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Ellen Isaacs | |
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In A Map of the World, Alice and Howard Goodwin own a family farm in a northern midwest town called Prarie Center. They have two daughters and are close to another family with two girls of similar ages, although they are shunned by the rest of the mainly suburban community. Despite their dreams of a simple life, they encounter two serious tragedies that dramatically change their lives, one a terrible accident in which one of the girls dies and another a terrible injustice that lands Alice in jail, accuesd of child molestation. The book is about how the two families and the community reacts to and copes with the events. I loved this book. I was on a business trip and hadn't brought a "backup book," and it was a struggle to keep myself from reading too much so I'd have enough to last the cross-country flight home. I loved the book because it was compelling on so many levels. Told from both Alice's and Howard's perspective, it delves into their complex reactions to the events and how it affected their understanding of themselves. It also characterizes the effect it has on their relationship with each other, with their children, and with their friends. It is also an insightful if painful commentary on people's reaction to sexual abuse and how they treat those who are accused vs. the children who accuse them. It richly describes Alice's time in jail and her reaction to the mostly lower-income women who share her "pod." And it has an intriguing description of how the case makes it way through the legal process, culminating in a compelling courtroom drama. At all these levels, nothing seemed contrived or predictable. Even though I don't think I'd react the way these characters did, their behavior always seemed true and genuine, and I felt I learned something as I read about how they handled and came to accept their situation. Usually I find it difficult to read about great misfortune, especially unjust misfortune. But this book was so rich in its understanding of how people deal with such problems that I found it cathartic to identify with the characters and live through it with them. If you like books with rich characters and relationships, and complex social situations, I'd highly recommend this book.
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