MANHATTAN BEACH, A Novel
by Jennifer Egan
I loved this book and am so grateful to my friend Jane for recommending it! Described as having the atmosphere of a “noir thriller,” Manhattan Beach follows the life of Anna Kerrigan, from when she is a little girl and tagging along with her beloved father on some questionable business deals, through his disappearance when she is 12-years-old. In the years after his disappearance, Anna struggles with her feelings of abandonment, while living with a demanding mother and a severely handicapped sister. As a young woman, she lands a job at the Brooklyn Naval Yard and her life is forever changed.
Egan gives us a coming-of-age novel, but this one explores how World War II opened doors to women that had previously been shut to them. We follow Anna as she moves from a tedious office job to being the first female diver doing repair work on America’s warships – a dangerous and prestigious job. (The book is filled with fascinating details about these divers and what their jobs entailed.) With her job, comes empowerment and Anna decides to explore the mystery of her father’s disappearance. Once she begins this quest, she gets involved with gangsters, union men and other unsavory individuals and the pace of the novel really leaves you breathless.
Manhattan Beach is a big, bold, beautifully told story. It’s full of compelling characters that you’ll never forget and poignant scenes that will remind you of how difficult it is to make the transition from adolescence to adulthood. I recommend it very highly. (Liz)
