Losing Mr. North

By Elaine Kagan

Book Overview

An emotionally charged tale of infidelity, mystery, and an unusual alliance from the critically acclaimed author of Somebody's Baby and The Girls

Married for 31 years, Jack and Linda North live on a spread of land seven hours north of Los Angeles. But once a month, this retired police detective and grandfather of four makes the drive to L.A. and another woman--Rachel, his mistress of six years. For a week, Jack tidies a different lawn, fixes the broken cogs in a different wheel, and makes love to a different woman with a different set of charms.

There are no secrets in this triangle--each knows the names of the players and the rules, and, despite the nagging disapproval of others, the triangle remains stable by tacit consent of all three. Until one hot, dry Monday when Jack leaves to make the monthly drive--and never shows up. Now, two women who have held tight to their resentment of each other must come together to find the man they love--an uneasy alliance with unexpected consequences for them both.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060184744
• ISBN13: 9780060184742
• Release Date: May 2002
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Kagan has done it again!

Just spellbinding. I was enthralled and could not put this one down. Kagan creates characters that are so human. This subject is a very hard one and she handles it with grace.Can't wait for her next book! Keep up the good work.

Likes and Dislikes

There were a lot of things that I didn't like about this book. I hated Rachel and Linda's codependency. I hated Jack's disappearing act. I hated Grace's continuing to take her husband back after his affairs ended. But the very things I hated are what made the book so true-to-life.Let's face it, despit the fact that we are now living in the 21st century, many women lives still revolve around their men. The opportunities available to women are limitless and yet, we are still functioning as if it were 1950 when it comes to our relationships. Elaine Kagan understands this and her characters are maddening in their codependency. When Jack leaves Linda for his monthly visits to LA, her life slows down almost to a halt. She wanders aimlessly around the house, listening for the phone or his car in the driveway. Yet when he returns, she says nothing about his disappearance and life goes on until his next "trip". At the other end of the journey is Rachel. When Jack is scheduled for a visit her life stops as well. Her every move centers on his arrival and everything else including her children, grandchildren and poor beleagured friend Grace becomes unimportant. She thinks only of Jack and getting ready for him. It is obvious, then, that when he disappears mid-trip, both women find their lives suspended. Rachel takes to her bed. Linda continues to wander around. When they find out that he is dead, they are both shattered and their grief is equally overwhelming. I liked that this book featured older women. Personally, I am getting tired of reading books about 30-somethings and their problems. The population is aging and it is about time writers begin to address the lives of those of us who are creeping up on the big FIVE OH. Older women have a whole different set of life challenges and fiction needs to get with it.The ending of this book was slightly dissatisfying to me. I suppose Linda needed to believe that Jack was coming home to her but somehow I just don't quite buy it. Otherwise, I felt that Kagan really got it right. I have been in that place of pain when a relationship ends and her descriptions of those feelings reminded me just how far down the emotional slide I can get. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Kagan's work.

Great story.....

Terri DuLong - Author of "Lost Souls of the Witches' Castle"A very difficult subject, yet beautifully written. Believable characters and the entire novel has an element of mystery trying to discover what happened to Mr. North. I enjoyed the book very much and read it in two days. The ending was realistic, despite the fact I wish it could have been different.

Another Gem

Once again Ms. Kagan has written a novel of depth and emotion. I'm amazed at her ability to create characters that I feel so emotionally connected to -- this is not something that I find with many writers. Ms. Kagan has a particular gift for including more than one main heroine in her novels and describing their point of view, quite often in opposition to each other, in a manner that makes them seem real. The suffering of the two heroines as they await news about their beloved is almost palpable. It's refreshing to read a book that's not about two sisters bonding, or a courtroom drama, as so many are these days, but rather about realistic emotions and not so happy situations.I have read all Ms. Kagan's books and I'll eagerly await the next.