On_II 1_MC1 January_NPM1 1988_MC ,_, A._NP1 Manette_NP1 Ansay_NP1 resolved_VVD that_CST she_PPHS1 would_VM write_VVI at_RR21 least_RR22 two_MC hours_NNT2 a_AT1 day_NNT1 three_MC days_NNT2 a_AT1 week_NNT1 ._. 
Until_CS that_DD1 time_NNT1 ,_, she_PPHS1 had_VHD not_XX written_VVN ;_; nor_CC had_VHD she_PPHS1 read_VVN many_DA2 books_NN2 ._. 
The_AT books_NN2 she_PPHS1 did_VDD read_VVI were_VBDR deeply_RR meaningful_JJ to_II her_PPHO1 ;_; she_PPHS1 dedicated_VVD her_APPGE memoir_NN1 ,_, Limbo_NN1 (_( 2001_MC )_) ,_, to_II the_AT first_MD novel_NN1 she_PPHS1 "_" loved_VVD ,_, "_" Chaim_NP1 Potok_NP1 's_GE The_AT Chosen_JJ (_( 1967_MC )_) ._. 
Ansay_NN1 was_VBDZ initially_RR forced_VVN into_II writing_NN1 ,_, rather_II21 than_II22 her_APPGE chosen_JJ career_NN1 in_II music_NN1 ,_, for_IF medical_JJ reasons_NN2 --_NN1 by_II the_AT need_NN1 to_TO find_VVI something_PN1 she_PPHS1 could_VM do_VDI while_CS sitting_VVG down_RP ._. 
Since_CS that_DD1 time_NNT1 ,_, she_PPHS1 has_VHZ established_VVN herself_PPX1 in_II six_MC novels_NN2 ,_, one_MC1 collection_NN1 of_IO stories_NN2 ,_, and_CC a_AT1 memoir_NN1 as_II a_AT1 strong_JJ voice_NN1 in_II Midwestern_JJ American_JJ realism_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 is_VBZ the_AT winner_NN1 of_IO the_AT Pushcart_NN1 Prize_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Friends_NN2 of_IO American_JJ Writers_NN2 Prize_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Nelson_NP1 Algren_NP1 Prize_NN1 ,_, and_CC two_MC Great_JJ Lakes_NN2 Book_NN1 Awards_NN2 ._. 
Her_APPGE 1999_MC novel_JJ ,_, Midnight_NNT1 Champagne_NN1 ,_, was_VBDZ a_AT1 finalist_NN1 for_IF the_AT National_JJ Book_NN1 Critics_NN2 Circle_VV0 Award_NN1 ._. 
Ansay_NN1 has_VHZ taught_VVN in_II the_AT creative-writing_JJ programs_NN2 of_IO six_MC schools_NN2 and_CC universities_NN2 and_CC has_VHZ read_VVN and_CC lectured_VVN at_II many_DA2 others_NN2 ._. 
Ansay_NN1 was_VBDZ born_VVN in_II Lapeer_NP1 ,_, Michigan_NP1 ,_, the_AT daughter_NN1 of_IO Dick_NP1 and_CC Sylvia_NP1 Krier_NP1 Ansay_NP1 ._. 
In_II 1969_MC the_AT family_NN1 moved_VVN to_II Port_NP1 Washington_NP1 ,_, Wisconsin_NP1 ,_, the_AT home_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE grandparents_NN2 on_II both_DB2 sides_NN2 ._. 
In_II this_DD1 small_JJ town_NN1 ,_, Ansay_NP1 and_CC her_APPGE younger_JJR brother_NN1 ,_, Michael_NP1 ,_, had_VHD sixty-seven_MC cousins_NN2 and_CC more_DAR than_CSN two_MC hundred_NNO second_MD cousins_NN2 ._. 
Ansay_NP1 attended_VVD local_JJ schools_NN2 and_CC ,_, when_CS she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ seven_MC ,_, began_VVD taking_VVG piano_NN1 lessons_NN2 with_IW a_AT1 local_JJ teacher_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 developed_VVD into_II a_AT1 promising_JJ pianist_NN1 ,_, and_CC in_II her_APPGE teenage_JJ years_NNT2 she_PPHS1 studied_VVD with_IW teachers_NN2 in_II Milwaukee_NP1 and_CC the_AT Chicago_NP1 area_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 became_VVD a_AT1 piano-performance_JJ major_NN1 at_II the_AT Peabody_NP1 Conservatory_NN1 in_II Baltimore_NP1 ,_, Maryland_NP1 ,_, in_II 1982_MC but_CCB was_VBDZ forced_VVN to_TO leave_VVI the_AT conservatory_NN1 two_MC years_NNT2 later_RRR when_CS undiagnosed_JJ pain_NN1 ,_, treated_VVN unsuccessfully_RR in_II many_DA2 medical_JJ centers_NN2 ,_, made_VVD it_PPH1 impossible_JJ for_IF her_PPHO1 to_TO continue_VVI a_AT1 musical_JJ career_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 received_VVD a_AT1 B.A._NN1 in_II anthropology_NN1 from_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Maine_NP1 in_II 1987_MC ._. 
Several_DA2 years_NNT2 of_IO her_APPGE early_JJ life_NN1 were_VBDR spent_VVN in_II the_AT search_NN1 for_IF relief_NN1 or_CC healing_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 lived_VVD with_IW her_APPGE parents_NN2 from_II 1984_MC to_II 1987_MC ,_, after_II which_DDQ ,_, in_II a_AT1 wheelchair_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 began_VVD to_TO write_VVI ._. 
A_AT1 benefactor_NN1 provided_VVD a_AT1 summer_NNT1 at_II a_AT1 writers_NN2 '_GE colony_NN1 in_II 1988_MC ,_, where_RRQ she_PPHS1 first_MD heard_VVN of_IO M.F.A._NP1 programs_NN2 ._. 
She_PPHS1 enrolled_VVD at_II Cornell_NP1 University_NN1 soon_RR thereafter_RT ,_, receiving_VVG an_AT1 M.F.A._NP1 in_II 1991_MC ._. 
Her_APPGE short_JJ stories_NN2 ,_, later_RRR published_VVN as_CSA Read_VVN This_DD1 and_CC Tell_VV0 Me_PPIO1 What_DDQ It_PPH1 Says_VVZ (_( 1995_MC )_) ,_, were_VBDR her_APPGE thesis_NN1 ._. 
While_CS at_II Cornell_NP1 ,_, she_PPHS1 married_VVD Jake_NP1 Smith_NP1 ,_, whom_PNQO she_PPHS1 later_RRR divorced_VVN ;_; they_PPHS2 have_VH0 a_AT1 daughter_NN1 ,_, Genevieve_NP1 ,_, born_VVN in_II 2003_MC ._. 
After_CS the_AT publication_NN1 of_IO Limbo_NN1 in_II 2001_MC ,_, Ansay_NP1 spent_VVD a_AT1 year_NNT1 as_II an_AT1 outpatient_NN1 at_II Beth_NP1 Israel_NP1 Hospital_NN1 's_GE integrative-treatment_JJ center_NN1 in_II New_NP1 York_NP1 City_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE health_NN1 and_CC mobility_NN1 improved_VVD ,_, and_CC she_PPHS1 currently_RR teaches_VVZ and_CC writes_VVZ at_II the_AT University_NN1 of_IO Miami-Coral_NP1 Gables_NN2 ._. 
Memory_NN1 and_CC location_NN1 are_VBR central_JJ to_II Ansay_NP1 's_GE work_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 tells_VVZ in_II Limbo_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE efforts_NN2 as_II a_AT1 child_NN1 ,_, moving_VVG from_II Michigan_NP1 to_II Wisconsin_NP1 ,_, to_TO memorize_VVI every_AT1 aspect_NN1 of_IO her_APPGE disappearing_JJ life_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE despair_NN1 as_II a_AT1 four-year-old_NN1 when_RRQ she_PPHS1 realized_VVD that_DD1 memory_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE importance_NN1 would_VM change_VVI and_CC probably_RR leave_VVI ._. 
Her_APPGE books_NN2 are_VBR filled_VVN with_IW a_AT1 sense_NN1 of_IO precise_JJ memory_NN1 of_IO the_AT angular_JJ Wisconsin_NP1 roads_NN2 ,_, the_AT blues_NN2 and_CC whites_NN2 of_IO adjoining_JJ Lake_NNL1 Michigan_NP1 ,_, the_AT varying_JJ action_NN1 of_IO piano_NN1 keys_NN2 ,_, and_CC the_AT Midwestern_JJ landscape_NN1 and_CC personalities_NN2 that_CST formed_VVD her_PPHO1 ._. 
Of_IO home_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 says_VVZ in_II Limbo_NN1 ,_, "_" I_PPIS1 have_VH0 been_VBN permanently_RR shaped_JJ --_NN1 and_CC am_VBM still_RR held_VVN fast_JJ --_NN1 by_II landscapes_NN2 that_CST exist_VV0 in_II memory_NN1 alone_RR ,_, though_CS this_DD1 makes_VVZ them_PPHO2 no_AT less_RGR real_JJ ._. "_" 
She_PPHS1 recounts_VVZ significant_JJ losses_NN2 --_JJ "_" exuberance_NN1 ..._... my_APPGE Catholic_JJ faith_NN1 ..._... the_AT straight_JJ highways_NN2 ,_, the_AT crops_NN2 ..._... the_AT blue_JJ haze_NN1 of_IO Lake_NNL1 Michigan_NP1 ,_, wide-open_JJ space_NN1 beneath_II a_AT1 close_JJ sky_NN1 "_" --_NN1 but_CCB remembers_VVZ and_CC is_VBZ shaped_VVN by_II the_AT confinement_NN1 of_IO Midwestern_JJ spaces_NN2 ,_, the_AT three-bedroom_JJ ranch_NN1 houses_NN2 ,_, "_" each_DD1 with_IW its_APPGE garage_NN1 door_NN1 shut_VVD ,_, an_AT1 expressionless_JJ face_NN1 ,_, like_II someone_PN1 waiting_VVG for_IF bad_JJ news_NN1 ._. "_" 
Ansay_NN1 presents_VVZ a_AT1 Midwest_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ essentially_RR ironic_JJ --_JJ cold_NN1 ,_, judgmental_JJ ,_, repressive_JJ ,_, but_CCB also_RR loving_JJ and_CC sustaining_VVG ._. 
In_II Vinegar_NP1 Hill_NNL1 (_( 1994_MC )_) ,_, Ansay_NP1 opened_VVD a_AT1 Midwestern_JJ Gothic_JJ world_NN1 centered_VVD in_II the_AT small_JJ town_NN1 of_IO Holly_NN1 's_GE Field_NN1 ,_, Wisconsin_NP1 ,_, along_II Lake_NNL1 Michigan_NP1 ;_; she_PPHS1 returns_VVZ frequently_RR to_II Holly_NN1 's_GE Field_NN1 in_II her_APPGE fiction_NN1 ._. 
The_AT house_NN1 at_II 512_MC Vinegar_NP1 Hill_NNL1 looks_VVZ like_II most_DAT of_IO the_AT other_JJ houses_NN2 in_II the_AT town_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 three-bedroom_JJ ranch_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 finished_JJ basement_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 family_NN1 currently_RR composed_VVN of_IO three_MC generations_NN2 ._. 
The_AT owners_NN2 are_VBR Fritz_NP1 and_CC Mary-Margaret_NP1 Grier_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 name_NN1 tellingly_RR close_RR to_II grief_NN1 ._. 
Living_VVG with_IW them_PPHO2 are_VBR their_APPGE younger_JJR son_NN1 ,_, James_NP1 ,_, and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 ,_, Ellen_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS have_VH0 moved_VVN with_IW their_APPGE two_MC children_NN2 to_II James_NP1 's_GE parents_NN2 '_GE home_NN1 after_II James_NP1 failed_VVD at_II his_APPGE work_NN1 not_XX far_RR away_RL in_II northern_JJ Illinois_NP1 ._. 
The_AT house_NN1 is_VBZ crowded_VVN with_IW resentments_NN2 ,_, those_DD2 of_IO the_AT grandparents_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 been_VBN invaded_VVN and_CC those_DD2 of_IO the_AT temporary_JJ dependents_NN2 ._. 
Again_RT largely_RR set_VVN in_II the_AT Holly_NN1 's_GE Field_NN1 area_NN1 ,_, the_AT fifteen_MC stories_NN2 in_II this_DD1 book_NN1 focus_NN1 largely_RR on_II growing_JJ children_NN2 ,_, new_JJ to_II reality_NN1 in_II a_AT1 limiting_JJ world_NN1 ._. 
In_II one_MC1 story_NN1 ,_, "_" Ohio_NP1 ,_, "_" the_AT action_NN1 takes_VVZ place_NN1 in_II New_NP1 England_NP1 ,_, but_CCB the_AT boy_NN1 's_GE vision_NN1 in_II the_AT story_NN1 is_VBZ one_MC1 of_IO escaping_VVG the_AT conventionally_RR religious_JJ upbringing_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE mother_NN1 and_CC her_APPGE church_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 place_NN1 of_IO infinite_JJ possibilities_NN2 ,_, something_PN1 like_II the_AT Ohio_NP1 where_CS his_APPGE father_NN1 has_VHZ found_VVN another_DD1 woman_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 sense_NN1 of_IO personal_JJ authority_NN1 ._. 
The_AT stories_NN2 are_VBR those_DD2 of_IO sad_JJ and_CC frightening_JJ youth_NN1 ,_, manipulated_VVD skillfully_RR by_II Ansay_NP1 's_GE irony_NN1 ._. 
In_II a_AT1 short_JJ story_NN1 called_VVN "_" Lies_NN2 ,_, "_" attention_NN1 focuses_VVZ on_II a_AT1 young_JJ girl_NN1 ,_, Nancy_NP1 ,_, whose_DDQGE lies_NN2 are_VBR so_RG problematic_JJ that_CST her_APPGE family_NN1 must_VM watch_VVI her_PPHO1 closely_RR --_JJ so_RG closely_RR that_CST the_AT good_JJ child_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ her_APPGE cousin_NN1 is_VBZ set_VVN up_RP for_IF a_AT1 dangerous_JJ relationship_NN1 with_IW the_AT thirty-six-year-old_JJ man_NN1 to_II whom_PNQO Nancy_NP1 is_VBZ attracted_VVN ._. 
Often_RR the_AT characters_NN2 are_VBR abandoned_VVN ,_, like_II the_AT children_NN2 in_II "_" Lost_JJ Objects_NN2 ,_, "_" in_II which_DDQ a_AT1 young_JJ boy_NN1 takes_VVZ comfort_NN1 in_II fantasies_NN2 of_IO wolves_NN2 (_( who_PNQS are_VBR ,_, he_PPHS1 believes_VVZ ,_, smarter_JJR than_CSN people_NN )_) while_CS his_APPGE sister_NN1 experiences_NN2 the_AT gradual_JJ disappearance_NN1 of_IO things_NN2 in_II her_APPGE life_NN1 ,_, including_II her_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS vanishes_VVZ first_MD to_II Montana_NP1 ,_, then_RT to_II other_JJ states_NN2 ,_, and_CC finally_RR to_II so_RG many_DA2 places_NN2 that_CST no_PN121 one_PN122 really_RR knows_VVZ ._. 
In_II some_DD of_IO the_AT stories_NN2 Ansay_NP1 's_GE focus_NN1 is_VBZ on_II adult_NN1 sufferings_NN2 ,_, particularly_RR in_II "_" July_NPM1 ,_, "_" in_II which_DDQ she_PPHS1 tells_VVZ of_IO an_AT1 elderly_JJ woman_NN1 dying_VVG downstairs_RL in_II a_AT1 house_NN1 partly_RR rented_VVN out_RP to_II a_AT1 miserable_JJ family_NN1 who_PNQS live_VV0 upstairs_RL ._. 
The_AT action_NN1 leads_VVZ to_II the_AT persecution_NN1 and_CC sexual_JJ exploitation_NN1 of_IO the_AT woman_NN1 who_PNQS keeps_VVZ both_RR house_VV0 and_CC family_NN1 ,_, upstairs_RL and_CC down_RP ,_, going_VVG ._. 
In_II "_" Smoke_NN1 ,_, "_" Ansay_NP1 explores_VVZ the_AT near-hallucinatory_JJ loneliness_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 older_JJR woman_NN1 who_PNQS is_VBZ dominated_VVN by_II her_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, dead_JJ but_CCB still_RR controlling_VVG in_II her_APPGE perception_NN1 ._. 
There_EX is_VBZ little_DA1 triumph_NN1 in_II the_AT experiences_NN2 of_IO the_AT characters_NN2 in_II this_DD1 book_NN1 ,_, and_CC in_II the_AT case_NN1 of_IO the_AT title_NN1 story_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ won_VVD the_AT Nelson_NP1 Algren_NP1 Award_NN1 for_IF Short_NP1 Fiction_NN1 in_II 1992_MC ,_, Ansay_NP1 introduces_VVZ one_MC1 significant_JJ achievement_NN1 ,_, but_CCB ironically_RR reached_VVN ._. 
The_AT girl_NN1 in_II this_DD1 story_NN1 ,_, hyperactive_JJ and_CC a_AT1 thief_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ indulged_VVN by_II her_APPGE mother_NN1 and_CC used_VVN as_II a_AT1 reader_NN1 by_II her_APPGE agitated_JJ father_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 has_VHZ some_DD musical_JJ talent_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT teacher_NN1 who_PNQS encourages_VVZ her_APPGE tries_NN2 also_RR to_TO seduce_VVI her_PPHO1 ,_, violating_VVG the_AT only_JJ relationship_NN1 of_IO trust_NN1 in_II her_APPGE life_NN1 ._. 
Ironically_RR ,_, he_PPHS1 gets_VVZ her_PPHO1 into_II a_AT1 prestigious_JJ music_NN1 school_NN1 ,_, and_CC as_CSA she_PPHS1 faces_VVZ a_AT1 future_NN1 based_VVN on_II his_APPGE misrepresentations_NN2 and_CC without_IW the_AT familiar_JJ patterns_NN2 of_IO family_NN1 and_CC place_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 ,_, not_XX her_APPGE father_NN1 ,_, is_VBZ likely_JJ to_TO be_VBI the_AT person_NN1 who_PNQS will_VM need_VVI someone_PN1 to_TO tell_VVI her_PPHO1 what_DDQ this_DD1 new_JJ future_NN1 means_VVZ ._. 
The_AT overall_JJ sorrow_NN1 of_IO the_AT collection_NN1 is_VBZ summarized_VVN in_II "_" Sybil_NP1 ._. "_" 
A_AT1 stroke_NN1 victim_NN1 in_II her_APPGE early_JJ sixties_MC2 ,_, Sybil_NP1 is_VBZ tormented_VVN by_II the_AT children_NN2 she_PPHS1 looks_VVZ after_II for_IF her_APPGE daughter-in-law_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS is_VBZ on_II the_AT hunt_NN1 for_IF a_AT1 second_MD husband_NN1 ._. 
Both_DB2 the_AT daughter-in-law_NN1 and_CC the_AT children_NN2 love_VV0 Sybil_NP1 ,_, but_CCB not_XX enough_RR to_TO notice_VVI her_APPGE needs_NN2 ;_; and_CC the_AT daughter_NN1 's_GE sexual_JJ conquest_NN1 reflects_VVZ backward_RL ,_, reminding_VVG Sybil_NP1 of_IO her_APPGE own_DA days_NNT2 of_IO youthful_JJ bravado_NN1 and_CC sexual_JJ beauty_NN1 ,_, and_CC forward_RL ,_, presaging_VVG the_AT inevitable_JJ collapse_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 new_JJ romance_NN1 and_CC this_DD1 new_JJ spirit_NN1 of_IO youthfulness_NN1 as_RR21 well_RR22 ._. 
Discouraging_VVG as_II the_AT circumstances_NN2 in_II these_DD2 stories_NN2 are_VBR ,_, each_DD1 is_VBZ told_VVN with_IW genuine_JJ respect_NN1 for_IF the_AT characters_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 realistic_JJ awareness_NN1 of_IO the_AT forces_NN2 that_CST limit_VV0 them_PPHO2 --_JJ their_APPGE economic_JJ limitations_NN2 ,_, their_APPGE broken_JJ families_NN2 ,_, and_CC their_APPGE simplistic_JJ and_CC destructive_JJ religion_NN1 ,_, forced_VVN on_II them_PPHO2 by_II authority_NN1 figures_NN2 they_PPHS2 rush_VV0 to_TO abandon_VVI without_IW hope_NN1 of_IO nurturing_VVG replacements_NN2 ._. 
Jones_NP1 Agee_NP1 in_II The_AT New_NP1 York_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 commented_VVD that_CST the_AT stories_NN2 in_II this_DD1 volume_NN1 "_" remind_VV0 us_PPIO2 of_IO how_RGQ necessary_JJ our_APPGE dreams_NN2 and_CC desires_NN2 are_VBR to_II the_AT fragile_JJ lives_NN2 we_PPIS2 piece_VV0 together_RL ,_, and_CC how_RRQ ,_, as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA anything_PN1 it_PPH1 is_VBZ the_AT act_NN1 of_IO creating_VVG and_CC living_VVG that_CST brings_VVZ joys_NN2 and_CC redemption_NN1 ._. "_" 
The_AT Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 Times_NNT2 Book_NN1 Review_NN1 compared_VVD the_AT characters_NN2 to_II geodes_NN2 ,_, "_" plain_NN1 on_II the_AT outside_JJ ,_, but_CCB revealing_JJ ,_, when_CS split_VVN ,_, unexpected_JJ colors_NN2 ._. "_" 
Noting_VVG the_AT engaging_JJ quality_NN1 of_IO Ansay_NP1 's_GE short_JJ fiction_NN1 ,_, Alstyre_NP1 Julian_NP1 ,_, in_II Reviews_NN2 of_IO Contemporary_JJ Fiction_NN1 ,_, says_VVZ that_CST "_" Ansay_NP1 leads_VVZ you_PPY in_RP and_CC takes_VVZ you_PPY to_II the_AT center_NN1 before_II dropping_VVG you_PPY off_RP somewhere_RL that_CST may_VM stun_VVI you_PPY ._. "_" 
Publishers_NN2 Weekly_RR praises_VVZ the_AT universal_JJ dignity_NN1 of_IO Ansay_NP1 's_GE characters_NN2 and_CC makes_VVZ the_AT distinction_NN1 that_CST readers_NN2 will_VM be_VBI led_VVN to_II compassion_NN1 ,_, but_CCB not_XX pity_NN1 ,_, for_IF these_DD2 "_" stubborn_JJ and_CC resourceful_JJ "_" people_NN ._. 
The_AT reviews_NN2 of_IO Midnight_NNT1 Champagne_NN1 focus_NN1 on_II kindness_NN1 and_CC compassion_NN1 ,_, themes_NN2 always_RR significant_JJ in_II Ansay_NP1 and_CC central_JJ issues_NN2 in_II her_APPGE next_MD novel_NN1 ,_, Blue_JJ Water_NN1 (_( 2006_MC )_) ._. 
In_II this_DD1 book_NN1 she_PPHS1 returns_VVZ to_II a_AT1 somber_JJ subject_NN1 matter_NN1 ,_, presenting_VVG early_RR in_II the_AT book_NN1 the_AT death_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 six-year-old_NN1 boy_NN1 in_II a_AT1 car_NN1 wreck_NN1 caused_VVN by_II a_AT1 drunk_JJ driver_NN1 ._. 
Compounding_VVG the_AT horror_NN1 is_VBZ the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST the_AT drivers_NN2 of_IO the_AT two_MC cars_NN2 involved_VVD ,_, the_AT little_JJ boy_NN1 's_GE mother_NN1 ,_, Meg_NP1 ,_, and_CC Cindy_NP1 Ann_NP1 Kreisler_NP1 ,_, have_VH0 known_VVN each_PPX221 other_PPX222 all_DB their_APPGE lives_NN2 and_CC at_II one_MC1 time_NNT1 ,_, before_CS an_AT1 earlier_JJR betrayal_NN1 ,_, were_VBDR close_JJ friends_NN2 ._. 
The_AT central_JJ action_NN1 occurs_VVZ after_II the_AT child_NN1 's_GE death_NN1 as_II a_AT1 result_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 decision_NN1 made_VVN by_II Meg_NP1 and_CC her_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, Rex_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 lawyer_NN1 ,_, to_TO buy_VVI a_AT1 boat_NN1 ,_, the_AT Chelone_NN1 ,_, and_CC sail_VV0 for_IF an_AT1 indeterminate_JJ time_NNT1 ._. 
In_II their_APPGE small_JJ Wisconsin_NP1 town_NN1 ,_, they_PPHS2 are_VBR too_RG close_JJ to_II all_DB the_AT bad_JJ memories_NN2 --_NN1 reminded_VVD every_AT1 day_NNT1 of_IO their_APPGE child_NN1 ,_, of_IO their_APPGE helplessness_NN1 ,_, and_CC of_IO their_APPGE loss_NN1 ._. 
Compounding_VVG matters_NN2 is_VBZ the_AT fact_NN1 that_CST Cindy_NP1 Ann_NP1 's_GE sister_NN1 is_VBZ going_VVGK to_TO marry_VVI Meg_NP1 's_VBZ dearly_RR loved_VVN brother_NN1 ,_, ironically_RR bonding_VVG the_AT two_MC families_NN2 at_II a_AT1 time_NNT1 when_RRQ their_APPGE grief_NN1 is_VBZ raw_JJ ._. 
Getting_VVG far_RR away_RL seems_VVZ more_DAR than_CSN desirable_JJ ;_; it_PPH1 seems_VVZ necessary_JJ ._. 
Getting_VVG away_RL ,_, especially_RR to_II a_AT1 boat_NN1 ,_, where_CS two_MC people_NN merged_VVN in_II grief_NN1 and_CC rage_NN1 live_VV0 together_RL with_IW no_AT ameliorating_JJ circumstances_NN2 ,_, is_VBZ a_AT1 dangerous_JJ choice_NN1 ._. 
Meg_NP1 and_CC Rex_NP1 confront_VV0 physical_JJ danger_NN1 --_NN1 a_AT1 storm_NN1 in_II which_DDQ they_PPHS2 are_VBR hit_VVN by_II lightning_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC long_JJ periods_NN2 of_IO being_VBG becalmed_JJ ._. 
The_AT psychological_JJ dangers_NN2 of_IO isolation_NN1 are_VBR even_RR greater_JJR ,_, and_CC when_CS they_PPHS2 do_VD0 meet_VVI a_AT1 family_NN1 on_II the_AT ocean_NN1 ,_, in_II a_AT1 chance_NN1 passing_NN1 of_IO boats_NN2 ,_, Meg_NP1 and_CC Rex_NP1 begin_VV0 a_AT1 deterioration_NN1 whose_DDQGE progress_NN1 Ansay_NN1 follows_VVZ through_II the_AT rest_NN1 of_IO their_APPGE passage_NN1 from_II north_ND1 of_IO Bermuda_NP1 to_II the_AT Florida_NP1 coast_NN1 ._. 
Meg_NP1 is_VBZ gradually_RR pulled_VVN back_RP toward_II human_JJ society_NN1 ;_; Rex_NP1 grows_VVZ increasingly_RR isolated_VVN ,_, drinking_VVG to_TO avoid_VVI feeling_NN1 ._. 
Meg_NP1 after_II some_DD frustratingly_RR limited_JJ communication_NN1 goes_VVZ home_RL to_II Wisconsin_NP1 for_IF her_APPGE brother_NN1 's_GE wedding_NN1 ._. 
She_PPHS1 returns_VVZ to_II the_AT Chelone_NN1 a_AT1 significantly_RR changed_VVN woman_NN1 ;_; and_CC the_AT hope_NN1 of_IO blue_JJ water_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 Caribbean_JJ passage_NN1 ,_, disappears_VVZ for_IF this_DD1 couple_NN1 ,_, who_PNQS have_VH0 suffered_VVN terrible_JJ loss_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE ravages_NN2 upon_II their_APPGE marriage_NN1 ._. 
Meg_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 accountant_NN1 ,_, seems_VVZ more_RRR able_JK to_TO deal_VVI with_IW reality_NN1 than_CSN her_APPGE husband_NN1 ,_, whose_DDQGE lawyerly_JJ temperament_NN1 leads_VVZ him_PPHO1 to_TO search_VVI for_IF revenge_NN1 ,_, even_RR as_CSA he_PPHS1 knows_VVZ its_APPGE limits_NN2 ._. 
The_AT tone_NN1 of_IO this_DD1 book_NN1 is_VBZ remarkable_JJ in_II its_APPGE Midwestern_JJ plainness_NN1 ,_, its_APPGE acceptance_NN1 of_IO the_AT hardness_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 ._. 
Ansay_NP1 's_GE descriptions_NN2 of_IO life_NN1 at_II sea_NN1 ,_, based_VVN on_II her_APPGE own_DA year_NNT1 living_VVG on_II the_AT water_NN1 as_II31 well_II32 as_II33 on_II research_NN1 ,_, are_VBR accurate_JJ and_CC painful_JJ during_II the_AT hard_JJ times_NNT2 ,_, lyrical_JJ and_CC soaring_VVG during_II the_AT hopes_NN2 at_II the_AT beginning_NN1 of_IO the_AT voyage_NN1 ._. 
Her_APPGE descriptions_NN2 of_IO shore_NN1 life_NN1 ,_, punctuated_VVN with_IW drinking_VVG at_II bars_NN2 and_CC beautifully_RR drawn_VVN transitory_JJ characters_NN2 ,_, evoke_VV0 both_RR the_AT loneliness_NN1 and_CC the_AT comradeship_NN1 of_IO life_NN1 on_II boats_NN2 ,_, illustrating_VVG the_AT inevitable_JJ choices_NN2 people_NN make_VV0 between_II life_NN1 and_CC an_AT1 anti-life_NN1 that_CST is_VBZ terrifying_JJ because_CS it_PPH1 is_VBZ so_RG easy_JJ ._. 
The_AT Chicago_NP1 Tribune_NN1 review_NN1 noted_VVD that_CST Ansay_NP1 "_" shows_VVZ with_IW fluid_NN1 and_CC graceful_JJ prose_NN1 the_AT uncharted_JJ paths_NN2 of_IO ordinary_JJ ,_, flawed_JJ human_JJ hearts_NN2 ._. "_" 
This_DD1 is_VBZ true_JJ not_XX only_RR of_IO this_DD1 book_NN1 but_CCB of_IO all_DB of_IO this_DD1 writer_NN1 's_GE work_NN1 ._. 
