The Weekend
Fiction
Riverhead Books
August 4, 2020
Advanced reader copy
272
Publisher via Edelweiss
Three women in their seventies reunite for one last, life-changing weekend
in the beach house of their late friend.
Four older women have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank, and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.
They are Jude, a once-famous restaurateur; Wendy, an acclaimed public intellectual; and Adele, a renowned actress now mostly out of work. Struggling to recall exactly why they've remained close all these years, the grieving women gather at Sylvie's old beach house--not for festivities this time, but to clean it out before it is sold. Can they survive together without her?
Without Sylvie to maintain the group's delicate equilibrium, frustrations build and painful memories press in. Fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface--and threatens to sweep away their friendship for good.
The Weekend explores growing old and growing up, and what happens when we're forced to uncover the lies we tell ourselves. Sharply observed and excruciatingly funny, this is a jewel of a book: a celebration of tenderness and friendship from an award-winning writer.
My review:
A huge shoutout to the author for writing a book where the protagonists are three women in their 70's, that are not named Eleanor or Britt-Marie (although I did love both of those books as well!). The women gather with their friend at her beach cottage every Christmas (it's set in Australia, hence it is summer there), but this year Sylvie has died, and so the remaining three must clean out her cottage so it can be sold. The book really focuses on what happens when the linchpin of a group is no longer there. It also explores ageism, mortality, strong personalities, and of course a big secret that comes to light. I also have to mention the beloved old dog that one woman brings along. If you are a dog lover, this part of the story will tear at your heartstrings! While I felt that the women were a bit stereotyped, and could have been developed more, I did enjoy the story which as the title implies takes place over the course of a weekend. A rather quick read that flows well, and has characters in my age range (yay!).
Ultimately this one is a story about the long lasting power of women and friendship, and the effect it can have when one member is taken away. And did I mention there is a lovable old dog?
This one sounds delightful! I've got The Sunday Murder Club set to read soon, and it also features characters who live in a retirement community. I'm glad to see authors and publishers are realizing that age doesn't mean there isn't still a story to tell!