A widow for one year

In this novel, we follow Ruth Cole through three pivotal periods in her life: her girlhood on Long Island in 1958, her struggles as an unmarried woman in 1990, and her journey as a forty-one-year-old widow in 1995, poised to experience love for the first time. The narrative is both elegiac and sensual, presenting a multilayered love story filled with emotional depth. Critics have praised the book for its compelling blend of humor and tragedy, highlighting its memorable moments and the universal lesson of perseverance in the face of life's challenges. The storytelling is described as sprawling and rich, featuring intricate plotlines and engaging digressions that create a fairy tale quality, while remaining both old-fashioned and contemporary. The author is noted for his ability to craft characters that draw readers into complex moral dilemmas, showcasing a remarkable control of perspective. This work is considered one of the author's finest, offering a pleasurable and immersive reading experience. The narrative is characterized by its exploration of human emotions, driven by themes of greed, foolishness, and passion, ultimately resulting in a powerful and masterful tale.