BOOK REVIEW: Outer Banks

OUTER BANKS by Anne Rivers Siddons seemed the perfect book to take along on our yearly trip to Avon, North Carolina. Siddons has not been on my list of favorite authors, but the title made it a logical choice.

Katherine Stuart Lee’s story starts as a married woman living among the dunes of Long Island. She is recovering from a serious battle with cancer and the death of her young son. As a result she has isolated herself with her backyard garden. An unexpected invitation to a reunion with her suitemates from college starts her memories of the three women who had once been so important in her life.

While in college, Ginger had invited Cecie, Fig, and Kate to her summer home in Nag’s Head, North Carolina for several spring breaks. This beautiful, isolated, strip of barrier islands had become a symbol of youth, friendship, and idyllic beauty. Now, thirty years later, the women have decided to see if the magic from that time can be recaptured.

The strength of the book is in the ability of the author to develop her characters. Even the people around the girls are well done, but it is the four women who stand out.

Ginger is rich, vibrant, and aware of her sexual powers. Fig is brilliant, extremely poor, and hopeless socially. Cecie is sensible and self-contained and the closest of the friends to elegant, aloof Kate.

The decision to meet with her college friends is not an easy one for Kate. Thirty years earlier, she had been cruelly betrayed by one of the members of the group and has had no contact with any of them during this time. Therefore, she is not expecting the changes in her former friends and not ready for the emotional confrontations that result.

The best part of this book for me was going back in my mind to my own all night junk food and gab fests that included quoting Dorothy Parker and T. S. Eliot with people who enjoyed reading both poets. (Side note: the Eliot line, “ I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” is well used as a theme of the book.)

I also enjoyed the scenes that took place on the Outer Banks. Nags Head may have become more popular since this book took place, but on down Hatteras Island it is still beautiful with remote areas. It is always an extra treat to be able to picture the settings of a book.

This was my second Anne Rivers Siddons’ book. She makes good beach reading.