"Fellowship Point," by Alice Elliott Dark

I have just stumbled, half-dazed (in a good way!), out of the complicated, layered world of the novel “Fellowship Point” (Scribner, 2022), by Alice Elliott Dark. This is a truly original, striking novel that powerfully draws the reader in. The Fellowship Point of the title is an idyllic space in Maine where the main characters go during the summers. The homeowners there have formed – legally and socially – a unique community, one which is now threatened with development that would spoil the unique character of the area, along with its history and natural environment. The story also encompasses so much more – 80 years of history, family and other connections, concern for the environment and for the Native American original inhabitants of the area, two writers, one of whom writes two iconic book series, reflections on the roles of women in society, portrayals of childhood, issues of money and social class, and much more. The most compelling features of this 576-page novel are, for me, the main characters and the world they have created at Fellowship Point. The central character is Agnes, the author of the children’s book series, “Nan When,” and the secret author of an adult series, the “Franklin Square” novels, which is about the social world in Philadelphia, where she lives when not at Fellowship Point. She is active, thoughtful, feminist, strong-willed, opinionated, judgmental but empathetic (sometimes!). Her voice is distinctive. Her best and dearest friend since childhood, Polly, is more traditional, in her roles of wife and mother, but is much more of an individual thinker than others realize. One of my favorite things about the novel is its focus on two older women (in their early eighties), a focus that is not very common in fiction. There are also other compelling characters, including children. The story is mainly situated in the 1960s and the 2000s (jumping back and forth). Themes include family, love, duty, freedom, independence, interconnection, nature, varying definitions of “home,” trauma, mental health, and so much more. This is a unique, engrossing, and thought-provoking novel, and I recommend it highly.