Storm Tide

by Marge Piercy, Ira Wood

A husband-and-wife team presents a novel about a minor league baseball player who returns to his small hometown on Cape Cod, makes a bid for political office, finds himself torn between two women, and witnesses a horrible tragedy.

Genres: Fiction

296 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 1998

About the author

Marge Piercy is an American poet, novelist, and social activist. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Gone to Soldiers, a sweeping historical novel set during World War II.

Piercy was born in Detroit, Michigan, to a family deeply affected by the Great Depression. She was the first in her family to attend college, studying at the University of Michigan. Winning a Hopwood Award for Poetry and Fiction (1957) enabled her to finish college and spend some time in France, and her formal schooling ended with an M.A. from Northwestern University. Her first book of poems, Breaking Camp, was published in 1968.

An indifferent student in her early years, Piercy developed a love of books when she came down with rheumatic fever in her mid-childhood and could do little but read. "It taught me that there's a different world there, that there were all these horizons that were quite different from what I could see," she said in a 1984 interview.

As of 2013, she is author of seventeen volumes of poems, among them The Moon is Always Female (1980, considered a feminist classic) and The Art of Blessing the Day (1999), as well as fifteen novels, one play (The Last White Class, co-authored with her third and current husband Ira Wood), one collection of essays (Parti-colored Blocks for a Quilt), one non-fiction book, and one memoir.

Her novels and poetry often focus on feminist or social concerns, although her settings vary. While Body of Glass (published in the US as He, She and It) is a science fiction novel that won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, City of Darkness, City of Light is set during the French Revolution. Other of her novels, such as Summer People and The Longings of Women are set during the modern day. All of her books share a focus on women's lives.

Woman on the Edge of Time (1976) mixes a time travel story with issues of social justice, feminism, and the treatment of the mentally ill. This novel is considered a classic of utopian "speculative" science fiction as well as a feminist classic. William Gibson has credited Woman on the Edge of Time as the birthplace of Cyberpunk. Piercy tells this in an introduction to Body of Glass. Body of Glass (He, She and It) (1991) postulates an environmentally ruined world dominated by sprawling mega-cities and a futuristic version of the Internet, through which Piercy weaves elements of Jewish mysticism and the legend of the Golem, although a key story element is the main character's attempts to regain custody of her young son.

Many of Piercy's novels tell their stories from the viewpoints of multiple characters, often including a first-person voice among numerous third-person narratives. Her World War II historical novel, Gone To Soldiers (1987) follows the lives of nine major characters in the United States, Europe and Asia. The first-person account in Gone To Soldiers is the diary of French teenager Jacqueline Levy-Monot, who is also followed in a third-person account after her capture by the Nazis.

Piercy's poetry tends to be highly personal free verse and often addresses the same concern with feminist and social issues. Her work shows commitment to the dream of social change (what she might call, in Judaic terms, tikkun olam, or the repair of the world), rooted in story, the wheel of the Jewish year, and a range of landscapes and settings.

She lives in Wellfleet on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with her husband, Ira Wood.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was lyrical and haunting, but very perplexing, morally. Given Piercy's committment and demonstrated sympathies for working class women, it was strange to see her make an antoganist who embodied the qualities that most conform to stereotypes of working class women- unintelligent, unintellectual, obsessed with "getting a man" and having babies, rapidly sexual, garish in taste, sloppy, buxom to tbe point of being fleshy and fat, obsessed with family, mentally unstable, etc- and even more bizarre that this women seemed to be portrayed consistently in a pornographic light. That this character's gruesome death was what allowed the two main characters to fufill the romantic promise that the story hinted at all along made this a very troubling book for me to read.

So I kept wondering- was this on purpose? Were we being invited to criticize or challenge the moral or value assumptions held by the narrator (at times seemingly omniscient 3rd person, at times first person from the perspective of the man who was torn between this character and another, more upper/middle class/intellictual character)? Was this the result of writing this with her husband? Is this a comment about a male desire to possess two radically different types of women, without ever honestly acknowledging the personhood of either?

I don't know. This novel was purported to be an erotic work of fiction, and while it was troubling and energizing, it definitely made me want to be a nun for the next twenty years. It just seemed to be about how terribly terribly broken we all are- which is not the most super sexy thing to read about, I guess.

[Майя Ставитская · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, at the end of the last century, David Green, whose childhood was spent here, returns to the small town of Saltash on Cape Cod after a not very brilliant career in pro baseball and the collapse of his marriage. Now his father is dead, his mother has aged, and his sister is very happily married to a famous comedian who writes several columns in major magazines, whose jokes are quoted in other publications and on the radio. She herself does not sit idly by, she is engaged in landscape design. David enters the nursing business as a partner, meeting the most respected people in the city, the famous Professor Gordon and his wife Judith.

Штормовая волна
She still did not know who she was, but she had found a part of herself that had been lost and knew how to enjoy an orchard in a flower pot. Еще не зная, кем была, она уже нашла потерянную часть себя. Она умела радоваться саду в цветочном горшке.
Мардж Пирси, известная как поэт, автор отмеченных премиями научно-фантастических книг, видная феминистка написала этот роман в соавторстве с супругом Айрой Вудом. А я узнала о книге, потому что ею интересовалась на Goodreads Джо Уолтон, одна из моих любимых писательниц. Не то, чтобы пыталась угнаться за ней в смысле "что почитать", она глотает книги примерно с той же скоростью, с какой я на русском, но когда выпадает возможность прочесть то же, что человек, который тебе интересен, кто откажется, тот не я.

Итак, конец прошлого века, в маленький городок Салташ на Кейп-Коде возвращается после не самого блестящего завершения карьеры в профи-бейсболе и крушения брака Дэвид Грин, чье детство прошло здесь. Теперь отец его умер, мама постарела, сестра весьма удачно замужем за знаменитым комиком, ведущим несколько колонок в крупных журналах, шутки которого цитируют в других изданиях и по радио. Она и сама не сидит, сложа руки, занимается ландшафтным дизайном. Дэвид входит в сестринский бизнес партнером, в ходе работы знакомясь с самыми уважаемыми в городе людьми, знаменитым профессором Гордоном и его женой Джудит.

Гордон очень немолод, и серьезно болен, этот брак для него четвертый, своих детей в нем нет, но Джудит, с которой у них солидная разница в возрасте, стала самой нежной и заботливой мачехой из возможных и другом для детей от его предыдущих жен. Она умница, трудяга и боец. Внебрачная дочь успешного нью-йоркского юриста и польской эмигрантки, с детства остро переживавшая низкое положение в социальной иерархии, по завещанию отца получает возможность окончить колледж, усердно занимается юриспруденцией и теперь у нее своя небольшая, но уважаемая фирма по оказанию юридических услуг.

Искренне любя мужа, она не может устоять перед обаянием Дэвида, и роман, который у них вскоре завязывается, ну, в общем, с ведома и благословения Гордона. Больше того, Грин становится его финальным проектом. Это как? Это есть мэр Салташа Джонни Линч, та еще лиса и довольно беспринципный товарищ, который, однако, оплел город сетями взаимных услуг. Кроме прочего, его детищем стала дамбы, призванная отвоевать у океана несколько гектаров этой драгоценной земли. Кейg место курортное, из числа тех, где количество летнего населения в разы превышает зимнее. Следовательно, если настроить тут коттеджей, можно привлечь немалые деньги в городской бюджет (не забыв и о собственном кармане).

Вроде бы. Но Линч не учитывает взаимозависимости экосистемы и тех неприятных последствий, которые повлечет за собой строительство дамбы. Начиная с гибели устричных садков и того, что птицы, прежде гнездившиеся здесь в изобилии, перестают прилетать, кончая заболачиванием других, прежде благополучных, участков. Так вот, на предстоящих выборах в муниципалитет Дэвиду отведена роль соперника Линча, а поддерживают его финансами и связями Гордон и Джудит.

Как-бы непростая ситуация, да? То ли еще будет, когда в город приедет молодая привлекательная мать-одиночка Кристалл с маленьким сынишкой. Которая устроится секретарем со знанием компьютера (не забыли, девяностые прошлого века) в муниципалитет и одновременно кавалерийским наскоком кинется охмурять Дэвида. С привлечением всех средств из арсенала манипулирующих женщин.

Не могу сказать, чтобы книга прямо потрясла, открыв высоты и глубины. Но в целом отличное чтение из числа тех, что и уму, и сердцу.

[Zinta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read many Marge Piercy books, novels and poetry (and, in general, lean more toward the latter), and reread several as I prepared to do an interview with the author for the spring 2010 issue of The Smoking Poet.Piercy collaborated with her husband, writer Ira Wood. I was most intrigued as I settled in for a good Sunday read. Would I be able to distinguish the two? Would their styles mesh or would the seams show?

The novel opens with a chapter called, "David." It is written in first person, and the character is a young man, a baseball player who didn’t quite make it in the big leagues, and so seems a bit confused at this point about who he is, what are his other talents, how might he make himself useful in life. I assumed (correctly) that this was Wood writing. I had never read his work before, but by end of the first page, I determined I would. He opens:

“When the winter was over and my nightmares had passed, when someone else’s mistakes had become the subject of local gossip, I set out for the island. I made my way in increments, although the town was all of eighteen miles square. To the bluff overlooking the tidal flats. Down the broken black road to the water’s edge. To the bridge where her car was found, overturned like a turtle and buried in mud.”

Introduced to David Greene, we then move to chapters titled "Judith," and these are written by Piercy. Interestingly, these are not in first, but in third person, giving the reader perhaps more intimacy with David, more distance from Judith. And the story does seem to revolve more around David.

David is attracted to the older Judith Silver, a very strong and independent, intellectual woman, a lawyer married to Gordon Stone. Immediate comparisons come to mind to the autobiography I had just read by Piercy, Sleeping with Cats, in which we learn that she was married when she met Wood, that her then husband condoned, even at times encouraged her affair with Wood, who seem to have more confused feelings on the issue. In my review of the autobiography, I pointed out that every work by an author is to some degree autobiographical, and so we see the similarities here, too. In fact, I found it especially interesting reading the two books side by side.

Back to the story: it is a weaving of several threads, coming together in this small Cape Cod town, where everyone knows everyone’s business. We meet Johnny Lynch, a powerful local politician, corrupt and yet at times benevolent (if with ulterior motives), entrenched in his place of leadership and not about to let go. Opposing his views on the town’s welfare, Judith Silver and Gordon Stone nudge David into position to run for town selectman.

Adding intrigue and complexity to this scenario is the evolving affair between Judith and David, the quickly spreading cancer that ravages Gordon’s body, the arrival of the pinup style young woman, Crystal, who plays sweet and sexy, but is deep-down damaged, if not occasionally malevolent, using her feminine wiles to manipulate David. Crystal is driven by her need to have a man in her life, and she aims for David to fill that need. She has a young son, Laramie, whom she uses unabashedly to pull on David's heart strings and tie him down with guilt trips and parental obligations. Whether because of his youth, or simply that he is too easily seduced and led around by his anatomy, David becomes perfectly entrenched in Crystal’s honey-sweet trap. Seeing this Achilles’ “heel” in his new political opponent, Johnny Lynch uses Crystal against David to the very end, and to disastrous results for all, even the young boy.

The book is a fast reader, a true page turner. The contrasts between characters are especially fascinating: Judith, the sharp and smart, mature woman—and Crystal, the loopy pinup girl with nothing to offer but her body (and riddled with jealousy over the older woman); David, the young baseball player turned politician with good intentions but capable of the most ghastly mistakes—and Gordon, the dying man who has been there, done that, and is ready to pass his wife along almost like so much property as he nears his final days. Indeed, that can be the most puzzling part. While Judith professes open relationships, she quickly enough withdraws her favor from David when he grows too involved with Crystal. She explains it away as somehow different when David protests that she, after all, is a married woman, but it is not convincing and difficult to follow her logic. Everybody wants to be first to someone, including Judith. And then there’s Johnny, an old letch when it all comes down to it, using Crystal at first for political strategies to spy on his opponent, but then deteriorating to being just one more horny old toad who wants a piece of that. Here, tragedy truly unfolds.

Not one of my favorite Piercy books, but all in all, in the top few. I enjoyed the interwoven stories and characters, the collaboration between two writers—including the interview with the two at end of the book. Their work blended seamlessly, two masters crafting their work into one, a shared success.

~Zinta Aistars for The Smoking Poet, Spring 2010 Issue

[HeavyReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cautionary tale: Men, be careful who you sleep with because women can be crazy.

This is the story of a love triangle. (David and Judith love each other, but Crystal has her sights set on making David her baby daddy. David very much enjoys the sensuous soul connection sex he has with Judith, but it sure is difficult for him to give up Crystal, who calls herself his “anything girl” because she’s willing to let him do anything he wants with her body. Maybe it’s not exactly a triangle, because Judith has a husband who’d dying of cancer and only wants his wife to be happy.)

Many aspects of this story made me uncomfortable.

Let’s talk about class: Judith grew up poor, but now she’s a lawyer, and she wears silver jewelry, fine clothes, and subtle perfume. She cooks healthy, fancy food and has grown accustomed to the finer things. Crystal is working class. She wears the wrong clothes and overpowering perfume. Although both characters are working women, Judith has her own law office, while Crystal works in someone’s law office.

Let’s talk about sex: David is not even in love with Crystal, but he sure likes that pussy. Even when his higher self knows Crystal doesn’t enjoy what he’s doing to her (butt sex, for example), he still sure likes doing it. Even when he realizes Crystal may be trying to trick him into getting her pregnant, he can barely bring himself to use condoms. When Crystal grows less mentally stable, David can’t bring himself to give her up. While it’s made clear that Crystal has had sex with multiple men, Judith has only had a few sex partners (two of them husbands).

Let’s talk about (a lack of) sisterhood: Judith and Crystal are competing for a man. When they finally meet over lunch, Judith (who is thin) purposely has a burger and fries and pie for dessert in order to torment Crystal (who is chubby), who is having a salad. Instead of picking up the tab, Judith (who obviously has more money), tells Crystal she’ll pay 2/3 of the bill, then watches smugly while Crystal struggles with the math.

Let’s talk about bodies: Much is made of Judith being naturally petite. She’s short and naturally thin, but not too thin. She’s perfectly thin. Crystal on the other hand, is tall and big, with a soft middle, a roll of fat. David doesn’t mind her roll of fat, but it makes Crystal uncomfortable (and it’s brought up repeatedly throughout the book).

Let’s talk about motherhood: Judith has birthed no children from her body, but has nurtured her husband’s children from various marriages Crystal has a son and wants more children. Crystal claims to believe the most important thing a woman can do is birth and raise her children.

Let’s talk about mental health: Judith is confident and upfront. She and her husband discuss every aspect of their relationship. Crystal is manipulative and possibly lies. She also shows herself to be mentally unstable on occasion.

In other words, Judith is a perfect woman: refined, self-sufficient, monied, successful, thin, beautiful, sensuous. Crystal is flawed all over the place: heavy, working class, tawdry, mentally unstable, needy. I found it annoying that both the villain and the hero were painted with such broad strokes.

The big mystery of the story (related to who died) is who’s going to get the man. The lesser mystery: Will David grow up and do the right thing for himself?

While the book is well-written, I didn’t find the plot all that interesting. Two women competing for a man? Yawn. Also, I thought killing off one of the characters made for a neat tidying up of lose ends which doesn’t happen often in real life. I more than a little felt that the ending was by default. If the one woman hadn’t died, would the other have gotten that man after all?

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 20 years ago and remembered it as very good; that opinion stood up very well to second reading. It's beautifully written, has an almost suspenseful plot, and the characters/relationships are so well depicted.

This time round, about halfway through, I discovered that the unorthodox relationship between the 2 main characters is actually based on the authors' own lives, and is described in Ira Wood's memoir, You're Married to Her? I finished that book before going back and finishing Storm Tide. I definitely recommend reading the 2 books together, in whatever order. However, Storm Tide does stand on its own and I loved it before learning about the memoir.

[Eruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book about 20 years ago and remembered it as very good; that opinion stood up very well to second reading. It's beautifully written, has an almost suspenseful plot, and the characters/relationships are so well depicted.

This time round, about halfway through, I discovered that the unorthodox relationship between the 2 main characters is actually based on the authors' own lives, and is described in Ira Wood's memoir, You're Married to Her? I finished that book before going back and finishing Storm Tide. I definitely recommend reading the 2 books together, in whatever order. However, Storm Tide does stand on its own and I loved it before learning about the memoir.

[Jocelyn Gooch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely book to read, an engaging story with great characterisation. The descriptive elements were vivid and enthralling, I am delighted that a joint effort should read so well without being disjointed.

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story was a little querky but I liked the variety of characters. Read like a soap opera which would have "Bleeped" the sex stuff! Can't say it had much going for it.

[Jana G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book written by Marge Piercy and her partner Ira Wood in a collaboration. Fairly good book - but not one of her best.

[Kathleen Suess · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ended up skimming through this book to get to the end. I didn't think of it as a 'great mystery' as one reviewer labeled it, or 'erotic to the core'.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Marge Piercy. And now I like her husband too, since they wrote this together. Interesting spin on the political thriller, in that the thrilling politics are those of a small New England town. Great sense of landscape and place, feminist issues, lust, sex, betrayal and death. How could you go wrong?

[Deb Mj · Rating 1 out of 5]

I slogged through the first 50 pages or so of this book before I finally gave up. I'm not sure if it was my mood, or the book itself, that prompted absolutely no interest whatsoever. "Too many books, too little time" to waste the time on a book that's just not worth it, IMO.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Marge Piercy is always easy to read for me, and the characters do stay in my head for a while afterwards. That said, in some novels her female protagonists have similar qualities. But she is still one of my favorite authors.

[boat_tiger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've yet to read a book by Marge Piercy I didn't like. This one was no exception. Always a masterful storyteller, even when she is simply telling a story about life and relationships, she never disappoints.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this again for a lack of any other compelling books at the moment. I've needed to be absorbed in a novel.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Since it was co-written by a husband and wife I was curious about who was writing what. In the afterword they address that.

[Daryl Leyesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The web
within
reminds of a voyage
to that "pleasant shore"

[Gretchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I need a "couldn't finish" bookshelf option. I didn't see the point of this book and gave up a third of the way through.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written by a couple even tho' it only lists one name here. Didn't figure out the mystery at all!

[Ajh · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had read this before and liked it more the first time.

[Kristy Fox-berman · Rating 3 out of 5]

an unconventional love triangle with a Cape Cod setting

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining murder mystery.