* Liz: A successful and independent woman in her late 40s, Liz has always felt somewhat adrift. She has a comfortable life, a loving husband, and a son, but she yearns for a deeper sense of connection and belonging.
* Nancy: Liz's younger sister, Nancy is a free spirit and a talented artist. She is impulsive and has a history of making unconventional choices, often to the chagrin of her more cautious sister.
* Margaret: Liz and Nancy's mother, Margaret is a strong and independent woman who has a complicated relationship with her daughters. She has a troubled past and struggles to connect with her children on an emotional level.
The story begins with Liz discovering a box of old letters and photographs that belonged to her mother. This discovery triggers a flood of memories and forces Liz to confront her own past and the complex relationship she has with her mother and sister.
As Liz delves deeper into her family history, she begins to unravel a series of secrets and lies that have shaped their lives. She learns about her mother's past as a young woman in the 1940s, her father's wartime experiences, and the devastating impact of a childhood tragedy.
Themes explored in "Finding" include:
* The nature of memory and how it shapes our identity: The novel explores how our memories can be unreliable and how they can be influenced by our present circumstances.
* The search for belonging and the importance of family: Liz, Nancy, and Margaret each struggle with feelings of isolation and loneliness, and the novel explores how they seek connection and meaning in their lives.
* The complexities of family relationships: The relationships between the three women are fraught with tension and conflict, but also with love and loyalty.
* The impact of the past on the present: The novel shows how the events of the past can continue to shape our lives even years later.
"Finding" is a moving and thought-provoking novel that explores the universal themes of family, memory, and the search for meaning. It is a story about the power of forgiveness and the importance of understanding our past in order to move forward in our lives.