My Old Sweetheart

By Susanna Moore

Book Overview

"Susanna Moore's novel astonished me--one of those brilliant objects that come along only rarely, all light on clear water, and then one realizes the faster currents underneath, the terrible swiftness of sex and time. " --Joan Didion In this mesmerizing novel, Susanna Moore displays a naturalist's eye for the landscape of her native Hawaii and an uncanny sensitivity to the despairing love between mothers and daughters. Lily Shields grows up amid the fragrance of night-jasmine and burning sugar cane, and the heady atmosphere of her mother's madness. For if Anna Shields is an island unto herself--fragile, glamorous, and fearfully needy--Lily is the bridge that connects her to reality. But now Lily is a young woman and a mother herself, self-exiled from Hawaii but still attached to Anna's tragedy. And as she tries to untangle those threads of love and loyalty, Moore gives us a novel of shimmering beauty and sadness. My Old Sweetheart is a small classic, perfectly formed and mysteriously wise. "Susanna Moore is a gifted and compelling novelist . . . in possession of her own unique voice." --The New York Times Book Review "I can't recall another novel like this about mothers and daughters. . . . Lily's mysterious, half-told tale delighted and touched me." --Susan Lydon, Village Voice

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0679776419
• ISBN13: 9780679776413
• Release Date: July 1997
• Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.2" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

my old sweetheart

my old sweetheart is a beautifully written story about the complexity of human relationships and the richness of human experiences. It was presented in a 12-year old girl's perspective of issues such as disillusionment, adultery,and , suicide.A very moving story that is totally unsentimental.

More a review of Susanna Moore- to correct - AHEM

I was student of Susanna Moore in a creative writing class at Yale. I take SERIOUS offense -for Susanna's/Ms. Moor's sake- when I hear someone disrespecting her as I have seen in one review above... Susanna Moore is EXTREMELY APPROACHABLE- perhaps "haughty" only in a fun sense of "playing a character"- but I found her to be more delightfully quirky- with a child's innocence, and yet NOT AT ALL, actually. She was a fine teacher also- able to field a group and be truly honest... I don't remember shat she stopped herself from saying much- kkinda liek another teacher I had before- both of whom could show how teaching is about fearlessness and honesty. I wanted to reply just to clarify that I can't - after numerous classes with Susanna Moore- I think I even used her in a college video documentary- I never, ever experienced a negative side to her character! Seh was completely approachable- and not just by me- by most of the class- I think. Some people thought she was a "character" - but- well- she is- a zany but cool one.

Great book

I loved this novel. It kept me interested until the last page. The book never gets boring