A novel by Catherine Ryan Hyde
What if you have been living a high-powered life, where work is everything and your time is totally organized? Then, something drastic happens that makes you realize that there may be more to living than what you have been doing. This is what happens to Roseanna Chaldecott the day her best friend and law partner suddenly dies.
Synopsis of Heaven Adjacent
Something snaps in Roseanna’s life one morning when she takes a step back and realizes that all she and her law partner had worked for now has no real meaning anymore. Instead of dutifully going off to the office as usual, and feeling unsure of her future, Roseanna leaves her home in New York City and begins to drive upstate on one tank of gas with no plans to return. Nothing seems to matter anymore; she lives alone and is estranged from her grown son, and work no longer seems important.
Hours later, Roseanna’s need for gas occurs in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains where she discovers a ramshackle farm located on seventy-six acres that is for sale. Deciding this is the perfect hideout, she purchases the property and arranges to have her Manhattan apartment closed up and her belongings shipped to the farm. She also notifies her secretary that she won't be back.
The farm appears to be full of possibilities, but also includes a few surprises. It seems there is a young mother and her small daughter who have been squatting on the property. Having company is the last thing Roseanna wants, but she reluctantly allows them to stay.
As time goes by, it is discovered that there is a lot of old farm equipment and other metal things stored in and around the farm and its many buildings. Roseanna and the young girl begin sculpting zoo animals using this ‘junk’. As a result, others are drawn to the farm; some of whom stay on, camping on the many acres. Eventually, a newspaperman writes a story about the sculptures and even her estranged son, Lance, shows up. Lance pleads with her to return to the city, but Roseanna has finally discovered where she belongs. And, soon Lance also discovers a simple truth.
Summary
Roseanna thought she needed space and solitude when her new adventure began, but, although her new life does not provide the solitude she first sought, her heart has found room for much more.
This is a wonderful, yet bittersweet, story about slowing down and discovering what can be gained when leaving everything behind!
People come into our lives and it’s not always a forever kind of thing, and not always meant to be. Not every deal is for keeps.
~from Heaven Adjacent by Catherine Ryan Hyde
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*Book Review of ‘Heaven Adjacent’ was written by Wednesday Elf
I suspect this book would appeal to a lot of people who would easily understand the overworking dilemma. Although, I doubt they take time to read. There have certainly been times in my own life when I wished I made more time for the people I love, instead of being locked up on having to get my house clean :) Of course, what is immediately clean is that her hard work is what allowed her to buy that farm! It does sound like a great book and one that might get us to reconsider our own priorities.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful story, moving and thought-provoking. I’m sure I would enjoy it. Thanks so much for the review and recommendation, Elf.
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