The Love Ceiling by Jean Davies Okimoto

Release date: 2009 / 301 pages

Synopsis (from back cover): After the death of her Japanese American mother, sixty-four-year-old Anne Doroda Duppstadt finds the courage to confront the toxic legacy of her father, a famous artist and cruel narcissist. When a former art professor invites her to his island art studio, she begins  pursuing her lifelong dream to become an artist in her own right. But the needs of her family tug at her heart. Her thirty-two-year-old daughter’s love life is falling apart, and Annie’s husband, facing retirement, struggles with depression, leading her to conclude, ‘There is a glass ceiling for women… and it’s made out of the people we love.’

First line: “The exhibition’s title was splashed in blazing letters across the huge banners surrounding the entrance of the museum.”

Review:  This novel is such a good example of why we should never judge a book by its title.  I almost passed up the opportunity to read and review it when TLC offered, but the little I knew – a heroine’s journey about a budding sixty-year-old artist learning to thrive despite the discouraging shadow of her famous overbearing artist father – was just too interesting to pass up… 

The title comes from the following quote: “There is a glass ceiling for women…and it’s made out of the people we love.”  I appreciate the concept of a “love ceiling” – and this theme runs throughout the novel as the protagonist, Annie, learns to reconcile her identity with her roles as mother, wife, daughter.  Annie is very likeable and much of the novel is told from her perspective. 

Occasionally the narrative switches to Annie’s 32-year-old daughter, Cass, who is also learning to live outside the shadow of her lover, a charismatic, handsome, doctor-in-training. Initially I was disappointed when the perspective changed to Cass – I was so drawn to Annie and I was afraid the dialogue with Cass felt a bit stiff.  However, once I got to know Cass I did  not mind the peeks into her life we were granted.

I was gratified that while the women characters were the heart and soul of this novel, there were many sympathetic male characters, too.  I particularly enjoyed witnessing Annie and Jack’s journey toward his retirement and fell completely in love with three-year-old Sam.  Now that I have a two-year-old niece living near-by, I understand first-hand how healing and restorative visits with a little one can be.

So, do I recommend this lovely novel?  Whole-heartedly!  It is a very fast read and I believe most women would enjoy spending time with the characters as I did. Would this work for a book club?  Yes, but I do think the discussion would quickly become about father-daughter relationships and finding our own true north, rather than about the work itself.  But, learning about ourselves and each other is truly one of the great joys of a book club, isn’t it?

If you are interested in winning a copy, simply leave me a comment and I’ll choose a lucky winner by Saturday!

Curious about what others thought? Here’s the full list of TLC tour stops!

Wednesday, June 2nd:  Patricia’s Wisdom

Thursday, June 3rd: Dolce Bellezza

Monday, June 7th: Lit and Life

Wednesday, June 9th: Rundpinne

Thursday, June 10th: Reading, ‘Riting, and Retirement

Monday, June 14th: Joyfully Retired

Wednesday, June 16th: Crazy for Books

Thursday, June 17th: Luxury Reading

Monday, June 21st: Erasing the Bored

Wednesday, June 23rd: Mooncat Farms Meanderings

Thursday, June 24th:  carp(e) libris reviews

Monday, June 28th: Feminist Review

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