Susan Fish

Ithaca is the story of how sudden change comes into a slow life. For 39 years, Daisy Turner has been a professor's wife, typing his notes and helping out. The centerpiece of her life is a weekly open house-a dinner party that always features soup. And then, one day, her husband drops dead. Daisy has nothing to hold onto-except, perhaps, the soup. Then, suddenly, Daisy finds herself entangled with a man whose wife is disabled, mothering a young environmental...

"Elizabeth Fane is on the cusp of 50, but instead of celebrating with her family, she is on a plane to Italy alone, leaving behind her husband, three adult sons, and the profound rift between them. In Italy Liz plans to prune olive trees at a convent, explore the city of Florence, and visit its ancient cathedrals. There she meets four women--five if you count the large painting of the Virgin Mary--with whom she converses regularly. While at first...