Ann Leary

Set in rural Pennsylvania in 1927, Mary Engle sets off for her first job after clerical school to work for Agnes Vogel, a physician and director of Nettleton Village - A Home for Feeble Minded Women. This fictional institution is based on real institutions such as this one https://susquehannavalley.blogspot.com/2023/03/laurelton-village-home-for-feeble... that existed at the time to keep non-conformist women from having children based on the theories of the eugenics movement.

At 17 and having grown up in an orphanage, Mary is naive and awestruck by the glamour and power of Dr. Vogel. Then she sees an inmate of the village that she grew up with in the orphanage. Lillian is characterized as a mental defective by the home, but Mary knows from experience that is far from the truth.

Part of the narrative illustrates how Mary is torn between what she knows is right and the gas-lighting by the powerful Dr. Vogel. There are also graphic descriptions of how the institutionalized women were abused and forced into labor for the powerful people in the community as well as for the institution. All while being characterized as being "for the good of the women and society".

The story starts out slow as Mary's character is slow to develop. I almost gave up until I hit the 6th chapter. There is a bit of suspense in Part 4 of the book, with a surprise ending.… (mer)

Hildy Good is a real estate broker in Wendover, MA - a (fictional) town located north of Boston. Her husband left her for a man and she has 2 daughters with him. She is a grandmother. This story starts after she's been released from rehab for drinking (her daughters put her in rehab). It tells Hildy's story once she's home and trying to work and get through the day without drinking. Rebecca and her husband move to Wendover and Rebecca and Hildy become good friends. Hildy is happy (although she's started drinking secretly) until she discovers a secret about Rebecca and someone else in town. When the secrets start to unravel and there is a mysterious disappearance in town, Hildy begins to question some of her actions. At times funny, sad and poignant, the book is well written and you feel for all of the characters in the story. Ann Leary is the wife of Denis Leary, the comedian.… (mer)

Hildy Good is a realtor in a small coastal Massachusetts town, where she has lived her entire life. As the narrator of this story she provides insights into the lives of the residents of the town, while having very little insights into her own life. Recently home from 28 days in residential treatment for alcohol abuse after an intervention by her adult daughters, she is in denial and slowly resumes drinking.

Part of the motivation for Hildy knowing everyone else's business is that it gives her an advantage in the local real estate market when people's lives begin to fall apart and homes go up for sale.

Woven into the story is a wealthy young mother, Rebecca, a client of Hildy and new to the small town. And the psychiatrist, Peter, who rents office space in Hildy's building and whom Hildy has known all of her life.

The story is a pretty accurate depiction of progressive alcoholism in a high functioning alcoholic.… (mer)