Vinegar Hill (P.S.)

Inherdebutnovel,ManetteAnsaywritesofonewoman'sgradualrealizationthatinordertoreenvisionherlifeshemustbreakalltherules.Itis1972andEllenGrierfindsherselfbackintheMidwesternhometownshethoughtshehadescapedforgood.Worseyet,sheandherfamilyhavehadtomoveinwithherin-laws:narrow-minded,eccentricpeoplewhoareastoughasthefarmlivestheyhaveendured.DevoutCatholics,theyinhabitaworld"asrigid,aspreciseasachurch,"andEllenstrugglestolivebytheirmotto:"Aplaceforeverything;everythinginitsplace."ButthereisnoplaceforEllen--fresh,funny,brightwithpassion--inahousefilledwiththedustofroutineandtheritualofprayer,thelingeringbitternessofherin-laws'lovelessmarriage.Shetriestobethemodelwomaneveryoneexpectshertobe--teachingattheCatholicschool,coaxinghertraveling-salesmanhusbandthroughhisincreasinglyirrationalmoods,caringforhisagingparents--butEllen'shopesforherfamily'sfuturecollidewithlifeinthisbizarrehousehold,andsheworriesoverherwrylyobservantadolescentdaughterandhertimidyoungson.EncouragedbyherfriendBarb,awomanostracizedforbeing"modern"and"wild,"Ellenbeginstoconsiderherowndesiresanddreamsaswell.Surroundedbythefamily'sobsessionwithanexacting,angryGodandthedisquietingghostsofthepast,Ellensearchesforawaytosatisfythedemandsofthisruralcommunityanditstraditionsuntil,atlast,shediscoversthefamily'sdarkestsecret,onethatfreesherandchangesherlifeforever.