This story alternates between two time periods and two main characters. The thing that connects them is that they are living in the same dilapidated house (just in two different time periods). In our present time, Willa Knox is feeling frustrated. Maybe bump that up to feeling panicky. The magazine where she worked has folded, the college where her husband (finally) had tenure has closed, her ill father-in-law is living with them, along with their strong-willed daughter, Tig. Add to that her son, Zeke, who has arrived with his unplanned baby. And did I mention the dilapidated house that is literally falling down around them? Willa is desperate to keep the roof over their heads and hopes the local historical preservation society can give her some assistance. Through her research into her community and its creation as a Utopian community, she discovers a kindred spirit from the 1880s, Thatcher Greenwood.
Thatcher is a science teacher who finds himself under siege in his community for wanting to tell the truth: his employer forbids him to speak of the exciting new theories published by Charles Darwin. Adding to Thatcher's list of frustrations are his new wife, new mother-in-law and sister-in-law who live with him, and their dilapidated house. Thatcher's friendship with a brilliant female scientist is important to him, but also draws him into serious conflict with the town's most powerful men. And did I mention his house is falling down around he and his family?
Kingsolver gives us two families, in two different centuries, who live at the same neighborhood corner and who are navigating survival in the face of multiple challenges. The characters are all very realistic and I found myself settling in and turning the pages, eager to see what would happen to these people. At times, it's a bit of a stressful read, especially when Willa is trying to figure out how to pay her family's bills while at the same time taking care of her son's baby and her ill father-in-law. Kingsolver doesn't give the impression that it's all going to be happy endings for everyone, but I liked that. It made me feel more connection to the characters and the story. I haven't loved all of Kingsolver's books, but this one is a keeper!
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