The Sweet Life

Lynn York has beautifully written a charming, warm story of how family relationships heal, bend, grow and deepen. Set in the small town of Swan's Knob, North Carolina, elderly couple Wilma and Roy Swan are happily enjoying a quiet life together. But chaos is ensured when Wilma's teenage granddaughter, Star, arrives for an extended stay. Soon after, Star's con man father shows up and talks Roy into using the Swan family farm for a "small" bluegrass festival. As the story unfolds, the Swans are heading for a crisis which will forever change their lives and their community. This engaging story is written in the third person, alternating between six of the characters providing a deeper perspective of their relationships. Ms. York did a magnificent job describing the essence of life in this particular small southern town. The storyline is very imaginative and captivating. The emotionally complex characters are extremely well developed and interesting, and their antics provide many laugh-out-loud moments. The Swan's marriage portrays a rather accurate example of how love changes as we age. In addition, I enjoyed learning about the process of winemaking. I really loved this engaging, witty story and highly recommend it! This is the sequel to "The Piano Teacher", although both books stand alone.

In 1988 in Swan's Knob, North Carolina, Wilma and Roy Swan continue to behave like youthful newlyweds though they are much older and married for eight years. Life is good for this couple as the PIANO TEACHER and the grapevine farmer share what most people envy, a strong loving relationship. However, the dynamics abruptly change when Wilma's daughter from a previous marriage Sarah begs her to watch her teenage offspring Starling as she travels in the Far East. Reluctantly Wilma agrees to take in her granddaughter; not realizing that when she acquiesces Star's father Harper will also come to town. A con artist, Harper persuades Roy to let him use the farm as the setting for a small bluegrass festival starring drunken has-been Delrina Kay. Wilma objects especially when she learns that Harper is thinking of a country and western 1980s Woodstock, but soon has a different crisis to deal with when Roy suffers a debilitating stroke that leaves him near death in a comatose state. When Delrina and Harper go on a wine binge they visit Roy who regains consciousness while they serenade him. The second Swan family drama starring a delightful older couple is an interesting look at small town southern life at the end of the Reagan era. The characters are cleverly drawn especially the beleaguered Wilma whose lament has to be a family member in need is a pest that is before Roy's stroke brings home the mortality of their love for one another. Though much of the issues brought forth by the strong secondary cast are left unresolved as if plans are for a next generation sequel, fans of family dramas with fully drawn protagonists will enjoy Lynn York's latest concerto. Harriet Klausner