Ordinary Love & Good Will - by Jane Smiley (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Thousand Acres--and "one of her generation's most eloquent chroniclers of ordinary familial love" (The New York Times)--comes two exquisite twin novellas that chronicle the difficult choices that reshape the lives of two very different families.

In Ordinary Love, Smiley focuses on a woman's infidelity and the lasting, indelible effects it leaves on her children long after her departure. Good Will portrays a father who realizes how his son has been affected by his decision to lead a counterculture life and move his family to a farm. As both stories unfold, Smiley gracefully raises the questions that confront all families with the characteristic style and insight that has marked all of her work.

Review Quotes

"With this volume, Jane Smiley ratifies her claim as one of her generation's most eloquent chroniclers of ordinary familial love." --The New York Times

"An extraordinary achievement.... Smiley's stories lucidly explore the complexities of contemporary sexual and domestic life. The emotional and moral complexity that she uncovers in the characters of these resonant novellas confirms Jane Smiley's singular talent." --The Washington Post Book World

"Ordinary Love & Good Will are unforgettable novellas, built on lucid characterizations and elegant prose. Jane Smiley accomplishes a dazzling feat--without so much as a flashy phrase." --The Boston Globe

About the Author

JANE SMILEY is the author of numerous novels, including A Thousand Acres, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize, and most recently, Golden Age, the concluding volume of The Last Hundred Years trilogy. She is also the author of five works of nonfiction and a series of books for young adults. A member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, she has also received the PEN Center USA Lifetime Achievement Award for Literature. She lives in Northern California.