Harmony
A Novel
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2.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
"[A] provocative page-turner." —People
“In Parkhurst’s deft treatment, Harmony becomes a story of our time. . . Parkhurst cements herself as a writer capable of astonishing humanity and exquisite prose.” —Washington Post
“Gorgeously written and patently original.” —Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Leaving Time
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Dogs of Babel, a taut, emotionally wrenching story of how a seemingly "normal" family could become desperate enough to leave everything behind and move to a "family camp" in New Hampshire--a life-changing experience that alters them forever.
How far will a mother go to save her family? The Hammond family is living in DC, where everything seems to be going just fine, until it becomes clear that the oldest daughter, Tilly, is developing abnormally--a mix of off-the-charts genius and social incompetence. Once Tilly--whose condition is deemed undiagnosable--is kicked out of the last school in the area, her mother Alexandra is out of ideas.
The family turns to Camp Harmony and the wisdom of child behavior guru Scott Bean for a solution. But what they discover in the woods of New Hampshire will push them to the very limit. Told from the alternating perspectives of both Alexandra and her younger daughter Iris (the book's Nick Carraway), this is a unputdownable story about the strength of love, the bonds of family, and how you survive the unthinkable.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
First things first: Carolyn Parkhurst’s fourth novel is crazy good. We were immediately engrossed in this startling, compelling portrait of a young family in crisis and two sisters struggling to connect with the world. As much as we wanted to savor this book—its empathic depiction of its characters, its uncannily realistic family dynamics, and its increasingly sinister undertones—Harmony’s propulsive plot and dazzling writing had us turning the pages at a record pace.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Parkhurst's (The Dogs of Babel) latest explores family bonds, modern-day parenting, and the foundations of cult-like groups, all with nuance and a liberal dose of dark humor. Alexandra and Josh Hammond are at the end of their rope with the diagnosis-defying behavioral issues of their 13-year-old daughter, Tilly, until Alexandra discovers the work of Scott Bean, an unorthodox child-development guru with a devoted grassroots following. Now Scott's invited the Hammonds Alexandra, Josh, Tilly, and neurotypical younger daughter Iris to move to a summer camp in rural New Hampshire for families facing similar struggles. At first, the idyllic setting, simpler routines, and Scott's charismatic leadership prove helpful for the Hammonds and the other families at the newly dubbed Camp Harmony. But as the veneer of Scott's public persona wears off, and a more controlling, volatile side begins to show, all of Camp Harmony's residents are forced to confront some harrowing truths about their situation. Told from the viewpoints of Alexandra, Tilly, and Iris, Parkhurst's memorable tale features a complex cast of characters and a series of conundrums with no easy answers. Book-discussion groups will be particularly interested in the tale's numerous deftly explored gray areas.
