Second reading
Songs in Ordinary Time has a huge cast of characters, so one would think that at least some of them would be sympathetic. But no. One family, neighbors to the central characters, comes closest, but one comes to suspect that they, too, might have nasty secrets.
At the center of the plot is the divorcee Marie Fermoyle and her daughter and two sons. Her ex-husband and the father of the children is a raging alcoholic who lives with his vengeful sister and her henpecked husband, who secretly makes stalking phone calls to women of the town. Marie is so lonely and down-trodden that she is ripe pickings for romantic overtures from the conman (and secret murderer) Omar Duvall. The children also have their problems. The daughter becomes sexually involved with the local priest, the oldest son is defensive and a hothead who constantly gets in fights, and the youngest son saw Omar commit murder but keeps quiet because he wants his Mom to be happy. (????Does that make sense?) All the other residents of the town whose stories are told are guilty of one vice or another.
Reading this rather long novel (700+ pages) is like watching some of the less appetizing reality shows, Marriage Boot Camp, for instance. You can't find anyone to cheer for.
The author does bring some suspense as the reader wonders how far Omar will go to protect himself from discovery and if Marie will finally realize the truth about her criminal lover. The ending is rushed and rather melodramatic.
This novel received generally favorable reviews and was a pick for Oprah's Book Club. (I don't know if that would be considered a recommendation or not.) I would give it a B- at best.
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