When I read that Diane Johnson had written her first novel in many years I decided it would be a perfect summer read. I enjoyed her 'Paris Trilogy' many years ago when I was having a love affair with Paris. In Lorna Mott Comes Home Lorna, an art historian decides to divorce her adulterous second husband, Armand. She leaves his ancestral French village where they lived together for many years and returns to San Francisco, her hometown, where her first husband, Ran, and his new family, and their now grown children and their families reside. Lorna discovers that she doesn't care for the San Francisco she's returned to, homeless people living on the streets, neighbours being robbed and astronomical housing costs. Husband #1 landed on his feet after their divorce, marrying a much younger tech billionaire, Amy. Unfortunately Lorna and Ran's children are all experiencing financial difficulties, as is Lorna but Ran seems disinclined to help them. Oh my! To add even more complexity Ran and Amy's 15 year old diabetic daughter becomes pregnant after a fleeting sexual encounter with the son of a family acquaintance. With this novel Johnson, at the age of 87, shows that she still has what it takes to hold our interest.
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