Joan's Picks: Real Americans and The Coast Road

Real Americans by Rachel Khong. A big multi-generational story told in 3 parts. In the beginning, Lily is living a penurious life in NYC when she meets a mega wealthy man at a party who whisks her off to Paris and they eventually marry. When their parents meet, the dynamics are very weird and uncomfortable. Lily eventually finds herself living on the other side of the country with her son Nick who has never met his father – doesn’t even know who he is – but manages to track him down and they start a relationship, albeit an awkward one. Nick then goes to San Francisco where he connects with his maternal grandmother who narrates the third part of the book – and tells of her marriage in China, set against the background of the Cultural Revolution. She and her husband eventually emigrated to America and she brings this story full circle, with the expose of family secrets. I loved it. 

The Coast Road by Alan Murrin. Set in Ireland in the 1990’s before divorce was legal and is primarily about two women, both of whose lives are entirely circumscribed by their husbands. Colette has recently moved into the town after running away from her husband and having a wild affair which didn’t work out – and she’s come to this small town to try and get her life back together – but she struggles – her life is chaotic and catastrophic. She befriends a local woman, Izzy – and when Colette’s husband bans her from seeing their children, Izzy offers to engineer a meeting between Colette and her boys. This is small village life done brilliantly. I reckon it might win prizes. 

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