Bill and Bridget, who were always together during their
last year of high school, are finally getting married 27
years later. They schedule the joyful event between the
winter holidays and chemotherapy treatments for Bridget's
almost certainly terminal breast cancer. They plan a tiny
wedding ceremony and invite only the people who had known
them as a high school couple. Although their classmates
from the private Maine boarding school have not kept in
touch, Bill and Bridget inspire an impromptu reunion at a
renovated inn. Their old friend Nora opened the inn after
her overbearing poet husband passed away, and she organizes
the details of the wedding weekend for the group. When
classmate Harrison realizes that Nora, his first love, is
widowed, he revisits his regrets and missed opportunities,
although he still loves his wife and son back in Toronto.
Although Agnes is not the lonely spinster everyone
imagines, she hasn't been honest about her life as a
teacher at their old school. Much to everyone's surprise,
one man brings his boyfriend to the wedding, and another
man's brash personality has intensified with age until he's
almost unbearably rude.
Narrated through the eyes of a small cast of characters,
the story is created over three days, but draws on a
lifetime of flashbacks and memories. Although no one wants
to mention Bridget's cancer, the group cannot avoid talking
about the one event that changed each of their lives -- the
sudden death of their friend Stephen at the end of their
senior year. Stephen's story unravels through the small
details that are revealed in individual memories. As the
time for the ceremony draws near, the group reflects on how
the world has changed since they were together in high
school, but they also note privately the small moments in
their lives that have caused grief, fear, secrets and
regrets.
This is the first book by acclaimed novelist Anita
Shreve that I've had the pleasure of reading. With
amazing depth, Shreve allows several characters to share
their viewpoints, multiple perspectives on careers and
marriage, 9/11 and cancer, coincidence and misgivings.
Using the framework of a reunion to reflect on the past,
Shreve deftly examines the themes of forgiveness and
redemption. I found myself marking poignant quotes to
remember later, particularly her insight on reunions as
opportunities to unburden ourselves of secrets and speak
now what could not be spoken before. Occasionally, a
particularly witty line made me laugh out loud, although
overall this was an emotionally moving and highly
recommended human drama.
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