While I Was Gone is the poignant tale of a woman who tries to keep her family life from imploding, as she battles against the vestiges of her past. The author crafts a compelling narrative, demonstrating how superficial calm and solemnity can belie a deep internal restlessness that can have far reaching consequences. Miller presents the story from the perspective of Jo, a happily married working wife with three grown up daughters, a loving husband, and three dogs for company -elements that serve establish her family as being normal, successful, and serene in the eyes of society. However, the reader discovers that Jo has a complex past, and while she may appear to have emerged stronger from her experiences, certain scars do not fade quite so easily, and the past, like the tides, always tends to catch up with one eventually.
While the story as a whole is enjoyable, it ought to be noted that the plot tends to lag at certain places, and Jo as a character can be unpalatable and perhaps even downright vapid at times. Nevertheless, the novel itself is a mostly satisfying read if for nothing else but because of how skillfully Miller weaves together themes of family, identity, loyalty, and love, among others, and because of how well she develops the main characters, forming fully realized people who are very much believable.
In essence, the strength of Miller's writing stems from her acute awareness of human nature, and the power of her literary word through which she creates characters and situations that are both conceivable and affecting. Hence, While I was Gone is a book that makes for an sufficiently interesting read.Buy While I Was Gone (Oprah's Book Club)!
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