“The Guest Book” by Sarah Blake

BAYOU PAGES | NIGHTSTANDS & COFFEE TABLES

REVIEW BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE

“Families like the Miltons had always pulled the levers of the country in quiet, without considering that quiet to be anything strange, passing down that expectation to their sons early on.”

This sweeping literary masterpiece chronicles the fictional life of the Miltons, an upper-class American family with power, prestige, and privilege. The story follows three generations of Milton women, through marriage, children, death, and highlighting how they adapt to the radical changes in the world around them. Raised in relative isolation from the problems of the masses, the Miltons create their own world on Crockett Island, far removed from America’s troubles in World War II and racial strife within its own borders. The patriarch Ogden Milton and his wife Kitty believe their kind to be the best kind, a way of life worth preserving, keeping the family secrets close to their chests to avoid exposing the cracks.

Blake’s novel weaves the intimate details of one family’s struggle to keep itself together with intense commentary on the state of America during the 20th century. Financial business dealings between Americans and the Nazis relied on those in power turning a blind eye to the atrocities of the war. Many negotiations remained secret, and some with a conscience found it difficult to live with the consequences of their choices. Racial disparities within the country are met with polite nods, yet resistance to change. The Miltons believe in preservation, and any upheaval of a current system could damage their standing in American society. The third generation of Milton women uncover secrets that challenge who they are and what they stand for.

Blake explores sibling rivalry, the pressures on women to sacrifice themselves to the will of their husbands and the demands of upper-class society. She exposes the pressures that accompany privilege, how having one’s whole life mapped out leaves little room for individuality or freedom. Seeking a different path is often followed by tragedy, while staying the course ensures regret. Blake explores the relevance of family history coupled with perspective, whether the stories we tell ourselves are really true or if it even matters. The 500-page novel is rich in detail and historical insight, as the Miltons’ reach stretches across continents, giving them a bird’s eye view of the state of the world with little risk for the family involved. But while the nature of secrets can offer temporary protection, the desire to eventually expose those secrets is rarely quelled.

Reading this book is akin to entering another time, another world, one often romanticized in movies and history books. Blake deconstructs the fantasy, while retaining the allure of wealth and power. I highly recommend this novel for those who enjoy family sagas with historical context. I simply relished every word of it, beautifully written.