The Book Of V.: A Novel

"In a literary scavenger hunt, Anna Solomon creates a trio of stories that riff on forsaken Queen Vashti, who preceded the biblical Queen Esther as Ahasuerus’ wife. Solomon’s triptych includes a re-creation of Esther’s journey to wed the king in ancient times, but now the characters are Vee, a beleaguered 1970s political wife, and Lily, a contemporary woman who is her husband’s second wife. Each woman struggles to forge her own destiny while navigating the costs and challenges of marriage. Their unique stories, and how they ultimately collide with one another, make for a compelling read."