Light on snow

Best-selling author Anita Shreve has chosen as her latest protagonist a 12-year-old girl, whose life has not just been touched by tragedy, but blown apart by it. Nicky and her father have moved to a remote house on the outskirts of a remote village somewhere in New Hampshire, following a road accident which has wiped out the rest of their family. Nicky1s father would like to live like a hermit, but recognises, even through his intense grief, that 12-year-olds need many things the world has to offer. And then, one afternoon, just as the light is beginning to fade, a brief walk in the snow-swept woods surrounding their home ­ and a chance encounter ­ brings father and daughter unexpectedly together. United in their shock at finding a newborn baby wrapped in a bloody sleeping bag, they move heaven and earth to save her life. They manage to get the infant to hospital, yet despite an outpouring of emotion, the pair soon start to fall back into their old ways; tiptoeing carefully around each other, fearing to speak the name of their grief, pretending at normality. Until, that is, a pretty young woman comes knocking on their door and all three are forced to question their motives and look into each other1s hearts. Light on Snow is a beautifully sad reflection on life and loss, grief and hope and recognising the time in our lives to forgive others ­ and ourselves ­ and move forward. Anita Shreve has proved once again that she is a gifted exponent of the human psyche and the dual frailty and immense strength of the human spirit.