I have to admit that the author's name is what drew me to the novel: Vendela Vita. If she were a character in a story or movie, I would think that the author was trying too hard. As I was contemplating reading The Lovers: A Novel, I found out that she was married to Dave Eggers and co-wrote the screenplay for Away We Go. That settled it: I downloaded it to my Kindle and started reading.
Widowed in her early fifties, Yvonne travels back to Turkey where she and her husband spent their honeymoon 23 years ago. She is going there, she claims, not to relive that time but to remember it. During her stay, she is haunted by memories she was not anticipating: the difficult times caused by their troubled daughter, and the growing distance between her and her husband, Peter. She finds herself way out of her comfort zone, both physically and emotionally. The Turkish cast of characters, from the house owner's estranged wife to the shell-collecting 10 year old boy, add authenticity and depth to the story.
Vida nicely weaves present day events with those in Yvonne's memory. She details bigger-picture conflicts, such as East vs. West as well as the everyday challenges involving men and women, and parents and children.
Read it. You can do it in a day.
