Saying Grace (Gutcheon)

Book Reviews
I was more surprised to see the extent of Gutcheon's work (7 novels)...and even more surprised, now that I've read some of her books...that she isn't more widely talked about in book club circles. She's an extremely intelligent, gifted writer. Where's Oprah?
A LitLovers LitPick  (May '08)

In her lively and engaging fourth novel, Saying Grace, Beth Gutcheon takes a look at the day-to-day workings of a small private day school in California. Under the direction of Rue Shaw, the school has thrived, but a disruptive new board president lessens Rue's delight in her job, as well as her support from the faculty. Both at home and at school, she experiences a series of disturbing events that test her character and resilience. As it follows Rue's trials, Saying Grace provides a realistic portrait of both a good school and its gifted leader. Ms. Gutcheon knows private schools, and she knows her craft — and that's a winning combination.
Constance Decker Thompson - New York Times

In her mid-40s, Rue Shaw, the head of a country day school in a small California town, has much to be thankful for: satisfying and meaningful work; a warm and loving marriage; a talented 19-year-old daughter who has never caused her a moment's worry. Yet in Gutcheon's elegiac fourth novel (after Domestic Pleasures), even a life as well composed and stable as this is vulnerable to unexpected changes. Rue is depicted as a warm, wise woman able to navigate school politics and to accept bravely the changes for her family when her daughter leaves home to attend Julliard. But when an unthinkable disaster occurs, even Rue cannot cope. After an absorbing if slow-paced setup, Gutcheon errs in focusing the denouement too closely on Rue, abandoning the points of view of crucial minor characters (such as the secretary who plays an important role in Rue's marriage) who added dimension to the first half of the story. By relying too heavily on the perspective of a character who responds to heartbreak primarily with dignified composure, this quiet novel fails to deliver sufficient emotional impact.
Publishers Weekly