It's the tale of a young woman, Willie, who returns home to Templeton from Stanford, after falling from grace in her doctoral program. She slept with her professor, who is married and threatens his wife. She returns home, the prodigal daughter, to her single mother, Vi, who has had a similar life experience herself.
Vi has changed, however, from the hippie chick she was when she returned home to Templeton from San Francisco when both of her parents died tragically in a car accident. Vi is no longer the hippie, but instead a nurse and "born again" Christian who is dating the local reverend.
Willie finds out from her mom that her father is someone from town. Previously she had been told that her mom did not know who father was - it could have been one of three men, she claimed.
Willie spends time researching all of her ancestors, beginning with Marmaduke, meeting old friends and classmates in her home town, and getting to know her mom. She is desparate to find out who her father is. And she does find that out in the end.
It's a really fun read and very unique, too. I have not mentioned the "monsters" in this blog post, but you will have to read the book to meet them.
