Lily of the Valley

I've never done this, but love reading 'em. Hate when plotlines are given away. All I can say is if you like Wally Lamb, Anna Quindlan, Alice McDermott, you'll love Suzanne Strempek Shea. Especially this book. She is an original. And, funny, too.

Suzanne Stempek Shea is creating a modern definition of Polish American life in her novels. Populated with genuinely interesting and fully-realized characters, Shea's works evoke admiration and understanding, compassion and respect, despair and bittersweet hope. Her most recent novel, Lily of the Valley, is her best yet as the author not only introduces us to a plucky, determined protagonist in Lily Wilk but shares with us her thoughts on some of the most important themes in literature: identity, family and love.Situated in western Massachusetts (where Shea continues to live), Lily of the Valley unpretentiously examines the life of frustrated artist and newly-divored Lily Wilk. We view Wilk through the prism of her profession and calling, painting, and we see her marriage disintegrate. Shea's considerable abilities reward the reader; one becomes engaged and thoroughly committed to Lily, and we enjoy and suffer with her. Faulkner once stated that all literature most deal with the "verities of the heart;" Lily of the Valley admirably fulfills this admonition.The writing is engaging; the dialogue delights. However, Ms. Shea's finest writing is definitional. Though not breaking any new philosophic grounds on the themes of love and family, her proposals are breathtakingly well written. The last 15 pages of the novel alone are worth reading as an essay on the notion of family.Universal in impact and exalting the human spirit, Lily of the Valley deserves a wide readership.

A small-town story about memories, friendship, and the meaning of family. Suzanne Strempek Shea writes with a reporter's eye for the telling detail, and this is a book whose charm is all in the details.

Suzanne Shea keeps getting better with each book. I loved this novel and once again found myself resenting anything or anyone who took me away from it. This book does not focus so much on the Polish-American experience but rather broader issues, like the definition of "family" and the creative process. Great writing, real characters, a telling eye for detail -- all in all, a fabulous read.

Having read the first two of Suzanne Strempek Shea's books, I looked forward to this one eagerly. I was amply rewarded. This work, LILY OF THE VALLEY, is her best yet. It's a rich, warmly told story of an artist, 39-year-old Lily Wilk, living in a small New England town in the present. All of the tale is spun with an honesty and beauty that make reading it a delight. I even tried to slow down at the end to make it last! If I could add another star, I would.