After the Fire [Paperback]

Jane Rule (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this fluid, often witty novel set on a small rural island off the coast of Vancouver, five solitary women at different stages in life learn how to function alone as well as together. Canadian-Japanese Karen, who has left her lesbian lover of eight years, befriends Red, a young woman with an unknown background who cleans houses for three others--acrid Milly, divorced by her husband after a 20-year marriage; Henrietta, whose husband is institutionalized in Vancouver; and Miss James, an eccentric, elderly spinster. Birth, illness and death follow one another, uniting the five independent and incisively drawn protagonists. "All that time I was trying to teach you how to live alone and really take care of yourself, I was teaching myself, too," Henrietta tells Red. The resulting warmth is not saccharine but realistic, as Rule ( Memory Board ) illuminates the vagaries and pain of abandonment and loss, and the fragile joy of new bonds.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Naiad Pr; 1st edition (October 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941483452
• ISBN-13: 978-0941483452
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,389,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a sweet, thoughtful book on aging, January 21, 2007

By 

wellreadwoman (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: After the Fire (Paperback)

After the Fire is a slow-paced, introspective little book that suffers from bait and switch marketing. The book description outlines a basic lesbian romantic plot: brokenhearted dumpee retreats to a beautiful location and meets a lovely but mysterious woman.

I would not be surprised if fans of Rule's other books thought they were purchasing a torrid lesbian romance--the packaging certainly leads you to think that's what this is. Instead, After the Fire is a character driven novel about the emotional lives of women in their youth, midlife, and older years with virtually no romantic story at all. I don't recall any of the many characters even going on a date. Furthermore, while one of the primary characters is a lesbian, almost all of the others are straight.

Having said all this, what the book does have is a moving story about dealing with grief, loss and aging. Half-Japanese Karen, the dumpee, moves to a mostly white, mostly straight island to lick her wounds a rebuild her sense of self. Along the way she meets women of all ages who gradually move from secondary character status to becoming a huge part of Karen's life. The multigenerational friendships that form are far from the usual mother-daughter bond. Very well drawn and probably my favorite part of this book. A warning: This is not an action-packed book. Nothing much happens to the women in this small town, but the characters are interesting enough to draw you in anyway.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reccommended Reading for Women of All Ages, January 21, 2006

By 

Erika R. (Hamilton, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: After the Fire (Paperback)

One of the few books which I feel should be required reading for women of all ages. The story is about a group of women who all, for one reason or another are learning to live alone, rely on themselves while still making community for one another. They learn to find their strengths, come to terms with their limitations and thrive. A very positive read.

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars After the Fire is good, wholesome reading, April 27, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: After the Fire (Paperback)

After the Fire is a book about life, death and love. It connects the older age group with the younger, showing what can be learned from someone with life experience. This book is wholesome reading anyone will enjoy.