Looking Back : A Novel - Hardcover

Belva Plain

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385334710 ISBN 13: 9780385334716

Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2001

Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Belva Plain goes to the heart of what it means to be a woman, a wife, and a friend, in her powerful and poignant new novel. Brilliantly capturing the behind-closed-doors dynamics of families in crisis, the acclaimed author of Fortune's Hand — and countless other beloved bestsellers — weaves a stunning tale of love and betrayal that measures the limits of loyalty, friendship, and forgiveness.

They met at school and have been inseparable ever since: Cecile, confident, elegant daughter of privilege; Norma, extraordinarily gifted and sadly troubled; and beautiful, ambitious Amanda, determined to rise above her humble Southern beginnings. Two are married. One despairs of ever finding love. Three women. Leading their busy adult lives. Yet first and always: friends.

Then something unexpected happens that forever alters their long, complicated friendship. A pivotal event, a shattering act of betrayal shifts the balance of power between husbands and wives, parents and children, sisters and brothers. And in the months that follow, each of them will look at their families, their lives — and one another — differently.

And Cecile, Norma, and Amanda will never be the same.

Filled with the powerful storytelling and emotional resonance that are Belva Plain's trademarks, Looking Back weaves magic as it captures the profound intimacy and drama in the lives of men and women. Tender, moving, and utterly unforgettable, it is a richly textured page-turner by one of our most gifted and generous authors.

About this title

Review:

In her novel Looking Back, New York Times bestselling author Belva Plain poses the question, Can friendships forged during the idyllic years of college stand the test of time--and betrayal? Recent college graduates and former roommates, classy Cecile, brainy Norma, and ambitious Amanda find their lives intimately entwined when Amanda marries Norma's older brother, Larry, to escape the unrelenting poverty of her family and the total lack of opportunities in the small southern town where she grew up. But their lives will never be the same once Amanda begins a passionate affair with her father-in-law, the cold and commanding L.B. No one escapes unscathed after Amanda confesses all, including the identity of her son's father, at a party, and Norma attempts to boost her heartbroken brother's career at the expense of Cecile's architect husband. This is Belva Plain at her twisted best, providing a bird's-eye view of the sometimes murky lives of ordinary people. If you're looking for a happy ending tied up in a pretty bow, rather than the drama that average lives occasionally take on, Looking Back and Belva Plain in general may not be for you. Loyal fans, however, will thrill to wallow once again in a world only Plain could create. --Alison Trinkle

From the Back Cover:

“An accomplished storyteller.”
—The Washington Post

“Belva Plain is in a class by herself.”
—The New York Times

"Belva Plain writes with authority and integrity.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

About this edition

• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0385334710
• ISBN 13: 9780385334716
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 275