Since taking the picture for the contest,  I have considerably paired down my to be read pile,  sending a whole bunch of books back to the library and have tried also to refrain from bringing home lots of new books that catch my eye each day. Last week at Steilacoom library however,  a book caught my attention and shot up past the two books I’ve been actively reading.    At a mere 214 rather small pages,  Laura Rider’s Masterpiece,  a new novel by Jane Hamilton is engrossing enough to be read in a short weekend.

Charlie and Laura Rider own and operate Wind Prairie Farm in Hartley, Wiconsin where they make a comfortable living selling plants, pots and decorative garden accessories.   The Rider’s world is turned upside down by the arrival in Hartley of new residents Jenna Faroli– a nationally syndicated talk radio host– and her husband superior court judge Frank Voden.    Both of the Riders individually and in concert set out to seduce Jenna Faroli and the results are laugh out loud funny.     Hamilton (who somehow escaped my previous notice despite publishing three previous very well received novels) is masterful in creating a believable and compelling story about three ordinary people who are each pursuing very different goals and seem painfully ignorant of the motivations of the other two.

Hamilton’s unique and thoroughly modern take on the old menage a trois is a thoroughly enjoyable read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys modern fiction.   Laura Rider’s Masterpiece is Highly Recommended.

Title: Laura Rider’s Masterpiece    Author: Jane Hamilton   Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Format: Hardcover   Publication Date: April 2009

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