Two mid-lifers connect after 31 years, after their one week summer camp romance at age 14. While intense in emotion, an interesting story, many questions remained unanswered. Not sure how realistic the entire scenario is, but it was an entertaining read. ( )

The main character in Where or When, by Anita Shreve, is a middle aged man with a wife and three children who is depressed at the beginning of the novel, and very quickly becomes obsessive over a woman he met more than 30 years ago for a few days at a summer camp when they were both 14. This character just isn't convincing to me. Part of him was trying to relive his youth, while at the same time avoiding his responsibilities to his family and his employer. This sometimes happens in middle age, but his obsessiveness is too over-the-top.
This is one of Shreve's earlier novels. Thank goodness, she got much better. ( )

A recent acquisition at a local library sale, this was a quick, enjoyable read. When Cal and Sian were young teens, they met and fell in love at a Catholic summer camp. Years later, Cal happens upon an article complete with a photo of Sian who is now an accomplished author of poetry.

Tripping down memory lane and thinking fondly of those long ago memories, allow Cal a respite from his coastal life in Rhode Island were the economy is fast in a downward spiral. Fearing the loss of his nice house, his car, and his insurance business, a married man and father of three, Cal longs for excitement instead of the pain of watching the town businesses close one by one as foreclosure is the norm.

Reaching out to Sian, he writes a letter. When she returns with a letter to him, they eventually agree to meet at the camp where long ago they held hands and allowed their hearts to glow. Now an upscale inn, they continue to meet. Quickly, they are both obsessed. In the beginning it appeared he was the most obsessed, but as time goes on, Sian happily follows his lead.

She has a husband who is a farmer, and in addition, they both teach at a local college. They share a beautiful three-year old daughter. There is much to lose if the relationship continues. And, at Christmas time, their indiscretions come to light.

I don't usually read romance novels, but this was well written, and good with a surprising ending. ( )

Man refinds child hood sweetheart 30 years on. Marriages wrecked. Light read whilst waiting for house moves

Charles first meets Sian thirty one years ago on a camp. It takes three decades to meet again and both are married with a family. They start an affair which which forces them both to face betrayal and have to live up to the consequences.

My Thoughts:

I picked this book up off my shelf for something different to read. I quite enjoyed this book more than what I thought I would. I was actually swept away wanting to now what was going to happen.

The love that that Charles and Sian rekindle is powerful and does have severe consequences. The ending of the book I had mixed feelings about. I think the ending could have been different and it did make the book rather bleak.

Sian’s story was told in the first person but Charles was told in the third. I would have preferred both to have been told in the first person to feel what both characters were feeling.

I enjoyed the story but didn’t like the ending. ( )