Book #22

Sisterland by Curtis Sittenfeld

400 pages

 

Kate and her identical twin sister, Vi, were practically the same person as children. But after growing up, they couldn't be more different. Kate is a suburban stay-at-home mom to two kids, while Vi is a free spirit. Both girls have senses (some may call them psychic senses), but as Vi embraces them and even makes money from them, Kate suppresses and ignores hers.

When Vi predicts a big earthquake to hit their city in the near future, many become frantic with earthquake preparation. Kate is unsure what to think. Part of her knows her senses feels one coming too, but the other part of her wants to ignore it.

Caught between the mess is the women's' elderly father, Kate's husband and kids, and a couple from down the street.

I love Curtis Sittenfeld. Prep is one of my favorite books ever, and American Wife is up there, too. While Sittenfeld's signature style is here, this one just felt a little bland to me. I loved the descriptions of Kate's life as a child, teenager and college student, but the present-day storyline just never settled with me. Toward the end of the novel, Kate makes an out-of-character decision and it pretty much ruined the rest of the book for me.

Next up: And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard