One Way Home

Robbins's truthful and often engaging debut novel is an empathetic take on the plight of harried single parents who work full time. Frazzled narrator Ruth is a classic case. She has just found a new administrative job in a home for the elderly in Richmond, Va., and moved there with her sons, ages eight and 12, in an attempt to escape her exasperating ex-husband, Rich. Many similar moves have occurred over the six years since the couple's divorce, but Rich doggedly follows his brood, reappearing at each new apartment to charm his sons. To Ruth, who remembers a marriage ruined by alcohol and infidelity, Rich signifies perpetual frustration; to the boys, who notice Ruth's shortcomings as a mother, Rich is a model dad who arrives to serve home-cooked lunches and surprises them with the puppies Ruth says they can't have. Ruth finds a moderate amount of humor in her disheartening experiences, but this painfully honest book proves as likely to aggravate as to amuse. Disorienting flashbacks, a lengthy dream sequence, and a corny resolution detract from the narrative's veracity. Overall, however, Robbins's spunky heroine succeeds in conveying one woman's determination to reestablish control of her life. (Jan.)