Ground Cover

A Novel by Edith S. Marks
Published by Publish America 2002

 

Life is hard to write. Not the kind of real life that fills volumes of biographies and autobiographies. Not the kind that floods bookstores with page after page of adventures in far off lands or exotic locals, but life as real as what you or your friends and neighbors might very well be experiencing. This is the style of writing Edith S. Marks has mastered in her novel “Ground Cover”, and she should be very proud of what she has accomplished.

She, with not only her characters, but also the way they interact with each other, has crafted a story that feels almost voyeuristic sometimes. We see what they are going through, we agonize with them through the pain, and celebrate in the joys. There are not many stories that can pull that off so completely. From the return of long absent friends to the dissolution of a once loving marriage; from the death of a dream to the deaths of family members, this story shows all the range of emotions that a human can bear, yet never once turns sappy or maudlin. This is not a soap opera, nor one of those books that are the equivalent of a Chinese dinner- after you’ve finished your wanting more again before you know it. No, this story will stay with you long after you close the back cover.

It is usually in this part of the review that I tell a little about the plot, or give you some synopsis of the story, but I have decided not to do that this time around. This should be a story that you should experience for yourself. If you feel you need details, email me and I will give you all that you want, all about Cleo and Karen, Gina and Adam, and Gus (wow-I never saw that coming) but believe me, it would only spoil your enjoyment. In the most simplistic of terms, it is the story of the Hart family, but that is like saying that Gone with the Wind is about the Civil War, or Grapes of Wrath is about farming. Of course, they are that, but to read them is to be on Tara with Scarlett, or at the center of the dust bowl with Tom Joad. Now before you think otherwise, no, I am not putting this book into the same category as those classics, I’m just trying to make the point that the characters in the book live, and that is the sign of a well written story. It is a shame that Oprah doesn’t have her book club anymore; this would be a perfect candidate for her show.

I have been privileged since I have started doing this column to read many great books from authors that, even if they never write another word, have managed to grace me with experiences I never would have had. With “Ground Cover”, author Edith S. Marks adds one more to that ever-growing list. Thank you.