We met at Rockstone on September 7, to discuss
Joyce Maynard's novel "Under The Influence".
The members who attended were Kathy, Sarah, Donna,
Nettie, Julie and Janet.
The book we all agreed was a page turner,
but maybe a beach read which is not really a bad
thing. Sometimes Beach reads are great for a busy
summer schedule.
The book is about a single mother who is
struggling with alcoholism which caused her
to lose custody of her young son Ollie.
The book does not concentrate on her alcoholism
but the bad choices she makes in life.
The mother Helen is seduced by a wealthy couple who
seek to control her choices and her entire life.
Eva wants to dress Helen, she wants to have her at her
beck and call. She denigrates the only person who
really cares for Helen always pointing out his ordinariness
and shortcomings. They try to take over her child.
The friendship is caustic and eventually she sees them
for what they really are after a very disastrous incident
her son had with the husband Skip while on a
boating trip. The self serving wealthy couple
are eventually exposed for their misdeeds and
we get the feeling that Helen may be on the
road to healing.
I think most of us liked the book and even went
on the read her bestseller "Labor Day".
Kathy led a great discussion from the study guide
questions .
Donna chose a book by Kate MacIntosh entitled.
"I let You Go".
we chose October 26th for the next meeting.
