Ponderings of a Scientist

So I was at the library last weekend and stumbled upon the newest release from one of my favorite authors, Anita Shreve. A Wedding in December is about a wedding which leads to an intimate renunion of a group of high school friends. The plot is minimal (one weekend in an inn in the Berkshires, although +1 for the frostbite softball), while the novel focuses on character development. Personally, when I read modern fiction I’m looking for plot (think crime dramas and other mysteries easily converted into movies), when I want character development I read classic literature. I stuck this book out, but it was slow at the beginning and boring at points, and when I finally developed an interest in the characters the book ended! I was so caught off guard by the book ending, that I actually turned the page thinking (not hoping, really thinking) there was more. The main point as I see it goes something like this: “Man my live took a left turn after high school and although my life may look happy and wonderful, its really lacking something. If only I had married the high school sweetheart; if only I had told her/him how I felt, if only… Oh well its too late I will go back to my unfufilling life now that I have realized it sucks, sigh.”

My recommendation: If you have no other books on you list, check it out at the library (woot public libraries rock (expanded blog on this later)). I wouldn’t pay money for it. If you’ve never read Shreve before I suggest The Weight of Water or pretty much anything else she has written before you read this.