Bill Clegg

A novel in search of one, count 'em one, likeable character. I can't imagine spending time (years?) writing these people. In the wealthy CT town of Wells, three girls grow up, two together and one apart. Dana is the only daughter of Mayflower-type parents who own the largest mansion in town, complete with stables and live-in staff, one of whom is daughter Lupita, ignored by Dana and physically and mentally abused by her caretaker father. Dana is best friends with Jackie, who lives next door (or over the adjacent fields). Dana’s burgeoning romantic and sexual feelings for Jackie are not reciprocated. One disastrous night at Jackie's senior prom set up events that culminate in a rape, an adoption, and secrets kept for fifty years. The two characters who show any kindness, or act rationally, are minor and colorless. Lupita's survival, as portrayed in the closing, is satisfying, but not much else is. The audio book is read by the author in a monotone.… (més)

I suppose that all cautionary tales are painful to read, but this one might take the blue ribbon. Clegg, after a difficult childhood with a horrible childhood urinary problem without a diagnosis or treatment, becomes addicted to crack cocaine during the time that it was common. I wonder what's worse, that or opioids, or meth, or alcohol, but it's a very tough read and since only a minimal time is spent on his eventual recovery, I was not convinced that he would not relapse eventually. Perhaps it has its place in recovery literature.… (més)