From a Distant Place

4.2/5 ( ratings)

In his ninth novel, Don Carpenter returns to golden Marin County where "The American Dream" is ardently pursued. Writing in a voice that is local, true, and cinematic Carpenter invites us to see how this half lives--people from the suburbs; neighborhoods of ranch-style houses with faux shutters, groomed lawns, no sidewalks. FROM A DISTANT PLACE tells the story of the Jeminovski family, four souls orbiting each other, never making contact. There is Jackie, who at forty-five is the envy of her neighbors; her former husband Steven, a pleasure-related injuries lawyer in Southern California; and their two children, Derek and Diedre. Beyond the facade of "having arrived," the Jeminovskis struggle to find meaning in their lives.

FROM A DISTANT PLACE makes a powerful statement about the complacency of the modern American suburb, the daily horrors of apathy, and the evils of disinterest. It is the story of a middle-aged woman learning to save her own life, and her son Derek, who must make up a life for himself. Don Carpenter has written a tale of disconnected lives filled with moments of grace and humanity, moments of humor, and a few small moments of epiphany.