“Why is it easier to remember the meanness of my childhood than the blandness?”
A woman in her mid-50s is facing a life alone. Newly divorced with children living with their father, she has an empty nest and in the quiet, her mind fills with thoughts. She lives in an apartment with a cat, but can’t seem to find a way to grasp life fully. She decides to move in with her sisters to a family cottage for the summer and try to find some focus in life.
I have reviewed Sandy Day’s book, Fred’s Funeral, and she contacted me about reading and reviewing her newest book. An Empty Nest is a collection of short essays detailing one woman’s summer during a hard time in her life.
Each short chapter in the book tells part of the woman’s story – either past or current life. She explores why her marriage fell apart, how her sisters interact with each other and how she’s lost touch with her children. The reader can feel her sense of detachment from life. As the book unfolds and the relationships with her sisters become stronger, you can sense her finding her peace.
An Empty Nest is a short, thoughtful read about dealing with loss and finding the strength to find a new way ahead in life. Readers looking for an interesting summer read will enjoy this book.
Do you enjoy shorter books? Share your favorite on the blog!