Walking Distance (Contemporary American Fiction) - Softcover

Thurm, Marian

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140107568 ISBN 13: 9780140107562

Publisher: Penguin Books, 1988

Synopsis

Laura's peaceful life is shattered when she questions how to balance the conflicting demands of her husband and family and her love for David, a dying cancer victim

About this title

From Library Journal

A dense tangle of relationships forms a rich background for the passionate love of Laura, a happily married young mother, and David, who is dying of cancer. Laura's grandmother Sophie cares for her ignorant neighbor Aida, supporting her through childbirth by quoting Phil Donahue during the delivery. Aida meanwhile urges a reluctant Sophie to marry a rich, elderly widower. David's already grieving wife finds a caring lover. And as David's father helplessly watches his son fade, he joyfully woos a married reference librarian with long legs. There are no villains in this story. The characters are as painfully vivid in their intelligence and caring as in their uncertainty and selfishness. Thurm gathers together life's bits and pieces, creating a whole whose sharp facets are truly reflecting. An admirable novel. Johanna Ezell, Mont Alto Campus Lib., Pennsylvania State Univ.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Publishers Weekly

Happily married Laura meetsand falls in love witha man who is dying of cancer. Meanwhile, her 85-year-old grandmother is trying to decide whether having a man in bed at night is worth putting up with him during the day. PW found this "sad and lovely" book "continually absorbing."
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0140107568
• ISBN 13: 9780140107562
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 28