Mary Fran | Rockcastle | author

In Caddis Wood: A Novel
By Mary François Rockcastle
(Graywolf Press, $15)

Respected architect Carl and poet Hallie appear to have it all: twin daughters, a vacation home in a picturesque Wisconsin setting and a smooth relationship honed over years of coexistence. But in chapters that alternate between the protagonists’ points of view, author Mary François Rockcastle (author of Rainy Lake) reveals the never-ending yet rewarding work of crafting a solid marriage, as well as the way individual dreams are deferred for the good of the family. Rockcastle’s elegiac portrayal feels true — and is therefore exhilarating.