Body Surfing: A Novel

US: Little, Brown and Company, 2008. Very Good. A copy that has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. "Always readable-sometimes compulsively so-Shreve's novels are typically em otionally resonant, nicely paced, and populated by memorable characters." - People At the age of 29, Sydney has already been once divorced and once widowed. T rying to regain her footing, she has signed on to tutor the teenage daughte r of a well-to-do couple as they spend a sultry summer in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage. But when the Edwardses' two grown sons arrive at the beach house, Sydney fi nds herself caught up in a destructive web of old tensions and bitter divis ions. As the brothers vie for her affections, the fragile existence Sydney has rebuilt is threatened. With the subtle wit, lyrical language, and brilliant insight into the human heart that has led her to be called "an author at one with her métier" (Mi ami Herald), Shreve weaves a novel about marriage, family, and the supreme courage it takes to love. 'shreve excels at nuance and detail. She skillfully illuminates the tiniest of moments, offering readers a peek at the complex undertones coursing thr ough the characters throughout the story." -Rocky Mountain News "There is something satisfyingly clean, well functioning, pale, and delicio us about an Anita Shreve novel. . . . Shreve's characters, grappling with d esire, juggling their shame against their regret, are entirely welcome." -B oston Globe 'shreve's writing is textured, reflective, and generally flows with ease, to the point where the reader may be surprised at how quickly the.