Book Review: A Day at the Beach

June 18, 2006 12:00 AM by Sharon Tharp | 100 Views,  COMMENTS

A Day at the Beach
Author: Helen Schulman
Houghton Mifflin Company
Release: June 1, 2007

Unlike most adaptations derivative of September 11th and its aftermath, A Day at the Beach (Houghton Mifflin) evades the unsung-hero story approach and depicts how the tragic event acts as a magnifying glass that peers onto the dwindling marriage of Gerhard and Suzannah Falktopf. The life successes of both partners have let years of restrained doubt, jealousy and anger build up and finally surface as the couple flees their downtown city apartment—with their toddler, nanny and a scared stranger in tow—as they make their way up to the Hamptons. The book spans over a horrifying 24 hours and the already-strained relationship hits rock bottom as the couple is forced to confront harsh realizations and commit to hasty decisions. Albeit its slow start, A Day at the Beach imposes a desire to flip each page as a strange sense of familiarity sweeps over the reader. Schulman's intricate and detailing imagery allows the storyline to stand apart from similar written attempts to recreate the chaos of that day.

Click here to purchase A Day at the Beach by Helen Schulman.

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