Melissa Palmer

Palmer presents a slice of American community through the lens of idealized American suburban neighborhood and the people that inhabit it. The book follows the people that live in a tightly-wound community as they interact with each other and behind their closed doors. The reader sees the strains of society, marriage, parenthood, wealth, personality, etc. There is no shortage of quirky characters and while some might fall into neighborhood stereotypes, each has enough of a twist or play on those stereotypes so as to seem fresh. While the depth the characters might not be up to the standards to carry a novel, this work is more about the tableau and movement of individuals in a setting as opposed to character exploration. There are some unexpected twists and a lot left to interpretation which is both a strength and a weakness. The reader is bound to take something away from the book based on their own circumstances and background. A fast read and entertaining over all. A good book for travel as it is easy to pick up repeatedly.… (mere)

TWIN OAKS

No matter how a group tries to conform their neighborhood to "ideal" standards, it will never meet their expectations. We are all individuals. I assume that is what the author was trying to get through to the reader. After a general description and introduction to the neighborhood, the author then invites us into the houses of a variety of neighbors, and then how they their lives intertwine from day to day. We begin to see how neighbors lives are far more complex than at first glance.

I feel the author could have focused more on the depth of the characters, how they intertwine in each others lives and the deep pain that Conformists inflict upon Individualists. A little drama of course always adds interest but the story gets a bit too much like the "Stepford Wives" at the end.… (mere)