Aspen Marooney

Set in 1991, the main action of this novel takes place 40 years earlier. The Richfield High School Class of 1951 has gathered for its 40th reunion, and there are going to be some major revelations before the weekend is through. Durfrey Haslam, a man obsessed with his memories of high school, was supposed to have married Aspen Marooney, but she broke his heart those many years ago by breaking off their wedding plans. The two have much to talk about when they meet, not the least of which is that despite their respective spouses, they are still very much in love with each other. Straightforward enough, but Peterson's (Canyons of Grace) handling of it is a curiously mixed bag. On the one hand, the story jumps from viewpoint to viewpoint, providing too much background information and occasionally jolting the reader out of the narrative. On the other, Peterson's characters are interesting, and the leisurely pace is perfect for this tale of love, memory, regret and guilt. The ambiguous ending will also please some while alienating others beguiled into expecting a straightforward love story. (Mar.)