FICTION

The Guest Book

by Sarah Blake
Flatiron: Macmillan. May 2019. 496p. ISBN 9781250110251. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250110268. F
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This epic historical tale follows the lives of three generations of New England's wealthy Milton family from the 1930s through the present. However, the novel encompasses much more than the history of one family, as Blake (The Postmistress) also recounts some of America's own growing pains during this period. Delving into politics, race, and the question of what makes a person essentially good, the plot is extremely thought provoking, and the characters make it absorbing. From family patriarch Ogden, purchaser of the island property where the titular guest book is housed, to his children, grandchildren, and friends, all the characters are well rounded and add to the story.
VERDICT Blake's well-written sophomore novel will interest her fans. Those who enjoyed Jessica Shattuck's The Women in the Castle, as well as fans of traditional historical fiction, such as Herman Wouk's The Winds of War, will enjoy. [See Prepub Alert, 11/19/18.]
Reviewed by Elizabeth McArthur, Bexar Cty. Digital Lib., BiblioTech, San Antonio , May 01, 2019
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