OK, you must read this book.
It is one of the most original books I have ever read.
I want to thank a good friend for giving it to me, more on that later.
Jesse, is a former Olympic swimmer,
she won a silver medal in Mexico City in the ’68 games.
The novel is short, 197 pages, and is divided into 5 parts.
A prologue that shows what happened at the games and why Jesse “lost” the race,
an epilogue which I won’t go into for fear of spoiling anything,
and 3 distinct lives for Jesse.
Each life is different and yet all are plausible, believable and Jesse is very much the same girl.
In the first, Jesse is married to Neal and living minutes away from where she grew up,
helping to run his family’s business.
In the second, she is a college professor and “married” to an attractive New York actress.
In the third, she is a divorced single mother raising two teenagers and running a business.
All these Jesses are possible depending on certain decisions.
Go to college or not , love women or love men, have children or not.
Jesse in each case, has the same past, the same memories and yet her lives are different.
It’s all about roads taken,
or not.
I don’t know if I am being clear, and honestly I don’t want to give too much away.
I also don’t want to be simplistic but, I think books mean different things to different people.
This is a terrific book.
Believable characters.
Nothing is false or contrived.
A must read.
I could not recommend it more highly.
Aside from being a good read it makes you think about your life, your choices.
I will most definitely read it again,
and seek out more books by Carol Anshaw,
a name to remember.
The friend who gave it to me has given me a few books lately,
that have brought me joy as well as insight.
Thank you.
Sharing books we love with people is a beautiful gift.
That is one of the reasons I really enjoy blogging,
that and the whining.
Sharing my non expert opinion about books that touched me, somehow.
Later girls
Take care
BB
I remember really enjoying Aquamarine but it’s been a looooong time. Have you read Jenifer Levin? You might like the Sea of Light.
PS I like your blog style.
Hey, no I have never read Jenifer Levin, thanks for the suggestion and the kind words.
If you like that type of story, you really must read Replay by Ken Grimwood !
I just came across this post and had to jump in to urge you to read everything that Carol Anshaw has written. Seven Moves and Lucky in the Corner were every bit as good as Aquamarine, which still remains Carol’s most celebrated book. She’s has a new novel coming out in the spring of 2012, which I can’t wait to read. I understand Jennifer Levin also has something new. It’s been a long time waiting on both of these very fine writers of lesbian fiction.
I really enjoyed, Aquamarine and I intend to read all her stuff. Thanks for the urging, she is a powerful writer isn’t she:-)