A review by megmcardle
The Whole World Over by Julia Glass

4.0

Like her first book Three Junes, Glass' new novel also follows several storylines although all in the same time frame. The characters are all so deftly written (even the many minor characters) and their stories each so interesting, that their intersections only enhance each other. The main story involves Greenie, a pastry chef in New York who gets the opportunity to move to New Mexico to cook for the governor of that state. She takes the job, even though it will mean uprooting her 4-year-old child George, leaving her husband in New York, and completely changing her life. Still, even though you could see her decision as a selfish act, Greenie is a sympathetic character. You want her to be happy, and I followed her marital ups and downs always completely on her side. You also find yourself hungry after reading the descriptions of all the delicious meals she concocts. I love any book where rich food is a character. Another storyline follows her friend Walter, a restauranteur who got her the job. Walter, who is gay, falls for the attractive Gordie even though he knows him as one half of a commited couple. Gordie ends up being persuadable, but you somehow feel like this is not a mark in his favor. Still, Walter is another completely loveable character whose happiness you never stop rooting for. The final major storyline that weaves through the novel is Saga, a young woman who is trying to rebuild her life and identity after a terrible accident. The novel culminates in the events of September 11, but 9/11 is used not as a plot device, but a backdrop for all the human dramas. The book will leave you thinking about issues of family and compromise, and wishing you could spend more time with these vividly drawn characters.