OBSESSION

Author: Gloria Vanderbilt ISBN: 9780061734892 7/2009 EROTICA Publisher: HARPER COLLINS

The marriages of desire . . . Talbot Bingham is a renowned architectural genius who, with his formidable wife, Priscilla, creates an architectural community. When he dies unexpectedly in the middle of their tenth wedding anniversary celebration, the devastated Priscilla is left keeper of the flame of Talbot's genius. Going through her husband's archives, she comes unexpectedly upon a pile of neatly tied letters, and the shocking secret of her husband's intimate life—a discovery that shatters the foundation of her soul and spirit.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I don't know what I expected from Gloria Vanderbilt's OBSESSION, but it was unlike anything I've read before. I enjoyed this tiny volume more than I thought I would, given its somewhat sad, initial premise. The really wonderful thing about this book is that while it does deal with a husband's death, that truly isn't the focal point of the story. It is more a tale of relationships... and I did say relationships, plural. This story focuses on the husband/wife link, as well as husband/wife/mistress/master/slave issues. There certainly was a great deal packed into this slender book!

The writing style is smooth and flawless; and the tale, told mostly through the wife's discovery of her dead husband's correspondence, is gripping. I read this in one swallow, charmed and intrigued, and determined that I never investigate any deceased family member's correspondence! I am not sure I'm as well-prepared to do so as Ms. Vanderbilt's heroine was!

I can easily recommend this highly erotic tale. Well done!

Kay James