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Show yDe6 The Salt Lake Tribune BOOKS Sunday, November1, 1998 ‘Death in Summer’ a Wise Study of a Passionless Life By William Trevor; Viking; $23.95 spends hers caring for their baby. Whenthestory opens,it is the summer of oneofIreland's worst BY NATALIE TAYLOR droughts, a condition which parallels the emotional interplay be- Death in Summer tween characters. Letitia’s death, SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE a fluke bicycle accident, left her William Trevor is among Ire- “qand’'s most treasured writers. His °Wooks have won acclaim: Reading Turgenev was short-listed for the ‘Booker Prize, The New York Times named My House in Umibria one of the 10 best books of ‘othe year, and Felicia’s Journey ‘won The‘Whitbread Book of the husband Thaddeus with the sole care of their infant, Georgina. What disturbs Thaddeus more than his wife’s death is his inability to love her, and his surprisingly profoundlove for his daughter. The afternoonofLetitia’s death they had been arguing — one of Year Award. It is with great an- the few times they did — and as result, he madea reluctant prom- ttwork, They will not be disappoint- ise to visit a woman from his past. A nanny is needed forthechild, ticipation that his fans await new ed with his latest novel, Death in Summer. Letitia married Thaddeus in and Thaddeus and his mother-in- her middle years, when suitors the girls are least of all the last one, Pettie. With her were scarce. Thaddeus married Letitia for the comfort of her wealth. Thoughlacking in passion their marriage is one of amiable comfort. Thaddeus spends his days in the gardens; Letitia law begin the interviewing process to fill the position. None of cumstances, Thaddeus’ motherin-law agrees to movein. are mistrustful of Thaddeus and his motive for marrying her daugh- ter, the two old enemies make an attemptatcivility. When Thaddeus fulfills his promise to Letitia, two weeks after her death, another tragedy rocks the family, making Thadde- us even more remote than usual. He must come to terms with his inability to show affection. His childhood, although outwardly privileged, was spentin lonely afternoons playing with the ghosts of his pets for playmates. His early isolation has left him unable to ier intimacy, even with his only child. Meanwhile, Pettie has been captivated by the grand old “small sharp features, her shabby clothes that reeked of cigarettes, and her badly typed references,” her departure makes no impact house; its lace curtains, oldpe graphs and lush gardens.SI lates the brief aeren2 wil greatdetail to her friend Albert, a companionfrom her childhood in The Morning Star (a home for wayward teens), and he listens helplessly as her focus narrows into one thing — her obsession with Thaddeus. Albert attempts to distract her butis unsuccessful. Her unexpected arrival, under the premiseto find a missing ring, heralds the last of the summer tragedies. Trevor's sentences are dense, filled with the dry languageof the human soul as it withers under the heatofgrief. This is a story of loss; not only the losses that occur that summerbutof thescars left from childh NEW LOOK FOR THE SEASON ne & a Professional, Corenets Experience faster, gentler, new on the household. Underthecir- Pantah Alternative Wave fymem: PAPERBACKS NANCY wealthy art dealer; Harper Albright, the eccentric editor of Bi- KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSSERVICE zarre magazine; and the shadowy @ The Uncanny, by Andrew Klavan (Dell, $6.99): In this entertaining tale, Klavan generously mixes genres and eras — little Victorian ghost story here, some macabre modern murder mystery there, a bit of “The X-Files” on top — into a grand guignol of a plot. Horrorfilm producer Richard Storm finds himself in the midst of a real-life gothic tale in contemporary London, one with an uncanny resemblance tohis favorite childhood ghost story, Black Annie, Seeking to discover the factual basis for the story, Storm becomes entangled with Sophia Enderby, the beautiful daughterof a presence of a poss immortal villain called Saint Iago. @ Violin, by Anne Rice (Ballantine, $14): In her typically ba. roquestyle, Rice conjures up the ghost of a Russian aristocrat, a gifted violinist condemned great musician. Stefan both enchants and torments Triana with his magic violin, along with visions of his past in Vienna. Eventually, though, she must draw on her ownpassion for music to save her sanity. FALL INTO Park City Studio Suite $55" per wif, |The Obert C. and Grace A. Tanner Humanities Center presents JamesL. Clayton 485-1110] [coll Professorof History, University of Utah io, 2- and condominium sales! © Kitchen, washetfiiryes, on “The Global Debt Bomb: Will it Go Off Here?” Tuesday, November3, 1998 4p.m. Gould Auditorium and more Marriott Library, 295 S 1500 E, Campus James L. Clayton is a professor of history and former Provost and Dean of the Graduate Schoolat the University of Utah. He has received many awards and honors for his research, which seeks to draw upon history to| Ee possible solutions to contemporary issues. He will share his path- © Minutes from the Silver ‘The Patk Clty Golf Street, Hiking and m and much more. 4 research on the relationship between private and public debt 1 their explosive growth since 1945. Professor Clayton's lecture will happening in Asia. For more information or for disability accommodations, please call Emily at 581-7989. Present stub for parking validation. Women age 14-49 to take part in a research study to test an oral contraceptive used to treat moderate facial acne. 6 month study with up to 10 office visits. All study related visits and study medication provided free. Qualified individuals will be compensated. Call 3 S5LASER LASER SALON™ For information call the Dermatology Research Center, Leonard J. Swinyer, M.D. Investigator, (801) 269-0135 weekdays. Meet the Bay Area’s Get your copyof Kurt Bestar’s Top Chefs at Snowbird’s CD, Celebration vhich contains a new song written expressly Winterfest Tay He Series ° LClar AGmel Os ATTIC RAY ; erstesulle vrs Also find selections from other ora £ X TRAORDINARY PIPL omeaA PL ERNE CLA LOLS populat Kurt Bestor albums including Seasons, Evening BR / 1 AVORFUL tastings rata oi i Chet sand UNPARALLELED king & snowboarding! _ and Sket 5. CDs:are available at ZCMI for 12.99, ot 5,99 can A Delta AirLines lad7| ie RSNA MIORE INFO & RES ea World Premiere AWorld Apart! , Coming November 6,7, 11-14 with your purchase of $50 or. more Prodi ed toi HOM Ia Order your tickets { today! to wander the Earth. He shows up in New Orleans to haunt the guiitridden Triana, a recent widow whoonce dreamed of becoming a iBIUIAEMGT MeeIAL Ane Lexcete) Rome aaTR ere) |