The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

Well, mostly I didn't particularly like this book. Set in the 1960s and 1970s, this book tells the story of Natalie Marx and her relationship with the people of the Inn at Lake Devine. Natalie’s first encounter with the Inn is when her mother receives a letter in response to her inquiry about vacation accommodations: “The Inn at Lake Devine is a family-owned resort, which has been in continuous operation since 1922. Our guests who feel most comfortable here, and return year after year, are Gentiles.” Natalie is stunned by such obvious (and unfair) anti-Semitism and is determined to break into the Gentile ranks at this idyllic Inn. 

This was an interesting approach to telling a story about anti-Semitism. It was not overly serious nor was it heavy handed. It was, in fact, a story about breaking down all sorts of barriers, since not only do the owners of the Inn at Lake Devine prefer to keep their inn Jew-free, but also Natalie’s own family—and others like theirs—wish to keep their families Gentile-free as well. 

It was an engaging book with very likeable main characters. I found it interesting and entertaining to read. However, it was all too common in that the religious characters in the book are not really committed to religion. (Short rant follows:) Why must the truly religious either be relegated to “Christian literature” or be portrayed as unbalanced, deeply flawed or strange? It’s an interesting phenomenon in literature and I’ve yet to read a “mainstream” novel where a religious person has integrity—and lives his/her religion--and is not portrayed as an unhealthy zealot. At least I don’t think I’ve read anything like that yet. Oh wait! The Mitford series has a “normal” religious protagonist. Hmm. Love that series.

Anyway, I was disappointed by Natalie’s lukewarm devotion to her religion. It’s an interesting thing about religious persecution—one only has to be a member of the group to receive the persecution. Natalie’s family was culturally Jewish, but not so much religiously. So one could say that they were subject to the hard parts of the culture—the anti-Semitism (based on their Jewish last name), the restrictions (no Gentile boyfriends or husbands, please)—without receiving any of the spiritual rewards that we hope come with spiritual sincerity. I wonder if perhaps many of us who are members of a religion find ourselves in a similar situation.

Language: Some mild swearing, I think
Sex: Plenty of pre-marital sex, very little description