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Red Hook Roadby Ayelet Waldman |
Arlene Almas: My mother recommended this book to me,
and I'm glad she did. It's not giving anything away to say that a newlywed couple die
in a car crash an hour after their wedding, since it happens right at the beginning.
The narrative revolves around the effect this tragedy has on the members of both of the
young people's families. Their mothers cannot find peace or a connection with each other;
the bride's sister and the groom's brother must each chart their own course through
the devastation of their lives. Everyone is drawn into the vortex, including a young
girl in whom a marvelous musical talent is discovered. The emotions ring true in
this tragic yet ultimately satisfying novel.
Rating: ****
