Cold times

Moore, a first novelist, has created a complex, intertwined story of two families. Set in Maine, the novel progresses from the 1950s to the present day. Both families struggle against poverty; both move frequently in an effort to find a better life. The Rudge family shares hard work and love through hard times. Conversely, the Pembroke children learn about fear and violence at the hands of their desperate father. Moore weaves the stories of these two families together--chronicling the milestones of 30 years of family life. The multitude of characters and constant movement back and forth among them sometimes overwhelms the reader and makes the story hard to follow. Moore's portrayal of the main characters, though, especially as children, is haunting and difficult to forget. The reader despairs as the children repeat the mistakes of their parents, and cheer when they manage to es cape the violence and abuse. Recommended for public libraries.-- Kathy Ingels Helmond, Indiana Univ.