For Nora Nolan her home is her sanctuary. She and her husband Charlie have raised their twins there since they were young and now with the twins about to graduate from college Charlie is ready to move on from their neighborhood. Their home is located on one of the fabled dead end streets in Manhattan. In the city that never sleeps the Nolan's live in a neighborhood that has block parties and Christmas parties. Where they all share the same handyman and gather to discuss things like parking and they meet to walk their dogs. You know, normal neighborly things in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world. One day an act of violence shocks the neighborhood and divides them into two factions. Those who think what happened was horrific and those who think it was a minor disagreement. The event shook Nora to her core, but her husband had a different opinion. Will this be the thing that finally tears apart their marriage?
Alternate Side is a book about husbands and wives. Right and wrong. The haves and the have-nots. Nora Nolan is a quite normal woman, she loves her job and will stop to chat with the homeless man outside her museum. She is full of poise and self-awareness. I quite liked her. Charlie comes across a bit insufferable. He is concerned with what others think more than he is concerned about his wife's feelings. I got the impression that he was disappointed with his life, specifically his career. When "things" went down it was obvious that Nora was absolutely appalled (as she should have been) but Charlie took the side of his friend. It was just one more thing to prove that the two of them had grown apart and had very little in common. I was quite pleased with the ending. When I think back, it was really the only way their story could have ended. CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS
Bottom Line - Anna Quindlen has written such a nuanced and introspective novel about everyday life. There is so much in this book that could be book-club fodder for hours if not days, how can you not make it your next selection?
Details:
- Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen
- On Facebook
- Pages: 304
- Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
- Publication Date: 3/20/2018
- Buy it Here!
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