Entering Normal

Entering Normal

by Anne Le Claire (Author)

Synopsis

Entering Normal is the story of an unlikely friendship between two women of different ages and backgrounds whose lives become linked through tragedy. Opal is a single mother with a five year old son Zack. Unhappy with her partner Billy who takes no responsibility for Zack, and her parents who side with Billy, she packs the car and, with Zack, throws a dice. Landing a three she vows to stop the car when three tanks of fuel are empty. And so she ends up in a small town in Massachusetts called Normal and rents a house next door to an older couple, Rose and Ned. Rose is still locked in grief for her son who was killed in a car accident five years ago, aged fifteen. Her devoted husband Ned's best efforts to help her emerge from her self-imposed exile appear, to him, fruitless. The two women couldn't be more different but thrown together by circumstance, they then become even closer when Opal's parents team up with Billy to fight her for custody of Zack. Rose, who knows what it's like to lose the person you love most, finally learns that there are other things in her life to fight for as she becomes inextricably linked to Opal's struggle for Zack.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 304
Publisher: Orion
Published: 19 Jul 2001

ISBN 10: 0752846248
ISBN 13: 9780752846248

Media Reviews
Journalist LeClaire's debut novel of loss and grief is set in Normal, Massachusetts, where her two wonderful characters, Opal and Rose, form an unlikely friendship when thrown together by circumstance. The women couldn't be more different - Opal is young, loud and trashy, whilst next-door neighbour Rose is in her fifties, married to Ned, reserved and very old-fashioned. Rose is still grieving for her son Todd who died five years ago aged 15, and now Opal has to fight for the custody of her five-year-old son Zack. At first Rose keeps her distance, not wishing to associate with the likes of Opal, but when tragedy strikes in her household once again she welcomes the support of her young neighbour, and in return supports Opal through her custody battle. Fans of American writers Anne Tyler, Anita Shreve and Jacquelyn Mitchard will find this poignant and heart-rending novel appealing.
Author Bio
Anne LeClaire has worked as a radio broadcaster, journalist, columnist and taught creative writing all over the world. She is a mother of two and is a private pilot.