Learning to Drive: A Novel Hardcover - 2003

From the publisher

A luminous, stunning first novel that tells the tale of an idealistic woman who aspires to perfection and believes in the power of the mind to control events, even as her life is spinning out of control.Raised as a Christian Scientist, Charlotte McGuffey has always trusted the power of her thoughts to protect her from life's troubles. But when her estranged husband unexpectedly dies, leaving her to raise their two young sons, Charlotte realizes that her problems are too complex for her to master without embracing change. Charlotte and the boys go to the family's summer home in Vermont, where her husband was last seen alive, to look for answers about his final days. As Charlotte grieves, she is befriended by her neighbors--a colorful lot who are concerned, helpful, but not without flaws. Among them is an unlikely suitor, a joyous and charismatic artist at war with conventional thinking, who captivates--but confuses--Charlotte. In this eclectic environment, Charlotte begins to challenge the beliefs she's accepted her whole life. Big-hearted and graceful, in this novel Mary Hays portrays the strength of the human spirit and the ways in which community can help us grow and heal. Praise for Learning to Drive: "Mary Hays has written a brilliant, funny, original novel. What a talent! Please, please, get the word out. This book is totally satisfying and unforgettable. I loved it!"--Judy Blume