Count The Ways: A Novel by Joyce Maynard. New York: Willam Morrow, 2021. 445 pages. ****
Eleanor and Cam meet at a crafts fair in Vermont in the mid-1970's. Eleanor is an artist and writer; Cam makes wooden bowls. Fast-forward and they have four children and are living on a New Hampshire farm.
Eleanor is writing and illustrating a successful series of children's books, Cam is making hand-turned bowls from tree burls. When the demand for their books and bowls slow down, and money worries surface, Eleanor resents Cam's cavalier attitude that somehow everything will work out. When tragedy strikes because of Cam's inattention while watching the kids, Eleanor becomes bitter and can't forgive him.
This is the first book of Maynard's that I have read and once started I couldn't put it down. It is so easy to analyze their marriage from the sidelines, however, I'm not sure I could be as strong as Eleanor in not telling the children the true story. I suspect the ending (no spoilers here) will have a different impact depending on the age of the reader. I recommend this book for a Book Club especially one with readers of different ages.
Joyce Maynard is the author of eighteen books, including the New York Times bestselling novel Labor Day, and To Die For (both adapted for film), Under the Influence and the memoirs, At Home in the World and The Best of Us.
Joyce Maynard is currently at work on a book about her return to Yale University two and a half years ago as an undergraduate, forty-eight years after dropping out at age 18.
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