Description:
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres--and "one of her generation's most eloquent chroniclers of ordinary familial love" (The New York Times)--comes two exquisite twin novellas that chronicle the difficult choices that reshape the lives of two very different families.
In Ordinary Love, Smiley focuses on a woman's infidelity and the lasting, indelible effects it leaves on her children long after her departure. Good Will portrays a father who realizes how his son has been affected by his decision to lead a counterculture life and move his family to a farm. As both stories unfold, Smiley gracefully raises the questions that confront all families with the characteristic style and insight that has marked all of her work.
Review Quotes: "With this volume, Jane Smiley ratifies her claim as one of her generation's most eloquent chroniclers of ordinary familial love." --The New York Times
"An extraordinary achievement.... Smiley's stories lucidly explore the complexities of contemporary sexual and domestic life. The emotional and moral complexity that she uncovers in the characters of these resonant novellas confirms Jane Smiley's singular talent." --The Washington Post Book World"Ordinary Love & Good Will are unforgettable novellas, built on lucid characterizations and elegant prose. Jane Smiley accomplishes a dazzling feat--without so much as a flashy phrase." --The Boston Globe