A Reunion After 40 Years
Maria Hummel’s novel ‘Goldenseal’ opens in 1990 with Edith’s arrival in Los Angeles, a city drastically different from her Maine residence. Her destination is a grand hotel she once knew well, where Lacey, her old friend, awaits. Lacey has become a recluse, isolating herself in the hotel her father owned for decades. Both women are cautious, confronting the long-ago rupture in their friendship as they settle in for a fancy room service dinner planned by Lacey.
Contrasting Lives and Personalities
At the age of 70, Lacey is troubled and fragile, while Edith is restrained, embodying the role of a headmistress. Despite the passage of time and life’s hardships, conversations reveal the profound bond they once shared. The novel masterfully recounts the duo’s intertwined past, starting with Lacey’s childhood in late-1930s Prague and the subsequent move with her parents to New York City.
A Journey from Youth to Estrangement
Lacey’s move to summer camp in Maine initiates her friendship with Edith, who attended the camp on a scholarship, given her father’s role as the camp’s handyman. The pair’s intense friendship, despite their contrasting backgrounds, leads them to Los Angeles together in search of a career in the film industry. This decision ultimately sets the stage for their dramatic separation.
An Atmospheric and Immersive Tale
Throughout ‘Goldenseal,’ Hummel’s narrative weaves a richly detailed tapestry of a friendship marred by misunderstandings and distance. As Edith and Lacey recount their histories, the reader gains insight into their psyche and the significant events that shaped their lives. The book culminates in a surprising moment of tenderness at the reunion dinner’s conclusion, offering a poignant and fitting end to this atmospheric story.
