Eight people. One weekend. Eight lives forever changed.In the mid-1960s, at an elite college in the quaint town of Barrie Hill, Connecticut, a group of literary-minded students met regularly off-campus at the Vanessa Grand Hotel. Often late into the night, they would discuss the day’s news, analyze literature, philosophize, trade barbs, and socialize.Twenty years after graduation, in 1986, the … graduation, in 1986, the group’s founder, Clare Dreyser, organizes a weekend reunion. Seven former Barrie Hillers and one guest get together, eager to re-create an extraordinary time in their lives and reunite with old friends.
From the outset, and baffling the group, Leah Brent displays a brash, condescending attitude for nearly everyone and everything. To the chagrin of actor Bart Younger, Leah immediately lays out the unwelcome mat for his wife, Aimee. No one, not even Leah’s husband, Colin, is immune to her wrath, but Leah is relentless in her bizarre and cruel quest to bring down her primary target: Clare.
As the reunion progresses, the Barrie Hillers strive to enjoy their time together as they become enmeshed in personal dramas, struggle with matters of ethics, and weather escalating uncertainties that threaten to destroy their lives. By Saturday night, the second day of the reunion, karma makes a surprising and shocking visit. As the Barrie Hillers’ time together draws to an end, each is changed forever.
more
Twenty years have past since the members of the Barrie Hill college literary group last met. Clare has organized a weekend at their favorite group haunt–the elegant Vanessa Grant Hotel. Film star Bart and his wife Aimee; film critic Larry; family and newspaper man, Dan, who’s anticipating seeing his college crush, Maggie; and tenured professor Colin and his sharp tongued, wife Leah attend, ready to reminisce about the good ole days. As the weekend progresses, the conflicts emerge from the past and present, rocking the groups comradery.
We follow the group through each reunion event, watching as the details, dramas, and sometimes snide remarks unfold. Some seem bent on causing discomfort and strife within the group and will use any means necessary to achieve it. Will their motives bring the reunion to an abrupt end? As the member’s stories unfold, life’s complexities are revealed. For a few, major changes are underway as they confide their secrets to those they trust.
Author Brodey takes us through a captivating, reunion weekend with a group of friends who were once close. Twenty years definitely changes the group dynamics, however, and we soon witness the strengths and weaknesses of each member, and whether or not the friendships will endure. A surprise reveal at the end leaves the group reeling. This is a gripping read, highly recommended!
I’m a big fan of Lisette Brodey, each of her books takes the reader on a different journey. Barrie Hill Reunion is no exception. We have all probably wondered at some point what it would be like to reunite with certain people from our past. Therefore I found the thought of a reunion twenty years later to be quite an intriguing one. Would everyone/or some have achieved the goals they set out to achieve back when they were younger, and the next question must be, are they the same now as they were then. It was interesting to read how the Barrie Hiller’s interacted with the changes in their lives and to see their friendship of so long ago work its magic once more.
Barrie Hill Reunion is told over a number of days when they meet for the first time in the Parker Room, it is here that you get in idea of what is to come. I loved getting to know the group, as they got to know each other again, as they explored their past and their present problems. Some would move closer together, while events would move others further apart.
There is a certain character in this story that will make your toes curl and your eyebrows glue themselves to your hairline. She (and I’m not giving too much away) is certainly cruel and vindictive. It made me wonder what could possibly have happened to her to have made her this way? This was a lady who seemingly has everything and yet she appears jealous of the one person that in her opinion has never accomplished anything in her life. This character will test the bond of friendships, that said, even though she was very nasty, there was a part of me that felt sorry for her, especially towards the end. And this is what great authors do, they make you feel something for their characters even the mean ones!
Barrie Hill Reunion is the first of Lisette Brodey’s novels I’ve read, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I do now, though—well-developed characters, a plot with turns and twists you won’t see coming, and excellent narrative skills. In short, I was impressed.
The story evolves around eight old college friends who get together for a reunion for the first time in twenty years. Each of the characters is memorable and each feels real, some maybe more real than you’d like. Leah Brent is a despicable person, using all her considerable sarcastic skills to belittle, embarrass, even humiliate the others. Her key target is Clare Dreyser, who for some unstated reason Leah hates. Leah’s constant negative comments, cruel sarcasm, and finally her attempts to blackmail others into helping her take down Clare, by supporting her attacks, make her the clear villain of the piece. One who’s feels every bit as evil as Iago. She is so irritating and unpleasant, in fact, I was thinking this novel might turn out to be a cozy mystery with Leah’s body being discovered and everyone else a viable suspect. Spoiler alert, that’s not what happens.
In Brodey’s hands, Barrie Hill Reunion is anything but predictable. It’s a character-driven literary work, with an ensemble cast, and top-notch writing. We’ll remember the characters we meet here long after the last page is turned.
I would have liked a clearer explanation/illustration of why Leah’s hatred of Clare is so deep and has lasted for two decades. It’s not hard to guess that her motivation is based on pent-up jealousy and a well-hidden sense of low self-esteem, but a hint here and there would have brought that point home. We know Leah will get her comeuppance eventually, she has to, and we’re rooting for it. That said, the ending is a complete, perfect surprise.
I highly recommend Lisette Brodey’s work in general, and Barrie Hill Reunion in particular. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed.