Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon 5 Stars Unique and Compelling

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Valley of the Moon by Melanie Gideon grabbed me from the outset and I found myself unable to stop as it took me on a ride through the past, the present and the future. I had no expectations of this story, which was probably a good thing, as it was so unusual I don't know if any expectations would have been valid.

During the great California earthquake of 1906 a very strange phenomenon occurs which prevents the residents of Greengage farming community from leaving the area. A deadly fog surrounds them making it impossible for them to leave. They wait, patiently or impatiently, for someone to arrive to rescue them. Four months later a young woman named Lux appears through the fog with an almost unbelievable tale. Although only four months have passed at Greengage, Lux has arrived from the year 1975. And, despite Lux's ability to move through the fog unharmed, this is not true for the Greengage residents. They are still trapped and it is still 1906 for them.

Lux is an unwed mother of a five year old named Bennett or Benno as he is commonly known. Lux had a painful break with her father in her early teens and it has continued to get worse, particularly with her unplanned and unwed pregnancy. Benno is invited to visit her parents, however, and while he is gone, she decides to go camping. It is the night of the full moon when she is surrounded by a fog that leads her to Greengage.

At Greengage, Lux meets Joseph, the visionary who created the community, his wife, Martha, and many others. Joseph's ideas for the community stem from the teachings of his mother - he sees Greengage as an opportunity to give everyone equal opportunities, regardless of their sex, race, etc. Joseph is also a man who experienced problems with his father, but finds the work he is doing to be the antidote. He is fascinated with the future Lux describes, as well as disappointed that society has not moved forward with the issues dear to his hear - equality, the environment, etc. Lux finds much of what she has always been seeking at Greengage - being treated as an equal, being respected for what she contributes, the chance to engage in fulfilling work, etc.

Lux cannot stay, as she needs to get back to her son. However, Greengage compels her to seek it out every full moon. But, the fog is not there every full moon, and is present erratically. It turns out that every time the fog is present and Lux returns to Greengage, only one month has passed in their time, regardless of the number of months that have passed in her time. Thus months or even years may have gone by in Lux's San Francisco time, while only one month has passed in Greengage. This becomes a serious factor in the rest of the story. Lux must leave before another full moon passes at Greengage, or she has no idea how much time has gone by in San Francisco time.

Valley of the Moon is a compelling read with the time changes and the variations from one time to another. However, the true story is about the separation of family, the inability in our world for people to be treated as equals, the search for a better world and place where we can all belong. Lux is a woman beaten down by shame and inequality who finds a place where what she brings to the table is more important than the labels placed on her and her son. Greengage is a Shangri-La where the utopia is tinged with the inability to leave without dire consequences, and the people there feel this entrapment.

I fell in love with Lux, Joseph and Greengage and believe this is a story worth reading. Highly recommended.

View all my reviews