The Whole World Over

Greenie Duquette, a pastry chef at a small Greenwich Village restaurant, receives an opportunity to become the private chef for a wealthy New Mexico businessman. Her decision to take the job strains her marriage to Alan, a psychiatrist who refuses to leave his New York practice. The novel follows multiple interconnected characters in New York and New Mexico during the months leading up to September 2001. These include Walter, the restaurant owner grappling with romantic troubles; Saga, a young woman recovering from a head injury; and Fenno McLeod, a bookstore owner from Glass's previous novel Three Junes. Life choices and their ripple effects form the core of this story about loyalty, family bonds, and the pull between personal ambition and commitment to others. The characters navigate career changes, new relationships, and shifting dynamics while trying to determine what truly matters to them. This layered narrative examines how geography shapes identity and how the places we call home influence our sense of belonging and purpose. Through its ensemble cast, the novel considers questions about sacrifice, responsibility, and the ways people build meaning in their lives.

Readers note the rich character development and interweaving storylines, though many found the pace slow and meandering. The realistic portrayal of relationships and family dynamics earned praise, with several reviewers highlighting the authentic dialogue and complex personalities. Likes: - Vivid New Mexico and NYC settings - Strong food/cooking descriptions - Emotional depth of characters - Multiple perspective storytelling Dislikes: - Too many subplots that don't connect - Slow first 100 pages - Abrupt ending - Some characters feel unnecessary Many readers who enjoyed Glass's "Three Junes" found this follow-up less compelling. As one Goodreads reviewer noted: "Beautiful writing but needed more focus and editing." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 3.8/5 (120+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.7/5 (300+ ratings) The 9/11 subplot received mixed feedback - some found it powerful while others felt it was tacked on and underdeveloped.

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🍰 Author Julia Glass wrote this novel after winning the National Book Award for her debut work "Three Junes," making "The Whole World Over" her highly anticipated second novel. 🏛️ Much of the story's action takes place in pre-9/11 Greenwich Village, with Glass drawing from her own experiences living in New York City for over two decades. 👩‍🍳 The protagonist Greenie Duquette's career as a pastry chef was inspired by Glass's sister, who worked as a professional baker in Manhattan. 🔄 The novel's narrative structure interweaves four main storylines, with characters' lives intersecting in both deliberate and chance encounters, a technique Glass has become known for. 🗺️ The title "The Whole World Over" comes from a line in the novel about how "the whole world over people have essentially the same dreams," reflecting the book's themes of connection and universal human experience.