
Susanna Moore's novel astonished me--one of those brilliant objects that come along only rarely, all light on clear water, and then one realizes the faster currents underneath, the terrible swiftness of sex and time. --Joan DidionIn this mesmerizing novel, Susanna Moore displays a naturalist's eye for the landscape of her native Hawaii and an uncanny sensitivity to the despairing love between mothers and daughters. Lily Shields grows up amid the fragrance of night-jasmine and burning sugar cane, and the heady atmosphere of her mother's madness. For if Anna Shields is an island unto herself--fragile, glamorous, and fearfully needy--Lily is the bridge that connects her to reality.But now Lily is a young woman and a mother herself, self-exiled from Hawaii but still attached to Anna's tragedy. And as she tries to untangle those threads of love and loyalty, Moore gives us a novel of shimmering beauty and sadness. My Old Sweetheart is a small classic, perfectly formed and mysteriously wise.Susanna Moore is a gifted and compelling novelist... in possession of her own unique voice.--The New York Times Book ReviewI can't recall another novel like this about mothers and daughters.... Lily's mysterious, half-told tale delighted and touched me.--Susan Lydon, Village Voice
Lily Shields navigates the complex, fractured legacy of her mother's mental instability while attempting to forge her own identity as an adult and parent. Growing up in the lush, isolated environment of Hawaii, Lily serves as the primary emotional anchor for her mother, Anna, whose fragile and glamorous exterior masks a deep, consuming neediness. The narrative shifts between Lily's childhood memories and her adult life in self-imposed exile, examining the persistent, invisible tethers of familial obligation. Through a prose style that emphasizes sensory detail and atmospheric tension, the story explores the logical constraints of memory and the physical distance required to process childhood trauma.
Discussion often centers on the author's precise, evocative prose and her ability to capture the specific, humid atmosphere of Hawaii. Readers frequently highlight the intense, often uncomfortable focus on the symbiotic and destructive nature of the mother-daughter bond. Critics often point to the novel's economy of language, noting that it conveys significant emotional weight without relying on excessive exposition. The work is widely regarded for its psychological acuity and its refusal to offer simple resolutions to the complex problems of family history. Readers who appreciate character-focused narratives that prioritize internal development over external action often find this work particularly effective.
Page Count:
96
Publication Date:
1990-02-01
Publisher:
Penguin Books
ISBN-10:
0140067833
ISBN-13:
9780140067835
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