No Adam In Eden

After a quickly published (and it shows) sequel, the author of the infamous Peyton Place mixed personal history and real life into her next two works as well. This is her fourth, and like her third, I bought a paperback version online and liked it. The third was her favorite; this appears to be her most autobiographical.

She was a French-Canadian with guy, mother and drinking issues too. If this multigeneration story of one family did match her own, hers was rather screwed up. Basically, the men were largely okay (though one was an alcoholic and his pampering helped screw up his daughter), but of the family, only one woman turns out okay. The book does end on her.

Grace M. herself died before forty the next year basically destitute of alcoholism. She tossed in an extended dedication to her children. Same good writing mixed with sex and a dark view of human nature with some empathy.