I read Christina Baker Kline’s novel, Bird in Hand, a year ago after discovering her wonderful blog on writing. This novel came out in paperback this summer and I highly recommend it! On the surface one might categorize the book as domestic fiction –the story of two couples, a life long friendship, and one dramatic event that fractures the delicate bonds that hold these people together. Yet, the complexity and depth of Kline’s characters, along with the difficult situation they face, make this novel a truly rewarding reading experience. What do we do for happiness? Can we have it all, and if so, what’s at stake? Christina Baker Kline writes clean, elegant prose and I am eagerly awaiting her next book.
Last week I also had the fun of reading with Christina at the Bass Harbor Library on Mt. Dessert Island in Maine. While there, I bought one of her earlier novels, The Way Life Should Be, a wonderful love story that takes place in Maine. This novel is lighter than Bird in Hand but it is pure pleasure from start to finish. There is a cooking element in the book, and I actually plan to use some of the recipes. It’s a terrific summer read.