GOOD HARBOR

Diamant's second novel focuses on Kathleen, a near-60-year-old librarian living in a small town in Massachusetts. After she's diagnosed with breast cancer, the treatments and stress begin to cloud her thinking, values, relationships, and her faith. Linda Emond depicts an intelligent woman on the verge of a major life change desperately attempting to keep it together. Her wandering thoughts on death, children, infidelity, and friendship emerge as real enough to touch anyone's compassion button. As Kathleen's relationship with a romance writer provides both strength and outlet for her, Emond explores their relationship with intelligence and humor. As the plot moves along, Kathleen is depicted as somewhat obsessive and even whiny, a condition probably very believable under the circumstances. This is a story about strength, friendship, and survival. B.J.P. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]