HEARTWOOD

HEARTWOOD by Belva Plain was read for the 2011 Pub Challenge.

From the book jacket:

Though Iris Stern considers herself a modern woman, with a successful academic career and a happy marriage, she still holds steadfast to her old-fashioned sensibilities.  Burt as the mother of three adult children, each with their own lives and burdens to bear, she often finds those sensibilities called into question when confronted with the choices her children have made.

For one of Iris's daughters, it's the choice of a fresh start in New York City - and a last chance to save her troubled marriage.  While Laura and Robbie cope with an impending separation and its effect on Iris's young granddaughter, Iris herself must come to grips with the discovery of a long-held family secret.  But it's an emotional parting of another kind that looms most prominently on Iris's horizon - as neither her beloved husband, nor the solidity of her own marriage, is immune to the ravages of time.

Through separations and reunions, the changes we cannot avoid and the love that sustains, Iris will weather whatever lies ahead with a faith that cannot be shaken.  Like the inmost rings of a tree that abide through the generations, she will be as strong as heartwood.

First thing, the above blurb from the book jacket is incorrect.  Iris has four children, not three, and Laura is her only daughter.  Just wanted to clear that up.

I've read every book by Ms. Plain and loved them, especially her earliest books, EVERGREEN, THE GOLDEN CUP, and TAPESTRY.  When I started this book, I felt that I knew the characters.  As I read further, I realized that some were characters in those earlier books.  This book is the conclusion of the stories in those books.  But it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to follow this story.

The characters in this book felt real.   They had problems and pain and made mistakes; they were by no means perfect people.  But they were able to work through them and go on with their lives.  There was one incident where the possible resolution of a major problem seemed to be a little too easy, but overall the book seemed true to life.

Ms. Plain died in 2010 and this is the last book she wrote.  I'm going to miss her books.  But I have copies of all of them and plan on re-reading them soon.