|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
The Opposite Shore by Maryanne Stahl, 15 Jan 2004
The author of the Opposite Shore, Maryanne Stahl, says the book was inspired by a recent reading of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Fortunately, Ms Stahl used just enough of the original plot to spin a story with different twist on the age old-triangle theme. In this version, up and coming artist, Rose, and her 15 year-old daughter, Miranda, are set adrift for the summer on Shelter Island (off the Connecticut coast) by a different sort of tempest: Rose is caught off guard by the chance discovery of her husband and sister in a passionate kiss on the family sailboat, The Ariel. The outcome of this betrayal goes down twice as hard as she has lost not only her husband but the sister to whom she has been extremely close all of her life. The tale unwinds giving each of the four main characters fairly equal billing as the reader is given access to each of their points of view while they make their individual ways through the storm. The four leads are well-rounded and the believable incidental characters add balance (and provide an opportunity for young romance). As a nod to Shakespeare’s Tempest, there is even an unusual dog whose name, Cannibal, is almost an anagram of Caliban. Like Shakespeare, Ms Stahl completes the task of reconciliation and setting things in motion for new beginnings all around.
|
(1 customer review)
