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Publisher's Summary

Infused with sharp insight, honesty, and emotion, At Paradise Gate is a treat for both the heart and the intellect. In this poignant story, best-selling author Jane Smiley pens a graceful portrait of an ordinary midwestern family confronting the mysteries of death and regeneration.

While her 77-year-old husband lies upstairs, dying, Anna Robison spends her depleting energy defending their home. Their three middle-aged daughters and 23-year-old granddaughter have invaded, radiating vigor and good intentions. But the younger women temper their help with squabbling, ill-considered advice, and an abundant supply of their own problems.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jane Smiley brilliantly captures the simple pleasures and troubles common to everyday life.

©1981 Jane Smiley; (P)1998 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic Reviews

"Complex domestic tensions...honest, moving, quietly splendid." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Smiley's sharp insight, the homely use of details of family life, and the mysteries of marriage set this book apart....One to re-read with appreciationand pleasure." (The Fresno Bee)
"A wise and wonderful book, shot through with rare insight." (The Des Moines Register)

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