An Independent Woman

Fast, now over 80, thought he had concluded his popular Immigrants family saga with The Immigrant's Daughter in 1985. Then his wife, said to be the inspiration for his heroine Barbara Lavette, died, and Fast has now returned for one final (sixth) installment to bring Barbara's life, too, to a fictional conclusion. As in previous volumes in the series, the storytelling is smooth and comfortable, though not exactly riveting--and sometimes downright improbable. At the start of the present novel, for instance, Barbara, now a glamorous septuagenarian, shows her extreme liberalism by making a gift of her valuable jewelry to a black thief who has broken into her home to steal it. She finds the love of a good man (a Unitarian minister, no less) and, with some trepidation, marries him; fortunately, he's good in bed. Her footloose, wine-making nephew Freddie falls for a gorgeous black model and, after some token opposition and a car crash that may (but probably won't) mar the woman's looks, marries her. Barbara and her minister husband go on a sentimental journey to England and Israel, where they become national heroes for their fast action when a terrorist blows up a bus. Then Barbara gets cancer and, after gallantly refusing treatment, expires peacefully in the night. The whole saga, with its determinedly do-gooding but very comfortably rich family (surely the best of all possible worlds) is addictive as candy; and here, once again, are plenty of tears and hugs and fine thoughts. Barbara's quiet end, however, is genuinely touching. 100,000 first printing; author appearances (including BEA). (July)