THE SISTERS OF SUMMIT AVENUE by Lynn Cullen
Lynn Cullen’s writing skills came to my attention when I opened the pages of her second novel TWAIN’S END. Her ability to create characters and moods of an era greatly impressed me, so I looked forward to her latest novel THE SISTERS OF SUMMIT AVENUE being released. It is a story of sisters living during the twenties and thirties, and how their relationship as young women impacts the rest of their lives.
June is the older sister to Ruth who is two years her junior. June is beautiful and bright and gets the majority of the attention in the family household. Ruth is pretty, but not as pretty as June, and she is bright but in a way that sometimes makes her too smart for her own good. They live with their father and mother, both of whom are average people. June, particularly, aspires to be more.
The main conflict in the book arises because both sisters are in love with a man named John. He is a farmer who will never have the success June wants. Ruth wants him because June has him. Eventually Ruth wins out and moves with him to his farm in Indiana where they manage to eke out a moderate income.
Problems arise when John becomes ill with a disease known as “sleeping sickness” which is sweeping the country. John literally becomes zombie-like as he rouses for only short segments of time and then falls back into a deep sleep. Ruth tries to keep the farm going and also forces herself to accept hand-outs from her sister June who is now married to a prominent physician in St. Paul, Minnesota.
These clashes of class distinction, as well as family conflicts make up the heart of the book. Cullen captures it all, as well as a feel for the time period that totally immerses the reader in the past. The reader will root for one sister at one time and the other the next. It certainly takes skill to make both sisters appealing while showcasing their flaws.
By the time you reach the final pages of the story you have let the characters live within your mind and imagination. They are real to you and the outcome of their lives is important. But wth a brief and abrupt final chapter everything is wrapped up and left at your doorstep. It is done, over and fine’. It is almost jarring, and makes you feel denied of the details that the earlier part of the story has received.
This abrupt closing of the story would not be so upsetting if Cullen had not brought the sisters to life so exquisitely. We feel for these two women and have been dwelling in their lives for ninety percent of the book. To have it end with a short wrap up of the future is not what I wanted or expected.
Lynn Cullen has talent to spare. I will read anything she writes. She is that good, but maybe this time I expected too much. She had me at hello but she lost me at good-bye.
THE SISTERS OF SUMMIT AVENUE is published by Gallery Books. It contains 320 pages and sells for $27.00.
Jackie K Cooper
www.jackiekcooper.co
