Spinning at the Edges: A Novel

by Elizabeth Poliner

“Spinning at the Edges is, simply, a marvel."—Edward P. Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Known World

From the author of the acclaimed As Close to Us as Breathing, a captivating novel steeped in history, revealing the bonds of family and community, and the healing powers hidden inside broken hearts.

Ruth Pearl has lived in the small New England town of Wells, Connecticut on the shore of Lake Topaqua for much of her adult life. Decades back, she and her parents fled German-occupied Amsterdam after the murder of her beloved older sister Sophia. Her view of Lake Topaqua, in the wake of such loss, has long been a deep comfort to Ruth.

But in the winter of 2000, Ruth’s neighbor builds an addition to his home that blocks Ruth’s lake view, disrupting her peace and sense of control. She seeks a legal resolution and finds none. Her helplessness sparks fear that her past is happening again.

Ruth heads out one day to skate on the lake only to spot a boy, in the distance, falling through the ice. County judge Arthur Cantrell also witnesses the fall, and together Ruth and the judge save sixteen-year-old Ian Lima’s life. The act is, for all of them, redemptive. Over the days to come Ruth and Arthur help to heal Ian, both physically and mentally, and all three find unexpected solace. Ruth even feels able, at long last, to share the story of her life during the Holocaust with her adult daughter.

Set against the backdrop of the controversial 2000 presidential election, dramatizing the growing interconnection between disparate characters’ lives, and steeped in history both recent and remembered, Spinning at the Edges is the story of a woman, a family, a community, the stories that bind us, and how love—and even democracy—are fragile concepts in a changing, spinning world.

Genres: Fiction, Jewish, Historical Fiction, Book Club

320 pages, Hardcover

Published May 12, 2026

About the author

Elizabeth Poliner is the author of As Close to Us as Breathing, a novel; Mutual Life & Casualty, a novel-in-stories; What You Know in Your Hands, a poetry collection; and Sudden Fog, a poetry chapbook. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared widely in literary journals including the Kenyon Review, The Southern Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, and Colorado Review. She is a recipient of seven individual artist grants from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities, fiction fellowships to the Wesleyan and Sewanee writers’ conferences, and artist residencies at the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, the Wurlitzer Foundation, and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. She teaches creative writing in the MFA and undergraduate programs at Hollins University where she is an associate professor.

Reviews

[Angela M]

This is my 1500th Goodreads review.
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Ruth Pearl has never said much to her daughter about her life growing up in Amsterdam, or about when the Nazis occupied Amsterdam, about her loss, or about how her family escaped . In alternating time frames, we hear her story blended with the stories of her daughter and those of some others in her small town of Wells , Connecticut. There’s a troubled teenage boy, a judge carrying the burden of an unhappy childhood, Ruth’s daughter Stephanie in despair over what is missing in her life and others. At first it was was Ruth’s story that held my heart and my attention as she equates the potential loss of her lake view by an addition being built by a neighbor, to Jews losing freedoms in Amsterdam , to her personal loss . Heartbreaking as all Holocaust stories are .

But then the individual traumas and losses of these others as they face their challenges of grief and loss become connected to Ruth’s story . The possibilities of healing through opening up with each other, helps them discover things about each other and themselves . I ultimately was moved by the story as a whole.

The present day takes place at the time of the 2000 presidential election and the insertion of the Gore v Bush situation really didn’t feel essential to the stories at hand for me. Having said that, this character driven story is well worth reading . It reminded me about Anne Frank. It depicted the importance of family, friendship as well as as some things about who we are as individuals , about forging our own way with a little luck sometimes and why we can never forget what happened . A solid 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from HarperCollins through Edelweiss.

[Tracy Greer-Hansen]

5 stars

This book was chosen because of a recommendation I saw on Goodreads by Angela. After reading her review, I had a strong suspicion that this would be a book I would greatly enjoy. Serendipity.

We meet, Ruth Pearl, a young Jewish girl living in German-occupied, Amsterdam. 1941 at the height of fascism in Netherlands. After the murder of her sister, Sophia, her family immigrates to Wells, Connecticut. Ruth keeps her life hidden and rarely speaks about her hardships and trauma in her early life, which often keeps her daughter, Stephanie at bay. They don’t communicate well; their relationship is often strained and at surface level.

The next timeline is 2000. A controversial presidential election.

Ruth used to skate with her sister Sophia and is still skating in her later life, when she comes across a young man, Ian, who has thrown himself down an ice fishing hole. Ian is confused and feels like “loving is like death pretty much all the time.” They bond, and they heal each other through this experience.

This rich character-detailed book was so beautifully written. Generational trauma, friendships and relationships lost. Every character I could see in my mind’s eye and was woven together perfectly.
Democracy can be fragile; as can be our personal journeys. TW: suicide, abuse, violence

Sometimes the best reads are the ones that surprise you.

[Stacey B]

I thought the story was good, as is the writing. 3.5

[Louis Muñoz]

4 stars. I wasn't sure what to expect from this novel. The blurb sounded good, but too often a good premise doesn't always lead to a great, or even at least good read. Here, the alchemy worked. Initially looking like it was going to focus on two timelines, "Ruttie," a young Jewish girl in the Amsterdam just coming under Nazi control, and her 70s-something counterpart, Ruth, Holocaust survivor and living during the 2000 election chaos.

The story became much bigger and deeper, involving many interconnected characters, but somehow escapes the all-too-common outcome, a diffuse story. There was a lot of heart in this story as well, and I'm a sucker for that, and a lot of heartbreak, both because of the tragic consequences of the Holocaust and also because of how misunderstandings and miscommunications (as well as MISSED communications) often separate us. Lastly, I also appreciated the uncomfortable truths that come up. One example, which I have to be a little ambiguous about so as not to cause a spoiler: we have one main character very upset about something, a wrong they feel having done to them, and so "of course" we sympathize with them, and then later, we find out WHY that perceived wrong is happening, and moreover, that that person has actually been looking out for the "victim." Just shows how connected we are, both in good ways and in bad.

The one part of this book that didn't work for me was the backdrop of that 2000 election. It honestly didn't add anything to the story for me.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[The Page Ladies Book Club]

What if something as simple as losing your view could unravel everything you thought you’d made peace with?

Spinning at the Edges by Elizabeth Poliner isn’t a fast-paced story, it's one that unfolds slowly, thoughtfully, and with so much emotional depth.

Reading Ruth’s story felt like stepping into a life shaped by both profound loss and quiet resilience. Her past escaping Nazi-occupied Amsterdam and carrying the grief of her sister’s death lingers beneath everything, even in the seemingly calm setting of her New England town. When her lake view is taken from her, it seems small at first, but it’s not. It’s the thread that begins to unravel old wounds she thought were long buried.

What I really appreciated about this book is how Elizabeth Poliner explores trauma not as something that simply goes away but as something that can resurface in unexpected ways. Ruth’s reactions felt raw and real, even when they were uncomfortable.

The turning point, the moment on the ice completely shifted the tone for me. The way Ruth, Judge Cantrell, and Ian become connected through that act of спасing a life was honestly beautiful. There’s something really powerful about how healing can come through helping someone else. It didn’t feel overly sentimental, either it felt earned.

I also loved how the story gently weaves in themes of memory, aging, and finally, telling your story. Ruth opening up to her daughter added another layer of emotional weight that made the ending feel especially meaningful.

This is definitely a quieter, more reflective read, but if you’re someone who loves character-driven stories that explore grief, healing, and human connection, this one is worth your time.

✨️Thank you, Harper and Elizabeth Poliner, for sharing this story with me!

[Anna Persky]

Review to follow!

[Zoe Zeid]

A bit high brow for me. Some of the characters, such as Willa, seemed almost pointless. I did like the premise but it bounced around a little too much for me.

[callistoscalling]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own.

📖 Book Review 📖 Do you remember the 2000 Presidential Election in the USA? It was the last election before I could vote and my high school soccer team played Al Gore’s son’s team right after the loss. I will never forget the buzz as the campus prepared for his visit and I was standing right next to him when a preschooler approached him and told him he was sorry for his loss and hoped he won the next one. It feels like a lifetime ago…and sometimes an event like this paired with a disruption close to home can be a catalyst to stir up sentiments unspoken yet not healed.

Spinning at the Edges is a beautifully reflective novel, following the journey of a woman recovering from the unthinkable trauma in the decades from the 1940s through the turn of the millennium. Losing her older sister to a murder and then fleeing Nazi-occupied Amsterdam was a true test of resilience for Ruth Pearl; but life does not have a cap on the amount of trials and tribulations it sends in the direction of one individual. Generational trauma is real and an unexpected spark can reignite those hidden emotions when you least expect it.

Spinning at the Edges unravels in beautiful layers, creating a masterful mosaic of connections weaved through dynamic storytelling. Elizabeth Poliner delivers a thought-provoking, heartfelt story of hope and healing and the powerful ties that bring us together through it all.

[Jojo]

I think I read this at the right time, place, pace, and with ideal incoming expectations. We read this for book club and I was excited to read something written by a local DMV-er and happily surprised by all the DC references I see everyday. Normally I shy away from books related to the Holocaust or Holocaust-adjacent but I thought this was well done. A bit hard to follow in the beginning with the jumping back and forth in time and the various character POVs but I thought the author did a good job of slowly introducing characters before giving you their POV. I think reading this in one sitting actually really helped because I didn’t feel as confused by the characters as the other members of book club. Parting thoughts: author did quite well hinting at the various plot points that served as the pivotal moments for the characters and then fully explaining the story at poignant times.

[Rachel]

A moving novel about characters, brought together by proximity and loneliness that often sees them on the ice (see the title.)

I’m also being a little cheeky by calling this historical fiction. Granted, there are sections from Ruth’s (then Ruttie’s childhood as a Jewish girl in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. But most of the rest of the novel takes place in 2000, where fraught questions about the Florida election count feels like the closest we’d come to democracy spinning out of control. What sweet summer children we were.

Anywho. Ruth’s surviving family ultimately made it to the U.S., and at the beginning of the 21st century, she now lives in small town Connecticut. Her fragile peace is disturbed when her neighbor decides to build an addition to his house, which blocks the view of the lake that reminds Ruth of her murdered sister, Sophia.

Her daughter, Stephanie, tries to help from afar, but she’s lost in her own drama, too. Now working as a fundraiser in DC (Poliner uses a lot of geographical description, which is fun for someone—moi—who also has a career in the city), her life upends in spectacular fashion when first her boyfriend of 8 years abruptly dumps her, and then she loses her longest friendship.

Various other members of the small town also crop up, largely trying to keep their heads above water as relationships and economic realities swirl around them. The story reaches a culmination when 16-year-old Ian, who’d just outed himself and was rejected by his long-time crush, goes to the frozen lake with dangerous intent. Ruth and another character, the judge Arthur (undergoing his own drama with a jilted lover,) against the odds are able to see him and save his life.

Decades earlier, Sophia tempted fate, and ultimately lost her life for it, by flaunting the growing statutes levied against Jews as they were slowly stripped of their citizenship rights. Sophia’s reasoning also had to do with trauma and lost love, though we mostly see her from the outside.

Ian, Arthur, Ruth, Stephanie, and others got to narrate their own stories. “The web of relationships gets hard to untangle due to a convoluted timeline that zigzags back and forth,” says my good friend Kirkus. I especially wish that Poliner hadn’t occasionally teased us with darts forward in time, and had restricted herself to the main narrations and events.

The Holocaust and its aftermath is perhaps a bit of an outlier. It cements Ruth and her family as central characters, and shows how secrets and trauma trickle through the generations.

All of the characters were fleshed out, and I appreciated the mix of interiority and scene setting. (Poliner’s background as a poet is also on full display!) Props as well to the kinetic energy of the story, where spinning on the ice is physical as well as emotional.

My favorite character was likely Stephanie, and her skating around multiple issues in the past and present. Ruth’s lack of ability to communicate about her trauma informs much of Stephanie’s life, though saving Ian allows Ruth to open up in new and surprising ways. Perhaps Stephanie will benefit as well.

Disclaimer: Elizabeth Poliner led some writing classes I attended several years ago. So I’ll end with a quote from the Book Reporter review. This is a tender, literary portrayal—“an unforgettable story about how the past haunts the present, how sharing pain heals, and how love --- and even democracy --- are fragile concepts in a changing, spinning world.”

[Jean Eglinton]

Law can protect, and law can terrorize. As our country slips sideways – continuing the momentum of the Supreme Court decision after the Bush/Gore election of 2000 (mulled over by characters in the book) – I’m on the lookout for fiction that will give me the energy to keep engaging with the increasingly painful parts of our world. I found reminders of healing and hope in Spinning at the Edges.

Stephanie tries to create a life of love and caring for the world in 2000 Washington DC in the face of her mother Ruth’s reserve and silence about her own childhood in 1940 Amsterdam. Stephanie has had little love and support throughout her life, and it begins to feel hopeless. Ruth, a legal secretary in small-town Connecticut, sees the world through the lens of law because of the Nazi laws that destroyed much of her family. Ruth is out skating on the lake, when she sees a teenager fall through a hole in the ice. A judge, who happens to be nearby, helps her pull the young man out and get him to her house to recover. The relationships that play out among these, and several other characters I really cared about (Don’t you hate it when you don’t care about any of the characters in a story?) offer possibilities of healing and redemption.

In the background and often coming to the fore, is the persecution of Jews through history. The family of Barukh Spinoza, a Jewish philosopher, had fled Portugal in the 17th century and ended up in Amsterdam. In the 20th century, Ruth’s family was fleeing Jewish persecution in Amsterdam and circled back to Portugal on their way to the States. Two of the refugees there, trying to save their families, were musing about Spinoza: “The underside of Spinoza’s cool argument, you see, is a warm heart.” The personal stories intermingled with modern history and philosophy urge us to understand that compassion will get us through. Even this.

[Chris Karnei]

I received an ARC of this book from Goodreads/Harper.

4.5 Stars rounded up.

This is not the easiest book to review as the story takes place over multiple timelines from the point of view of multiple characters. The story is not told linear fashion, instead it is presented as short sections of story, usually in multiple timelines and locations, in each chapter. While you know Sophia was murdered and the boy intentionally jumped through a hole in the ice, you don’t know the how or why these things happened or how they could possibly be connected until the last two chapters. In the beginning this can make the book feel a bit disjointed but if you stick with it the author does an excellent job of bringing all the bits and pieces together into a coherent and compelling story.

Ruth, her daughter Stephanie, Ian, his mother Missy, Judge Cantrell, his girlfriend Willa, and several of the minor characters are all experiencing major changes in their lives and all, to one degree or another, feel that their lives are spinning out of control during the nonsense of 2000 election. This story line is combined with the story of Ruth’s family during and shortly after the German occupation of the Netherlands in 1940 – 41. The author uses Ruth and Stephanie’s love of ice skating as a common thread between the two timelines and the multiple locations in the book. From Oosterpark (Voor Joden Verboden) in Amsterdam, the lake in Wells Connecticut, the National Gallery rink on the Mall in D.C., to the public rink in Wheaton Regional Park (where I learned to skate) both characters retreat to the ice as an escape from the changes in their lives over which they feel they have no control.

While all of this sounds like the recipe for a hot mess in 305 pages, the author does a masterful job of bringing all the various storylines to a satisfying conclusion in the end.

[TarHeelReader]

Ruth Pearl lives in a New England town on a pristine lake. Several years earlier, she fled German-occupied Amsterdam with her parents after tragedy. When Ruth’s neighbor adds to his home, blocking her view of the lake, she has no choice but to take him to court. She finds no justice.

One day Ruth is skating on the lake, when she sees a little boy fall through the ice. With the help of a local judge, they save the boy named Ian. As he heals, so do Ruth and Arthur, the judge, which sets the stage for Ruth to finally talk with her daughter about her life during the Holocaust.

I found it fascinating that the author chose to set this novel during the 2000 presidential election, which was quite controversial at the time. Spinning at the Edges is about the fragility of so much in life, including democracy. I respected how the author wove this into the story in such an authentic way. A powerful and fully resonant story with a strong historical backdrop. Perfect storytelling.

I received a gifted copy.

Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader

[Kristi]

Trauma can make its effects known when we least expect it. As an incest survivor, I know this to be true. Ruth survived the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and the murder of her sister. She has perceived her life as contented until the relatively simple act of a neighbor building a structure which blocks her view of a beloved lake. I like she have found looking at, walking near, or listening to water healing. Then a young boy in despair throws himself into the lake from the ice. Ruth and County judge Arthur Cantrell rescue the boy and help him choose to live. All three find peace independent of age or experiences. Set amid the 2000 election and even worse now, the fear of fascism and the loss of democracy can trigger thoughts of Nazi Germany.... Poignant, lovely book Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Melanie May]

In, Spinning at the Edges, Poliner does what I wish so many authors would: flesh out side characters almost as much as the main ones, gracefully, intricately. This book is about how history and entrenched assumptions prevent forward movement, and every “minor” character or episode helps illuminate the ways people can stay stuck. It’s not a how-to book! But it’s a page-turning story that allows complicated or initially unsympathetic characters to reveal depth and growth. I think it’s a great choice for the fall or winter, or summer mood-readers who like a break from froth or heat.

[Joram Piatigorsky]

I’ve just finished “Spinning at the Edges” and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was impressed how seamlessly and expertly the author navigated between generations, brought the reader into the tragedy of the Holocaust in the Netherlands, and developed interior aspects and social aspects simultaneously. I felt like I was in three dimensions: one dimension of the inner mind of multiple characters, two dimensions of social interactions of characters, and three dimensions of the outer world. Great job!

[Becky Z]

There is some AMAZING prose that conveys the angst felt by several characters. Dreams are lost, people die or leave us, and our Jewish culture can be attacked. The story is a bit hard to follow between dual timelines and numerous generations of characters. Recalling who was who and what happened in the past versus present was a bit demanding for me. Hard to plow through but worth the struggle.

[Susan Teller]

I zoomed into my book club having read only half of this book. It was very special because our group was led by the author! I learned so much and loved listening to her process and explanations of the characters. She blends stories from different times and different families that beautifully thread together. I can say now I was motivated to finish this book and read for myself how people connected. Thank you Elizabeth Poliner.

[Luke V]

An empathetic, finely grained portrayal of multiple lives. Beautifully written. The timeline and characters can be tough to follow at times, because of the multiple periods in which the book is written, and because there are frequent references in the present tense to what will happen in the future. But you will be rooting for all the characters, all with flaws, but also irredeemably human and deserving of care and love. Relationships are difficult, to build, to maintain, to rebuild.

[Deanna Church]

With the different timelines you would expect some confusion while reading. Not the case with this book. Rather than a story with one or two main characters this one felt like it had several. We got to know them as they related to each other and individually. Some were a little hard to like in the beginning but that changed as the story unfolded.

[David]

Poliner, using beautiful prose, writes about the demise of the Jewish community in Amsterdam as the Nazis take over and impress their evil doings on those Jews. Different characters, all related to each other, have their stories intertwine through time and space. The Nazi acts are terrifying but the essential hope contained in every character makes this a memorable and very readable book.

[Joyce]

History, democracy, family, and interpersonal relationships create an intriguing read that holds the reader's interest until the final page. Characters development was a gift to the reader. A very, very good read.

[Bb]

A beautifully crafted tale of humans struggling with history (in 1940 Amsterdam) and the ripples it can send out in the decades that follow. You can learn more in a Q&A I did with the author at https://www.washingtonindependentrevi...

[Cd]

Two generational timelines with unidentified flashbacks, coupled with multiple significant characters in each make the story challenging to follow. I almost put it down a few times but I was curious about one particular character.

[Madison]

I liked the story premise but didn’t connect with the writing style. There were a lot of little asides that were focused on adding color, but took away from the story and didn’t move it forward.

[Cynthia]

3,5.

[Bambi Wood]

I feel like my three star rating may be generous.I found the book to be slow and disjointed. I see that I am an outlier here so hopefully others will continue to enjoy this book.

[MD]

Just bored, stuggling to pay attention

[Tammy]

Alot of skipping around on character made it hard to follow.