Edwards' first novel wowed readers and critics alike with its emotional storyline, which traces the guilt-ridden path of a doctor after delivering his own twins and sending away his Down syndrome-afflicted daughter without telling his wife. In comparison to this original and compelling tale, Edwards' new novel is disappointingly prosaic, nothing more than a run-of-the-mill homecoming narrative.
"The Lake of Dreams" begins when Lucy Jarrett a hydrologist who has been living in Japan with her boyfriend Yoshi decides to return to her hometown in upstate New York. While poking around her house late one night, Lucy happens upon an assortment of old family letters and heirlooms, setting her on a quest to uncover the truth about her father's drowning 10 years earlier.
Although the novel tackles themes like family mysteries and hidden secrets, "The Lake of Dreams" does not possess the haunting, gripping quality that made "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" such a success.
Instead of capitalizing on the suspense of Lucy's struggle, Edwards lets her character succeed without expending much effort. Lucy opportunely finds clues tucked away in her house, receives enthusiastic help from town citizens and only has to travel as far as Seneca Falls, N.Y. to find what she is looking for. In one particularly unrealistic scene, Lucy receives a flood of helpful e-mails from local historians with PDF scans of old letters that reveal key information about her family.
Lucy's convenient findings throughout her search render her story not only improbable, but also uninteresting. The fact that the plot ties up relatively neatly at the end of the novel further highlights the unexceptional nature of the story.
This is not to say that a novel must have an exceptional plot in order to engage readers. Compelling characters can serve a function similar to exciting plot twists, drawing readers into the story.
But in her second novel, Edward presents us with character types we have seen before. What's worse, she fails to add new dimensions to these all-too-familiar characters. For example, Lucy is a young woman at a crossroads in her life who returns to her hometown to reach a greater understanding of her family and herself. This cliched scenario could be used to describe the plot of dozens of chick-lit novels, romantic comedies and (shudder) Lifetime movies.
Lucy's reconnection with her first love Keegan Fall, a local glassblower who stayed in her hometown is similarly predictable (and kind of a rip-off "Sweet Home Alabama" (2002) anyone?) and thus irritating.
In addition to being stereotypical, Edwards' characters are not engaging. Lucy's boyfriend Yoshi comes across as flat and static, while her mother is portrayed as an aging woman with her head in the clouds. The lack of likeable and interesting characters further hinders the success of the novel.
Yet I cannot deny that the language of "The Lake of Dreams" is thoroughly enjoyable to read. In her second novel, Edwards again demonstrates her gift for poetic prose. Her inclusion of vivid details and her stunning but not sappy illustrations of Lucy's childhood memories prompt readers to hang onto every word. Had Edwards been able to cultivate the same evocative sense of mystery and spellbinding plot that she executed in "The Memory Keeper's Daughter," her new novel, with its eloquent language and natural setting, would have once again left readers awestruck. However, the author's failure to create engaging characters and an original plotline ultimately tarnishes her gorgeous prose.
