Eden Lake [Paperback]

Jane Roper (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2011

In 1968, newlyweds Clay Perry and Carol Weiss founded Eden Lake, a utopian children’s summer camp in Maine. Thirty years later, their marriage is long over and the camp has become a pricey playground for entitled suburbanites. When tragedy strikes, the Perryweiss children have to decide what role Eden Lake, and all that it stands for, will play in their lives. Abe, the eldest and heir apparent, has never been able to commit to a career—or a woman. Jude, entangled with a married man, must confront her turbulent relationship with her past. Eric, the youngest, who has never strayed far from Eden Lake, stands at the precipice of a new life. Idealism and infidelity, childhood memories and the hard truths of adulthood collide and coalesce in the summer of 1998 at Camp Eden Lake.

Advance praise for EDEN LAKE


“EDEN LAKE is an unusually accomplished debut novel about love and loss and the absurdities of summer camp. Jane Roper writes with quiet authority and sly humor about a large and intriguing cast of characters.” 
– Tom Perrotta, bestselling author of Election, Joe College and Little Children

“As a kid I lasted one week at summer camp, but at EDEN LAKE I overcame my phobia. This is due to the quirky, warm, funny, quixotic crew you’ll meet in these pages, and the compassionate yet sharply observed story of a family assembling and reassembling itself after a father’s death. I’ll be revisiting EDEN LAKE many times.”
 – Jenna Blum, bestselling author of Those Who Save Us and The Stormchasers

“Anyone who’s ever experienced the sweet tumult of summer camp is hereby ordered to read EDEN LAKE immediately. In fact, even if you’ve never been to camp, this book should go on your must-read list. Jane Roper has written a wise, sexy novel that fearlessly probes the particulars of desire and loss. It’s a sheer delight — as irresistible as a smore.” 
– Steve Almond, author of,My Life in Heavy Metal, Candyfreak, and Rock and Roll Will Save Your Life

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jane Roper spent the first fifteen summers of her life at summer camps in Maine. She is a graduate of the Iowa Writers Workshop and lives with her husband and twin daughters in the Boston area. Her memoir of parenting twins is forthcoming from St. Martin’s Press. Visit her website, www.janeroper.com, and learn more about Camp Eden Lake at www.campedenlake.com

Product Details

• Paperback: 376 pages
• Publisher: Last Light Studio (May 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982708416
• ISBN-13: 978-0982708415
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,333,016 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jane Roper is the author of a memoir DOUBLE TIME, and a novel, EDEN LAKE. She received her MFA in fiction from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, and her writing has appeared on Salon, The Rumpus, Poets & Writers and elsewhere. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and twin daughters. Her website is www.janeroper.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Family Secrets and Summer Camp May 7, 2011

By Ellen L.

Format:Paperback

"Eden Lake" is a beautiful, layered story of a family trying to deal with a tragic loss.

I got completely caught in the plot, and whenever I had to stop I couldn't wait to get back to the book. I loved how real and nuanced the characters were, how they changed and grew in the course of the story, and I've come to truly care for them. What I appreciated the most was the truthfulness with which Jane Roper revealed to us the complexities of family relationships (and especially sibling relationships) and the way doubts, jealousies, and secrets can unravel even the strongest of them.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars All I need now is a S'more! June 18, 2011

By Crystal King

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Eden Lake is, as many other reviewers have declared, an excellent summer read. Using the idyllic background of summer camp in Maine, Roper takes the reader on a journey through a tangle of family intrigue and complex adult relationships.

The characters feel familiar; at various points in the book I found myself personally identifying with more than one of them. They're likeable, understandable and I found myself wanting to dole out both hugs and shakes depending on what the various siblings were doing.

Even now, a few weeks after I finished the read, I can picture the camp in my mind, and find myself wishing I was among the pines, around a campfire, with the fireflies twinkling above my head.

Definitely pick this one up for your beach bag, your tote bag for the mountain cabin, or the long plane ride to your next destination!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great slice of life novel! June 7, 2011

By Michele R. Kosboth

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Having been to Maine for family vacations all my life, and having been to camp as both camper and counselor, I felt like this book captured both the essence of camp life. She writes in a way that I could smell the smells, I could see the camp and the buildings. Jane captures the emotions and turmoil of the people in the book as well. It was like she was describing people I knew. A great slice of life novel that is well written and engaging.