Holly may have grown up wealthy, but she is now a young widow with two sons, and a job at the local paper. Her brother has lost his business and her sister lives paycheck to paycheck. Her mother writes checks to help her pay the mortgage, but a stroke leaves her confined to a nursing home and that is where the rest of the money will end up going. Vivian has been confined to an iron lung since she contracted polio as a chile, losing her only sister to the disease. Her parents monitored her constantly and now a mosaic of community caregivers steps in to keep her alive. In spite of this, she is part of the community, uses the internet, has been to college, and manages her investments.As the 2008 recession creates financial havoc in their lives, these two women develop a relationship that allows them both to hang on with the hope that things might get better. The writing is fine and the author creates the small town feeling of the common history that allows people to pull together and support each other. But there is also a lot of repetition. Holly doesn't have money. Bills continue to accumulate. and while Holly does not have the money she needs. There is a tiredness to her worry rather than an increasing sense of dread. Vivian invests in a cash for gold' store and Racine is the man who comes into town to manage it. Holly is the liason between them but --- while the author sets up this relationship as a potential rescue for Holly, her emotions are so flat (or they are written in such a muffled way) that it's hard to tell is she cares much about this guy, so the reader may not either. This is a beautifully written and plotted novel, rich with well detailed characters.Told from two points of view, it introduces us to Vivian and Hally. Vivian contracted polio as a young child; now 63, she has lived in an iron lung ever since. Holly is a young widow with two teenage sons; she totters on the verge of poverty. They both live in a village outside New York City, where Vivian is a community treasure and people care for her in shifts.For Vivian the iron lung is oxygen; for Holly money is oxygen, although she realizes it isn't everything.When Vivan invests in a gold-buying venture, she asks Holly to check it out in person. That brings Holly to Racine, who manages the store. He's charming, and you can get the outcome.I really liked this story, which turns out to be based in part on a person who lived in an iron lung into her 70s.
What do You think about The Virtues Of Oxygen (2014)?
Liked it - but didn't love it. Enjoyed the different characters, but wanted more.
—Kate
Great story of love and friendship and community.
—nowotny
