children. The book (along with Fox’s memoir, Borrowed Finery) is not just an examination of dysfunction, it is a journey into the dark heart of family, and a portrayal of the damage that is perpetuated and never undone.  

From Courtney's list on really complicated families.

If you love The Widow's Children...

Book cover of Her Daughter

Her Daughter by Fran Hawthorne,

Alice Wilson wants children; her husband, Dan, doesn’t. So Alice "accidentally"  gets pregnant, trusting that Dan will eventually go along—and he seems to, at first. But as their marriage falls apart, Alice realizes that, even from the beginning, Dan has cruelly used small criticisms and belittling comments to undermine her…

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