


Touched by tragedy and by ordinary hopes unmet, Lena and Charlie must face, for the first time in their lives, real limitation. But life delivers surprises and tests-a stillborn child, an economic crash, a ruthless business rival and the attentions of an old lover.

Set in San Francisco during the first year of Obama's presidency, Three Stages of Amazement deftly charts the struggles and triumphs of Lena Rusch and her husband Charlie Pepper, still believe they can have it all-sex, love, marriage, children, career, brilliance. Many love stories end in marriage rare is the love story that begins with one-already promised, already worn. A sweeping, richly compassionate novel about marriage, ambition, and the reclaiming of love-by the bestselling novelist and cofounder of Narrative magazine.
