In the wake of a disastrous affair with her older, married archeology professor at Stanford, brilliant Wilhelmina Cooper arrives back at the doorstep of her hippie mother-turned-born-again-Christian's house in Templeton, New York - a storybook town her ancestors founded that sits on the shores of Lake Glimmerglass. Upon her arrival, a prehistoric monster surfaces in the lake, bringing a feeding frenzy to the quiet town. And Willie learns she has a mystery father her mother has kept secret for Willie's entire life.
The beautiful, broody Willie is told that the key to her biological father's identity lies somewhere in her twisted family tree. She finds more than she bargained for as a chorus of voices from the town's past, some sinister, all fascinating, rise up around her to tell their side of the story. In the end, dark secrets come to light, past and present day are blurred, and old mysteries are finally put to rest.
This is a fresh, virtuoso performance that will surely place Groff among the best young writers of today.
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"Loved it. A heaping spoonful of storyline, doused in a big syrupy sauce of fiction, with a dollop of drama. Jilted woman goes home to Mom's house to rest her heart and finds a great deal of fun in her small-town. When I was told that this book is narrated from the perspective of Death, I reluctantly picked it up to read as a monthly club book selection. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Simple, well-written fun with a lot of colorful descriptions." — coffeealias (4 out of 5 stars)
"Loved it. A heaping spoonful of storyline, doused in a big syrupy sauce of fiction, with a dollop of drama. Jilted woman goes home to Mom's house to rest her heart and finds a great deal of fun in her small-town. When I was told that this book is narrated from the perspective of Death, I reluctantly picked it up to read as a monthly club book selection. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Simple, well-written fun with a lot of colorful descriptions."
" I really enjoyed this book. It's a keeper for me. We read it in our book club, and I was so excited to read it that I quit reading the book we picked before it to pick this one up. "
" Same as other Lauren Groff book I own. I met the author and got her to sign my copy. "
" An engrossing story... I've always loved stories that focus on family trees and this one does it well. The writing was not as good as her short stories (Delicate Edible Birds), but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. "
" Although it was not at all what I expected, I really enjoyed this book. Watching Willie Upton grow up during one memorable summer was a treat. By the end, I decided she wasn't such a twit after all. And the characters of Templeton were probably the best part. "
" A fantastic read mixing fiction, real life and historical research - simple as that! Definitely worth a read :) "
" I initially decided to read this book after reading a review by Stephen King (one of my favorite authors). It was good. I loved the way Groff created the town and its patriarch. "
" Carrie recommended--surprised I loved it! About Cooperstown...so I'm probably biased. "
" Really fun read about a fictional Cooperstown, here called Templeton, and a girl's quest to find her father. Delves into the history of her family through stories told in the voices of each of the family members - going back generations. Very satisfying. "
" I really liked this book. The story seems like something that really could've happened. A different book. "
" This book was similiar to American Rust - written with different POVs. American Rust was a better written novel - but this book had an intersting plot line. And there was a twist in there that shocked me. I felt the editor missed a few punctuation errors - that annoyed me. "
" An interesting character piece. Picked this up while looking for something else at the library (the cover caught my eye!) and enjoyed it more than I expected to. It is NOT a book about monsters, though - review by Stephen King notwithstanding. LOL "
" This was a quick, enjoyable read. I think some of the plot is a bit convoluted, some dialogue is clunky, and Willie Upton is sort of unlikeable, but on the whole, a good read. "
" I found this book to be utterly charming "
" Not a bad book, a weird mixture of homespun family drama and magical realism, but for some reason I couldn't get on with it. The incidentals and backdrop are much more interesting than the main narrative and the main character is rather irritating. A bit of a drag. "
" I read it in two sittings. Entertaining but lacked a little meat. "
" "What a wonderful gem of a book! 'monsters', archaeology, unwed mothers, ghosts, nothing is what it seems to be- but can be more or less than what was first perceived. A keeper! Very entertaining." "
" This was a book that surprised me. It took until about 1/3 of the way through before I became engrossed in the story. As soon as the mystery presented itself, I figured out the answer but it was ok. Who cares if you have a hunch where you wind up if the ride is interesting and enjoyable? "
" This one was out there with the lake monster but the relationships and characters were entertaining. "
" Great story of a young woman who returns home in disgrace and learns who she is & where she came from. I enjoyed the way the book jumped time and perspectives. It was very different from any book I have ever read! "
" What a lovely book about family and the meaning of "home." "
" surprising, intricate. I enjoyed how it switched between the past and the present. "
" Great book! It started out slow but quickly picked up momentum. The lineage gets confusing at times but in the end it is a memorable, moving novel. "
" Liked it more than I expected. Engaging characters, nice mix of history and mystery. "
" Fun, quick read. Like an adult version of Nancy Drew, which I always loved as a child so that was nice. There is nothing particularly deep or provocative about it, but a good for a lazy day. "
" Involving. A good mix of history and myth. "
" I knew right away what real town was the setting as I had grown up not far from there. Visualized the streets as I read. Entertaining storyline. "
" This was a great little book to read on vacation. Nothing special but very enjoyable, although I did get tired of the main character's whining. "
Lauren Groff is the author of several novels, including the New York Times bestsellers The Monsters of Templeton, Fates and Furies, and Matrix, as well as short-story collections. She has won the Story Prize and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and has been a finalist for the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award. Her work regularly appears in the New Yorker, The Atlantic, and elsewhere.
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