When Steve Jobs died and I read that he had a sister named Mona Simpson, I realized that I had Anywhere But Here by her on my shelf, unread. Not recent, it was published in 1986 to good reviews.
This is a young woman’s book. The strongest parts are the road trip with her mother from Wisconsin to California, seeking a new life (for mother) and a possible television career as a child actress for (daughter). Sections are very interesting, moving even, but it just didn’t gel for me. Simpson gives us the story through four sets of eyes: Ann, in her preteen and adolescent years; Adelle, her mother, beautiful, amoral, manipulative; Carol, her midwestern aunt; Lillian, her grandmother. Ann’s voice — presumably the author as she recreates her own younger life — rings true. The rest seem a bit stagey.
Posted by SilverSeason 
