Looking for a Good Book? Try "Our Arcadia"

I first read Our Arcadia, by Robin Lippincott, several years ago and it has always stuck with me. A Virginia Woolf aficionado, Mr. Lippincott's first book was the lovely Mr. Dalloway, which -- as its title suggests -- imagines the life of Mr. after the passing of the more well-known Mrs.  While I enjoyed Mr. Dalloway, Our Arcadia found a way into my soul, and every so often I pick it up to read again.In Our Arcadia, Lippincott looks at the lives of 6 people sharing a house on Cape Cod in 1928.  The central characters, Lark Marin and Nora Hartley, are seeking the answer to the question "How to Live?", which is perhaps why it resonates so deeply with me.  I've often found myself searching for "home" and for "community", and the longing of the characters feels entirely real to me, following each as they look for their own individual answer to the larger question.As the book cover suggests, there is something about Our Arcadia which reminds me of a watercolor.  While there are some dramatic moments, the story is not told luridly, but by imparting key moments and details, often in muted hues, which ultimately come together to form the larger picture.If you're looking for a light and frothy read, this would not be the novel for you, but if you're interested in something poetic and nuanced, Our Arcadia has much to offer.  I highly recommend it.