Facing the death of Kathryn, the family matriarch, four generations try to come to terms with their family, and the factors which have shaped their history. They struggle with the bonds and passions that tie families together and tear them apart. Haunting all of them is the mysterious drowning of Mary. While still a teenager, she fled the family, leaving her son. Through flashbacks and excerpts from Mary's diary, we begin to understand the turmoil and contradiction in which she lived, and the legacy she has left as her family struggles to understand her death and their role in it. This novel probes the depth and complexity of human emotions that shape people's lives.
Summary: Facing the death of Kathryn, the family matriarch, four generations try to come to terms with their family, and the factors which have shaped their history. They struggle with the bonds and passions that tie families together and tear them apart. Haunting all of them is the mysterious drowning of Mary. While still a teenager, she fled the family, leaving her son. Through flashbacks and excerpts from Mary's diary, we begin to understand the turmoil and contradiction in which she lived, and the legacy she has left as her family struggles to understand her death and their role in it. This novel probes the depth and complexity of human emotions that shape people's lives.