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Allegra Goodman has delighted readers with her critically acclaimed collections Total Immersion and The Family Markowitz, and her celebrated first novel, Kaaterskill Falls, which was a national bestseller and a National Book Award finalist. Abandoned by her folk-dancing partner, Gary, in a Honolulu hotel room, Sharon realizes she could return to Boston--and her estranged family--or listen to that little voice inside herself. The voice that asks: "How come Gary got to pursue his causes, while all I got to pursue was him?" Thus, with an open heart, a soul on fire, and her meager possessions (a guitar, two Indian gauze skirts, a macramé bikini, and her grandfather's silver watch) Sharon begins her own spiritual quest. Ever the optimist, she is sure at each stage that she has struck it rich "spiritually speaking"--until she comes up empty. Then, in a karmic convergence of events, Sharon starts on the path home to Judaism. Still, even as she embraces her tradition, Sharon's irrepressible self tugs at her sleeve. Especially when she meets Mikhail, falls truly in love at last, and discovers what even she could not imagine--her destiny.… (more)
User reviews
I was somewhat disappointed. I found that the right around the halfway mark the book became so slow and bogged down. It was hard for me at points to
I was so conflicted in my feelings about Sharon (the main character) I am not sure if we were supposed to take her quirkiness as just that and enjoy the ride - but several times I worried about whether she was suffering from untreated mental illness. It was an uncomfortable sort of read for me at those points.
I did enjoy reading about some of her religious exploration but it was a little drawn out for me. I wish that the last 1/3 of the book or so was a lot tighter - though - I will say that I enjoyed the ending.