Drop everything! Read this book....

Just finished Keeping the House by Ellen Baker. What a saga! Spanning over 50 years, from the turn of the twentieth century to just after WWII, this book is a PAGE TURNER. I could not put it down.

Amended: To be a little more descriptive -- her book raises the question of how much has changed and how much has not with regard to women's roles and the conflicting demands placed on them. Even more, it explores whether those demands come from social mores or a woman's own perception of her place in the world.

Because of this, I categorize it far above a beach read, but must stress again that it does not come across as didactic in any shape or fashion. The story itself is so gripping, it is worth your time -- even if deep thoughts were not a side effect.


AMENDED again: OMG! I e-mailed the author to tell her how much I enjoyed her book (something I've never done before), and she e-mailed back a very friendly, not at all pre-fabricated response the same day. I am now ridiculously devoted to her and will not even be willing to lend any of you my copy of her book. You must go out and spend money on this really talented and completely down-to-earth woman because she deserves the income. And because I said so, so there.