Skylight Confessions
by Alice Hoffman; read by Mare Winningham
Published by Hachette Audio
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Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann
Mare Winningham does a simply breathtaking job of reading Alice Hoffman's newest book, Skylight Confessions in this unabridged 6-CD set.
Skylight Confessions centers around Arlyn (Arlie) Singer, her short life, her loves, her children, and her death. This is a novel of love and loss, of anger and grief; and of lost children.
Arlyn meets John Moody when she is only 17, just after her father's death, when John stops to ask directions. He is a directionless student of architecture at Yale, and is beguiled by her for a few days, then flees back to his old life. Arlie follows him and shortly after they are married, and their son Sam is born.
John is uncomfortable in this new life, and disappointed in Sam, and deserts his family for work. They move into the famous all-glass home designed by his father in Connecticut when his parents move to Florida. There Arlie meets George Snow, one of the men hired to clean the windows on the house. George sees the true Arlie, and is devoted to her. Blanca is the result of their love, but Arlie stays married to John so she does not lose Sam.
Shortly after Blanca's birth, Arlie dies of breast cancer. The last two-thirds of the book continues with Sam and his raging at his loss, his drug addiction, and his wanderings; and Blanca's search for a life away from home in a London book store; and Arlie's continued residence at the glass house, with nanny Meredith, John Moody and his second wife Cynthia and their daughter Lisa,
It is poetically written with gossamer images of loss and longing. A very sad but unforgettable book, incredibly well written with magical imagery--this is one you will recommend to friends with a sigh.
Armchair Interviews says: Great story with great reading.
Author's Web site: http://www.alicehoffman.com