The Other Anna

by Barbara Esstman

Three generations of women fall prey to the ecstasy and danger of desire. Anna Berter is a teenager growing up in a privileged home in Iowa just before World War I. Anna's life is dominated by two women: her stern mother and her adoring Scottish housekeeper, "the Old One," who fills Anna's imagination with Celtic legends and songs. But Anna's years of idyllic innocence end with the arrival of Hailus Tucker, a houseguest who charms all the ladies and leaves one--the housekeeper's granddaughter, Edwina--pregnant. When Anna's family adopts the illegitimate child, Anna demands the truth about the child's father. Truth ultimately brings tragedy for Edwina and reveals long-kept secrets about Anna's own origins. The Old One's mythic visions help Anna discover herself and push her, breathless, into womanhood.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

Reviews

[Raquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book! I felt many times as I read, like Anna...walking in her shoes and thinking her same thoughts.

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is set in Iowa starting in the year 1910 when the main character Anna is 12 years old. She lives in an upper class household with her father who is a doctor and mother a social matron who is always referred to as "The Prussian". They have 2 housekeepers, Mrs. Selchie (The Old One) and her granddaughter Edwina. Even at this point in the book Anna is not close to her mother but has a very close relationship with Mrs. Selchie. Still, everyone seems to be getting along OK until a young man, the son of a good friend of "The Prussian", comes to stay with them for a few months. The matron of the family is calculating, manipulative and lacking in empathy and nothing is really explained about the boy. There are dark hints throughout the book, but nothing is said. We might call this book "the book of hints". The result of his visit could have been nature at work, or he could have been paid to produce that result. Who knows?
This book seemed to have the potential to be a good book but it falls short, never pulls together into a proper ending, doesn't link things up. Many of the scenes are well written although the author is kind of into using shock value, like the scene with the turtle on the shore of the lake. What remained with me is the idea that one can lose sanity and even life in the grief of losing a child. This is true. Too bad that I can't say more about the book that is positive because much of the writing is very good, you can see it and feel it.

[Mirah W · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is one of those books I have a hard time really enjoying...I only liked one character (Anna) and the other characters just frustrated me. It's difficult for me to read a book when I really only care about one of the characters. The mother (The Prussian) was horrible...I did not like her and could not force myself to see things from her perspective. The father annoyed me because he would not stand up to his wife. The character who I found to be the most interesting was Rafferty...the supposed devil of the town who forces Anna to see the truth of her life. The plot could have been more fully developed but in telling it from Anna' point of view there was only so much that could be revealed. The story could have been told more completely (and in a way that would have garnered respect or understanding of more characters) if it wouldn't have been a first person story. Overall, a sad tale of how secrets cause feelings of distrust and resentment in families.

[Jennifer Canal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book. Anna's questions about honesty, life and death are very thought provoking and make you examine your own life.

[Anita · Rating 2 out of 5]

A completely frustrating and unsatisfying read.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good coming-of-age story. However, I felt there was something missing.