Ruth Miriam-Garnett Laelia Reviews

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Good Points: Beautifully written, sensitive, strong, realistic characters.

Bad Points: Not enough attention to factual background - embarrassingly inaccurate in her representation of the real, rather than fictional, city she chose as her setting.

General comments: Ruth Miriam-Garnett Laelia is a well-written character profile that addresses modern issues with sympathy and a conscience - Ruth Miriam Garnett's protagonists present the full spectrum of emotions and dilemmas that accompany being caring, if somewhat reluctant and over-burdened, caregivers. Each of the three has a uniquely individualized personality demonstrating great strength while also reflecting the great "humanness" that we all struggle with from day to day.

I was, however, disappointed in Ms. Garnett's lack of research of her chosen setting, which she appears to have selected through a throw of a dart rather than any personal knowledge. She presents the Cates sisters' hometown as "a small town where all the inhabitants know each others' business" -- A town so small there is no privacy -- A town with one "main boulevard" bisecting it. Conversely, Peoria, Illinois (pop. 113,000) is one of the largest cities in Illinois, home to Bradley University and the world headquarters of Caterpillar Tractor Company. Rather than one main drag through the "center of town," Peoria is encircled by a beltway - I-474 - linking its citizens to its two large shopping malls and outlying suburbs. And rather than Peorians going on shopping sprees to Bloomington, IL (pop. 70,000), as suggested in the novel, the good people of Bloomington are far more likely to travel to Peoria - or, of course, Chicago.

This is a small issue, but represents a surprising lack of research for such a credentialed author. I recently met Ms. Garnett and found her charming and personable. It inspired me to read her novel and, while I'm glad I did, I would encourage more attention to accuracy in all details in her future works.

Peorians are a proud people.

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Laelia
Ruth Miriam-Garnett
Atria, Jan 2004, $22.00, 224 pp.
ISBN: 0743466306

In Peoria, the three fifty something Cates sisters are in matrimonial crisis as they share the same home with one another and their respective spouses. It is not the relationships between the siblings that have tired Rebecca, Claudia, and Gracelyn. It is the constant duty caring for their husbands as each Cates sibling is bone weary with obeying for worse all the time.

Sadly, the tired trio looks forward to a ...