Books: Shreve’s latest a perfect afternoon escape

Since gaining popularity for “The Pilot’s Wife,” which was a selection for Oprah’s Book List, Anita Shreve’s power as a storyteller has taken off and never looked back.

In her 13th novel, “Body Surfing,” Shreve tells a story the way she does best: with empathy, sincerity, wit and keen observation of family members and their relationships with one another. The story opens with Sydney Sklar working as a tutor and general housekeeper for the well-to-do Edwards family as they vacation in their oceanfront New Hampshire cottage for the summer.

Sydney has developed a deep bond with her young charge, Julie, and most of her days at the cottage are filled with prepping for the SATs, walking on the beach and the solitary escape of body surfing. Sydney accepted this job as a getaway to try to recover from the death of her husband.

Things are simple for Sydney until the Edwardses’ sons, Jeff and Ben, come to visit their parents and sister for the weekend. The rivalry between the brothers is evident, and it only intensifies as they turn their attentions toward Sydney.

“Body Surfing” is at once heartbreaking, charming, funny and alert to human foibles and mistakes. In discovering herself with the help (whether asked for or not) of the Edwards brothers, Sydney is able to put her past in perspective and begin to think about her future: a thought that had seemed impossible only a few months earlier.

Anita Shreve can add this book to the growing list of “Best Of” books. As one of those books that is so intense and enrapturing that it can be read in one long afternoon, “Body Surfing” deserves a place on any literature lover’s “must read” list.