The Guest Book

Author Sarah Blake has developed into a wonderful writer with new book, building on her success and further developing the world of World War II Europe and post war United States.

I read her first novel The Postmistress and found it interesting and entertaining.  A great book group discussion followed.  People either loved or disliked the book.  There were strong feelings about individual characters.  We agreed that most interesting character was the young woman, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, who has traveled to Europe as a young journalist to find and share the news happening during the Blitz with the United States.  She finds out so much more than she expected.

Now we move to Blake's newest book, The Guest Book.  With a start during the War and a main character, Ogden Milton traveling to Germany for business during the war.  He and his young bride Kitty are part of the wealthy old money class in America. They are starting out life with their young children in New York City.  After a family tragedy, Ogden takes the family on a trip to Maine.  There  they discover an island for sale and purchase it as the family compound.  Every summer they leave the heat of the City and travel to their island in Maine.

The book covers the generations of Miltons as they grow, marry have children, then grandchildren always following the tradition of WASP customs to keep secrets and shrouding tragedy in silence.

They spend their summers with family gatherings living a life of privilege eating lobsters, swimming and boating.  Each generation holding their secrets until Kitty's grandchildren are faced with financial debt and a house that needs major repairs.  Evie,  Kitty's granddaughter who has spent her life as an historian is having trouble letting go of the house and begins to realize there are some family secrets that need to be uncovered.  She needs to find out the truth before she can let go of the Maine house and the past.

This novel weaves it way through time from pre war Germany through the war, into the 1950s as the world is changing each generation brings new ideas with it.  As Kitty's son Moss grows into adulthood, he wants something different the gold spoon.  He does not want to go into the family business and he feels called to be an artist, write music that has the beat of a changing time.  He meets with a young black man who is also ready to challenge the status quo and they talk over drinks in a bar in New York.  As they sit at a table a black man and a white man, in a room full of dockworkers, writers, and "cool cats", he explains, that things are changing, "The room, man.  Us in the room." Moss leaned toward him.  "Here we are, talking. All of us in the same room, unimaginable to my parents, my grandparents.  But we are here now.  New notes."

This is a long volume with many characters.  I looked for a family tree on the inside cover numerous times.  Working to keep them all straight is a challenge but it is worth it.   The book explores so many topics, love, loss, family dynamics, prejudice and desire.
This is one of those sweeping sagas that pulls you in and keeps you engaged until the very end.
Sarah Blake has found her stride and I look forward to following for a while.